MS Publisher is going to end.

Question

MS Publisher is going to end.

Ross Fleming 10

We have a number of Template Forms & Certificates created in MS Publisher which we use with MS Excel in a mail merge, to print such things as Certificates, etc. Other MS products (Word etc) do not have the same desktop publishing capabilities as Publisher. What alternatives is Microsoft going to offer as part of my subscription.

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ShasBlew 0 Reputation points

2026-03-04T03:49:07.2366667+00:00

I have loads of certificates and flyers with mail merge areas in Publisher. Converting all of these to pdf is a huge task. Wouldn't it be more common sense to allow current subscribers to be able to at least open and then save their documents as pdf after October 26? Even if they can't change them in any way? I have some documents that I may never use again, but just refer to them in some way. I don't want to use a Web based program, as my internet can be a bit hit and miss, being in a remote area.

5 answers

ShasBlew 0 Reputation points

2026-03-04T03:49:07.2366667+00:00

I have loads of certificates and flyers with mail merge areas in Publisher. Converting all of these to pdf is a huge task. Wouldn't it be more common sense to allow current subscribers to be able to at least open and then save their documents as pdf after October 26? Even if they can't change them in any way? I have some documents that I may never use again, but just refer to them in some way. I don't want to use a Web based program, as my internet can be a bit hit and miss, being in a remote area.

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Answer 5

Zoevi-V 4,015 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi Ross Fleming,

Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum with your question regarding Microsoft Publisher and its role in your mail merge workflows with Excel.

As you said, Publisher offers unique desktop publishing capabilities that aren't fully replicated in other Microsoft Office applications like Word. While Word supports mail merge, its layout and design tools are more limited compared to Publisher, especially for visually rich documents like certificates and forms.

As of now, Microsoft has not announced a direct replacement for Publisher within the Microsoft 365 suite. However, depending on your needs, here are a few alternatives you might consider:

Microsoft Word (with enhanced templates): While not as design-focused, Word continues to support mail merge and can be customized with high-quality templates for certificates and forms.
PowerPoint: Surprisingly effective for layout-heavy documents, especially when combined with automation tools or manual mail merge techniques.
Microsoft Designer: A newer tool focused on visual content creation. It’s web-based and integrates with Microsoft 365, offering templates and design flexibility, though it doesn’t yet support mail merge.
Third-party publishing tools: Apps like Canva or Adobe Express offer strong design capabilities and may be used alongside Excel exports, though they fall outside the Microsoft ecosystem.

I hope this helps you get the thing sorted out quickly!

Ross Fleming 10 Reputation points

2025-11-07T02:37:55.41+00:00

Thankyou Zoevi for your kind response.

I think that there would be a lot of Microsoft software users that would like to see Microsoft retain Publisher. As far as I am aware Microsoft has not really given any reason why it is dropping Publisher from its line of products - perhaps it is because it is too hard to maintain Publisher with software upgrades.

I have used Publisher (as well as Power-point, Excel, Word and Access, for many years and have always kept up my subscriptions. Users, like myself, who need a desk-top publisher program and currently like the look and feel of Publisher , but don't need anything more advanced or costly, have paid for Publisher as part of our annual subscription. So one question - when Publisher is dropped from the line of MS Programs, will this reduce the annual subscription fee?

Maybe we can start a petition to keep MS Publisher alive?
Zoevi-V 4,015 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-09T03:18:12.6233333+00:00

Hi again Ross Fleming,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and concerns about Microsoft Publisher.

While Microsoft has not provided a detailed explanation for the retirement, the decision aligns with our broader strategy to streamline offerings and focus on tools that integrate more deeply with cloud and AI capabilities. Many Publisher features, such as creating branded templates, labels, calendars, and business cards, are already available in other Microsoft 365 apps like Word and PowerPoint.

Regarding your question about subscription fees: Microsoft has not indicated any changes to the pricing structure of Microsoft 365 subscriptions following Publisher’s retirement. The subscription continues to include access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other services, and users will be encouraged to transition their publishing workflows to supported apps.

I truly appreciate your feedback. While petitions are not officially supported, your voice matters. Microsoft does review user input when shaping future product decisions. If you’d like to share your thoughts directly, you can do so via the Feedback Hub or through the Microsoft 365 feedback channels.

I hope this provides some clarity on your question.