Is Microsoft Publisher being phased out? If so, what is the replacement? I saw an article online, <link removed by moderator> . It states: In recent years, Microsoft has moved away from desktop-based applications, such as Publisher, in favor of Internet-based and mobile solutions. As a result, Microsoft replaced Publisher with a web-based version, Microsoft Office Sway, in June 2016. The software is no longer available to purchase, but existing users can continue to use the software with the help of specialized support programs. In October 2019, Microsoft also announced that it would no longer provide patches and security updates for the software, so it is no longer suitable for use in business or personal projects. I can't find anything concrete on Microsoft's official websites about the product being phased out. I also can't find the announcement referenced in the article. Publisher 2021 - Microsoft Lifecycle | Microsoft Learn states Publisher 2021 is losing support on Oct 13, 2026. I know there is Microsoft Designer, but Microsoft Designer is more focused on web graphics rather than print graphics. I also heard Sway was a replacement, but Sway is for web presentations. Microsoft Word is also not a satisfactory solution because it doesn't have DTP features such as master pages and advanced grids. I noticed the following: No community forum for publisher at answers.microsoft.com it is located under other No feedback forum at Ideas · Community (microsoft.com) There was a request for a feedback forum for Publisher, Add a forum for Microsoft Publisher · Community , which hasn't gotten a response from the official team in over a year No roadmap updates on Microsoft 365 Roadmap | Microsoft 365 No templates on Free templates for social media, documents & designs | Microsoft Create There is no option to report feedback on Publisher using the feedback panel inside Windows There is no mac, web, or mobile version like there is with the other 365 apps The app is missing basic features that are in other MS 365 apps for example: Autosave Comments Linked Notes Compare Dictate New features are being added to other apps but are not being added to Publisher such as: Copilot New UI update Popular Requested Features have not been added such as: Layers panel CYMK support Lack of modern templates and gallery assets Better Gallery/Asset management Font embeddings Better integration with the other office tools such as importing data from an Excel spreadsheet Hopefully, Publisher is still being developed and it increases the number of platforms it is available on. It serves a specific need for companies that have an MS 365 subscription and that don't want to pay for Canva or Adobe, need something easy to use, accessible for multiple employees, and more powerful than Word.

I asked ChatGPT. It replied: Microsoft Publisher is not being phased out, but it is no longer available for purchase as a standalone product. It is still included in some Microsoft 365 subscriptions, such as Microsoft 365 Personal and Microsoft 365 Family. Microsoft Sway is not a replacement for Publisher, but rather a web-based presentation tool. Microsoft Word does not have all the desktop publishing features of Publisher, but it can be used for basic layout and design tasks. Microsoft Designer is a web-based tool for creating graphics, but it is not a replacement for Publisher. While Publisher may not have all the features of other Microsoft 365 apps, it is still being developed and supported.

I really appreciate Diane's reply. If you want to read an opinionated rant about what has happened to Publisher, here is a link: Reference: Is Publisher now officially an unwanted step-child?: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/is-publisher-now-officially-an-unwanted-step-child/e9ee86bd-c7f3-4b66-9999-107e8fc8324f This is a post where the OP is a MSFT MVP and I responded with a rather candid rant about my opinions about why Publisher has been deprecated and diminished over the years and how I expect it to be phased out. DavidF

Is Microsoft Publisher Being Phased Out?

Anonymous

Is Microsoft Publisher being phased out? If so, what is the replacement? I saw an article online, <link removed by moderator>. It states:

In recent years, Microsoft has moved away from desktop-based applications, such as Publisher, in favor of Internet-based and mobile solutions. As a result, Microsoft replaced Publisher with a web-based version, Microsoft Office Sway, in June 2016.

The software is no longer available to purchase, but existing users can continue to use the software with the help of specialized support programs. In October 2019, Microsoft also announced that it would no longer provide patches and security updates for the software, so it is no longer suitable for use in business or personal projects.

I can't find anything concrete on Microsoft's official websites about the product being phased out. I also can't find the announcement referenced in the article. Publisher 2021 - Microsoft Lifecycle | Microsoft Learn states Publisher 2021 is losing support on Oct 13, 2026.

I know there is Microsoft Designer, but Microsoft Designer is more focused on web graphics rather than print graphics. I also heard Sway was a replacement, but Sway is for web presentations. Microsoft Word is also not a satisfactory solution because it doesn't have DTP features such as master pages and advanced grids.

I noticed the following:

No community forum for publisher at answers.microsoft.com it is located under other
No feedback forum at Ideas · Community (microsoft.com)
There was a request for a feedback forum for Publisher, Add a forum for Microsoft Publisher · Community, which hasn't gotten a response from the official team in over a year
No roadmap updates on Microsoft 365 Roadmap | Microsoft 365
No templates on Free templates for social media, documents & designs | Microsoft Create
There is no option to report feedback on Publisher using the feedback panel inside Windows
There is no mac, web, or mobile version like there is with the other 365 apps
The app is missing basic features that are in other MS 365 apps for example:
- Autosave
- Comments
- Linked Notes
- Compare
- Dictate
New features are being added to other apps but are not being added to Publisher such as:
- Copilot
- New UI update
Popular Requested Features have not been added such as:
- Layers panel
- CYMK support
- Lack of modern templates and gallery assets
- Better Gallery/Asset management
- Font embeddings
- Better integration with the other office tools such as importing data from an Excel spreadsheet

Hopefully, Publisher is still being developed and it increases the number of platforms it is available on. It serves a specific need for companies that have an MS 365 subscription and that don't want to pay for Canva or Adobe, need something easy to use, accessible for multiple employees, and more powerful than Word.

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Hi, I'm Diane and I'm happy to help you today.

Don't believe everything you read on the web... especially about software on a site not dedicated to the software or a news site covering all software. :)

Publisher is not going anywhere and will continue to be in the full office suites as it has in the past, although it doesn't get a lot of updates or new features. It is still in the office subscriptions - and if and when it is pulled from office subscriptions, you'll know it's being phased out. You can buy it standalone: https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/p/publisher/CFQ7TTC0HLKN

There are few to no free templates for it because it doesn't have a huge user base. This is also why it doesn't have a dedicated forum here.

All office 2021 apps are out of support in 2026 - that is the normal lifecycle for support.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

-- Diane

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

As far as I know, it hasn't completely stopped - they have a small product team, which limits how much they can do.

These decisions are related to usage - while it's shipped to hundreds of millions of people installing the full office suite , only a small percentage of people actually use it. An even smaller percentage would want to view the files on a mobile device - not enough to commit a budget to develop and maintain versions in apple and android app stores. Sorry.

-- Diane

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Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Received this announcement from Microsoft today:

Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026

We are dedicated to providing our customers with the tools they need to achieve what matters, in their work and life. In order to focus on new benefits, we occasionally remove features and products.

In October 2026, Microsoft Publisher will reach its end of life. After that time, it will no longer be included in Microsoft 365 and existing on-premises suites will no longer be supported. Until then, support for Publisher will continue and users can expect the same experience as today.

As we look ahead to the retirement of Microsoft Publisher, we are exploring modern ways to achieve other common Publisher scenarios across applications like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Designer. We will update as we have more to share.

When this will happen: October 13, 2026

How this will affect your organization: You can continue to use Publisher with its current functionality until October 2026.

Support for the perpetual version of Publisher will end in October 2026, when Office LTSC 2021 reaches end of support. Microsoft 365 customers will not be able to access Publisher from that date forward.

What you need to do to prepare: No action is required at this time. This notice is to allow you sufficient time to plan. We will share additional updates as the date approaches.

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59 additional answers

HansV 462.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2023-08-26T13:38:18+00:00

I asked ChatGPT. It replied:

Microsoft Publisher is not being phased out, but it is no longer available for purchase as a standalone product. It is still included in some Microsoft 365 subscriptions, such as Microsoft 365 Personal and Microsoft 365 Family. Microsoft Sway is not a replacement for Publisher, but rather a web-based presentation tool. Microsoft Word does not have all the desktop publishing features of Publisher, but it can be used for basic layout and design tasks. Microsoft Designer is a web-based tool for creating graphics, but it is not a replacement for Publisher. While Publisher may not have all the features of other Microsoft 365 apps, it is still being developed and supported.
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Anonymous

2023-08-27T14:42:01+00:00

I really appreciate Diane's reply. If you want to read an opinionated rant about what has happened to Publisher, here is a link:

Reference: Is Publisher now officially an unwanted step-child?:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/is-publisher-now-officially-an-unwanted-step-child/e9ee86bd-c7f3-4b66-9999-107e8fc8324f

This is a post where the OP is a MSFT MVP and I responded with a rather candid rant about my opinions about why Publisher has been deprecated and diminished over the years and how I expect it to be phased out.

DavidF
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6 people found this answer helpful.

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