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.

Hi Diane, thanks for this info. I suspect that the primary reason that so few people are using Publisher is that most people who install Office 365 on Windows don't realise Publisher is included. I only know of the existence of Publisher because I used it in the pre-365 era as part of an office suite I purchased. When I actively went searching for how to purchase it, I kept going round it circles with me being directed to the Office 365 page which then mentioned nothing about Publisher! Nowadays, you kind of have to know it exists and go actively searching for it, because Microsoft certainly do not go out of their way to inform you that it is included. I have an Office 365 Family subscription, and I certainly didn't know it included Publisher. For example, if I look at my Office 365 subscription, it shows the page I've uploaded here. No mention of Publisher among all the installed apps, and yet plenty of other apps I am not using, so it isn't that it only appears here if I've used it, or something like that. If I actively search for publisher in the search box on that page, I get taken to an advert page telling me I can buy or "try for free". (see second image) It says if I already have a 365 account to sign in, but I am already signed in, lol (as can be seen by the "Brian" account icon top right of the Publisher page. So this suggests I have to purchase it additionally. It doesn't take me anywhere useful that tells me how to actually find it! If I click the "Buy now" or "Try Now" links, it takes me to one of the following pages. No mention of Publisher, and certainly no mention that it is already installed, given that I already have the Office 365 account. It simply refers me back to Microsoft 365 with no further hints that this is even relevant to using Publisher. ![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/5cffcab2-6b5d-4a5e-99b2-456d8857037b?platform=QnA Only through finding posts such as yours did I find that I already have publisher installed! The only way I have so far seen for running publisher is to actively know it is already installed (in Windows) and go search for it on the task bar. There are no icons for it in the installed Office 365. Forgive me, but it feels (almost) like whilst Microsoft may be continuing to support it, they are hiding its existence so well that in future they'll be able to justify retiring it because "almost nobody is using it". Of course I don't think Microsoft are really that duplicitous, but it really does feel like it.

Hi Deborah. As of February 15, 2024, Microsoft posted an announcement on their Microsoft 365 Admin Centre message board that Publisher will be discontinued after October 2026. Existing installations will remain on the computer, but if you have to reinstall Office or Windows, Publisher will be gone. Users who have the standalone (perpetual license) version of Publisher can continue to use the software and install it on another computer, or if there's a need to reinstall the software. For more details, please read the article posted on the Office Watch website: Microsoft Publisher is Ending: here's what you need to know The article provides options for keeping Publisher on your computer , and where on Microsoft's website you can purchase the standalone version. Alternatively, you can also legally purchase and download the standalone version of Publisher from My Choice Software here . Anyone reading this, you might want to start purchasing the standalone version now. Sincerely, Rupertsland, Canada

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

Give back to the community. Help the next person with this problem by indicating whether this answer solved your problem. Click Yes or No at the bottom.

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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

Anonymous

2024-03-23T12:31:10+00:00

Hi Diane, thanks for this info. I suspect that the primary reason that so few people are using Publisher is that most people who install Office 365 on Windows don't realise Publisher is included. I only know of the existence of Publisher because I used it in the pre-365 era as part of an office suite I purchased. When I actively went searching for how to purchase it, I kept going round it circles with me being directed to the Office 365 page which then mentioned nothing about Publisher!

Nowadays, you kind of have to know it exists and go actively searching for it, because Microsoft certainly do not go out of their way to inform you that it is included. I have an Office 365 Family subscription, and I certainly didn't know it included Publisher.

For example, if I look at my Office 365 subscription, it shows the page I've uploaded here. No mention of Publisher among all the installed apps, and yet plenty of other apps I am not using, so it isn't that it only appears here if I've used it, or something like that.

If I actively search for publisher in the search box on that page, I get taken to an advert page telling me I can buy or "try for free". (see second image) It says if I already have a 365 account to sign in, but I am already signed in, lol (as can be seen by the "Brian" account icon top right of the Publisher page. So this suggests I have to purchase it additionally. It doesn't take me anywhere useful that tells me how to actually find it!

If I click the "Buy now" or "Try Now" links, it takes me to one of the following pages. No mention of Publisher, and certainly no mention that it is already installed, given that I already have the Office 365 account. It simply refers me back to Microsoft 365 with no further hints that this is even relevant to using Publisher.![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/5cffcab2-6b5d-4a5e-99b2-456d8857037b?platform=QnA

Only through finding posts such as yours did I find that I already have publisher installed! The only way I have so far seen for running publisher is to actively know it is already installed (in Windows) and go search for it on the task bar. There are no icons for it in the installed Office 365.

Forgive me, but it feels (almost) like whilst Microsoft may be continuing to support it, they are hiding its existence so well that in future they'll be able to justify retiring it because "almost nobody is using it". Of course I don't think Microsoft are really that duplicitous, but it really does feel like it.
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Anonymous

2024-03-06T16:34:54+00:00

Hi Deborah.

As of February 15, 2024, Microsoft posted an announcement on their Microsoft 365 Admin Centre message board that Publisher will be discontinued after October 2026. Existing installations will remain on the computer, but if you have to reinstall Office or Windows, Publisher will be gone. Users who have the standalone (perpetual license) version of Publisher can continue to use the software and install it on another computer, or if there's a need to reinstall the software.

For more details, please read the article posted on the Office Watch website: Microsoft Publisher is Ending: here's what you need to know

The article provides options for keeping Publisher on your computer, and where on Microsoft's website you can purchase the standalone version.

Alternatively, you can also legally purchase and download the standalone version of Publisher from My Choice Software here.

Anyone reading this, you might want to start purchasing the standalone version now.

Sincerely,

Rupertsland, Canada
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