Can I continue to access Publisher without support?

Your Microsoft 365 subscription will let you use Publisher only until October 1, 2026; as the removal update rolls out shortly afterward, Microsoft 365 subscribers will no longer be able to open or edit .pub files with Publisher.^1^

Can Publisher continue without support?

It depends on the license:

• Publisher supplied through Microsoft 365: No. It will be removed from Microsoft 365 and will no longer be available to install or download after October 2026. This is not merely the end of technical support—the Microsoft 365 version will no longer provide access to Publisher.
• A perpetual, one-time-purchase version of Publisher: Yes. Microsoft says it can still be installed and used after support ends, including opening and editing .pub files. However, it will receive no support or updates. Publisher 2021 support ends October 13, 2026.^1^

A perpetual copy therefore provides continued access, but running unsupported software—particularly on an Internet-connected PC—has security and compatibility risks.

Protect the existing files now

Since conversion to Word has already produced problems with images and layout, do not rely on Word as the only archive. Microsoft specifically warns that Word conversion is optimized for text editing and that layouts containing many graphics can change.

Before October 1, 2026:

1. Search the PC, OneDrive, and SharePoint for *.pub.
2. Keep the original .pub files and associated images or fonts.
3. Export an additional PDF copy of each completed publication:
   • Open it in Publisher.
   • Select File > Save As.
   • Select PDF, then save.
4. Compare representative PDFs with their Publisher originals, especially documents containing transparency, linked images, custom fonts, or unusual page sizes.
5. Keep backups of both the original .pub files and exported PDFs.

PDF is the recommended format for preserving documents that only need to be viewed or printed. It is not a substitute for retaining an editable original.

For hundreds of files, Microsoft provides a sample PowerShell conversion script. It requires a working, licensed installation of Publisher and should be tested on copies first:

# Convert one file
.\Convert-PubFileToPDF.ps1 -Filter "C:\Documents\MyFile.pub"

# Convert every .pub file under a folder
.\Convert-PubFileToPDF.ps1 `
  -Filter "C:\PublisherFiles\*.pub" `
  -Recurse

The script continues after conversion errors and reports failed files. Existing output filenames cause an error, so rename or remove conflicting PDFs before rerunning it.^1^

Will Microsoft provide a direct replacement?

Microsoft has not announced a like-for-like Publisher replacement. Its recommended Microsoft 365 alternatives are:

• Word or PowerPoint: flyers, brochures, certificates, business cards, calendars, and cards
• PowerPoint: banners, signs, and posters
• Word: newsletters, labels, envelopes, letterhead, forms, invoices, and folded-paper projects

For complex publications, these applications may not preserve Publisher’s layout. Microsoft also mentions third-party applications that may import native Publisher files, but conversion quality varies and Microsoft does not support those tools. Test any candidate with copies of several demanding files before adopting it.^1^

References

1. Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026 | Microsoft Support