How can I get publisher 2021

Laverne Addison 0 Reputation points
2026-11-11T17:32:28.8566667+00:00

How can I get publisher 2021, so I can still continue using publisher, I need to continue working on the programs I have

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For home | Windows
0 comments

2 answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest

  1. AI answer

    2026-11-11T17:33:14.17+00:00

    To continue opening and editing .pub files, obtain a legitimate perpetual Windows license for Office Professional 2021 that explicitly includes Publisher, then redeem and install it using the Microsoft account associated with that license.

    Get the correct edition

    • Office Professional 2021 for Windows includes Publisher; Home & Student 2021 and Home & Business 2021 do not. The consumer license is a one-time purchase for one Windows PC.^1^
    • Publisher is Windows-only; it is not included in Office 2021 for Mac.
    • Office 2024 does not include Publisher. Because Office 2021 is an older product, availability may be limited to remaining stock from retailers. Verify that the listing names Office Professional 2021, includes Publisher, and supplies a valid perpetual license—not a Microsoft 365 subscription, volume-license key, or account being resold.
    • For a workplace-managed computer, ask the IT administrator whether the organization already owns Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 through volume licensing. LTSC is intended for organizations and is not the normal home-user purchase route.^2^

    Redeem, install, and activate

    After purchasing a valid license:

    1. If supplied with a product key, go to https://office.com/setup.
    2. Sign in with the Microsoft account that should own the license and redeem the key. This permanently associates that copy with the account.
    3. Open the Microsoft account dashboard and sign in with the same account.
    4. Select Office apps, locate Office Professional 2021, and select Install.
    5. Run the downloaded installer and approve the Windows permission prompt.
    6. Open Publisher or another Office application, accept the license terms, and complete activation if prompted.^3^

    You can later confirm the installed edition in Publisher under File > Account.

    If Microsoft 365 is already installed

    Do not assume that the complete Office Professional 2021 suite can safely coexist with Microsoft 365 on the same PC. Microsoft states that subscription and non-subscription Office versions generally cannot run together; overlapping Click-to-Run installations can cause setup, activation, update, or file-association problems.^4^

    The safer choices are:

    1. Install Office Professional 2021 on a separate Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC; or
    2. Replace the Microsoft 365 desktop installation on that PC with Office Professional 2021, understanding that this removes the subscription edition’s continuously updated desktop apps; or
    3. Use a separate Windows virtual machine if comfortable managing one.

    Back up the Publisher files before changing any Office installation.

    What happens after October 2026

    Microsoft 365 subscribers will lose access to Publisher as its removal rolls out after October 1, 2026. A perpetual Publisher 2021 license can still be installed and used afterward, and it can continue opening and editing Publisher files, but support for Publisher 2021 ends on October 13, 2026. It will no longer receive security fixes or technical support.^5^

    For long-term protection:

    • Keep the original .pub files and a backup on another drive or cloud storage.
    • Export completed publications through File > Save As > PDF.
    • Keep editable copies where practical. Converting through PDF to Word can alter layouts, particularly documents containing many graphics.^5^

    References

    1. Office 2021 and Office LTSC for Windows and Mac FAQ | Microsoft Support
    2. Overview of Office LTSC 2021
    3. Download and install or reinstall Office 2021, Office 2019, or Office 2016 | Microsoft Support
    4. Install and use different versions of Office on the same PC | Microsoft Support
    5. Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026 | Microsoft Support
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

  2. Marcin Policht 113.2K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-11-11T18:23:17.0033333+00:00

    Microsoft no longer sells Publisher as a standalone product on its primary storefront, but you should be able to purchase the Microsoft Office Professional 2021 suite, which is a one-time purchase that includes Publisher alongside the core apps like Word and Excel. You can still find legitimate retail keys from authorized third-party sellers and established tech retailers like CDW or My Choice Software, where prices for the full suite often range between $200 and $400 depending on the specific licensing terms. Some specialized software vendors like Digital License and FastSoftwares still list individual keys for Publisher 2021 specifically, often at a lower price point around $50 to $100, though you should verify their current stock and activation guarantees before buying. Be careful with extremely low-priced "lifetime" deals on unfamiliar sites, as these are often volume licenses not intended for individual resale and may be deactivated by Microsoft later.

    If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

    hth

    Marcin

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.