Hello, Microsoft announced that Publisher will not be supported after 2026, but the announcement was vague so I wanted to clear up a few things: Will Microsoft Publisher still be available to use (albeit unsupported) after October 2026 or will it be removed from computers that have them? If it is removed, does this only apply to Microsoft 365 subscriptions or will Office 2021 lifetime standalones also have Publisher removed? What if you want to continue using Publisher? Much of my work revolves around using Publisher. Is there any way to keep it after Oct. 2026? Original End of Support message: Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026 - Microsoft Support Thanks in advance!

>> Will Microsoft Publisher still be available to use (albeit unsupported) after October 2026 or will it be removed from computers that have them? If it is removed, does this only apply to Microsoft 365 subscriptions or will Office 2021 lifetime standalones also have Publisher removed? What if you want to continue using Publisher? Much of my work revolves around using Publisher. Is there any way to keep it after Oct. 2026? >> Publisher is being removed from the Microsoft 365 subscription in October 2026. As of March 2025, the plan is to remove it from computers that have the subscription. (This may change.) It only applies to the Microsoft 365 subscription. Office 2021 and older are not affected. Note: Publisher is not in Office 2024. If you have Office 2021 or older, Publisher will not be removed. Microsoft is considering options for people who are using Publisher. Any changes to the policy will be updated in this article: Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026 - Microsoft Support

This is TERRIBLE. I have used and loved Publisher for 20 plus years. Word does NOT do the same thing. Why can´t you just leave Publisher on our computers. I NEVER call or write for support anyway.

Publisher is the format for all my creative files! Converting to Word will be a ridiculous and futile attempt to preserve them. Future use of Word for the same purposes as Publisher will be impossible. Change for the sake of change is not improvement! Jean

I really don't understand why Microsoft is doing this to us! Publisher is perfect for creating newsletters, flyers, etc.! I have been using Publisher for over 25 years! I was creating community newsletters for Gig Harbor Cultural Art's Commission in Washington State! MS Word and Power Point is nothing like Publisher and requires more "work arounds" to accomplish the things Publisher does! You know that those programs do not and will not take the place of Publisher! So, here's a thought... if enough of us rally for keeping Publisher maybe Microsoft will reconsider... if not part of their larger program offerings then perhaps a STAND ALONE PUBLISHER program... I would definitely pay for that! Consider it a public service Microsoft! COME ON! MICROSOFT! WE'VE BEEN SUPPORTING YOU SINCE 1991... SINCE PUBLISHER WAS A BETA!! IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE PULLING THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER US!!!

The loss of Publisher is TERRIBLE news. Change is not necessarily improvement, especially in this case! Substituting Word for Publisher is ridiculous, cumbersome and a giant step backwards. This will be a disaster for me and my work. I am appalled. Jean

Can people keep using Microsoft Publisher unsupported after the end of support date in October 2026?

Anonymous

Hello, Microsoft announced that Publisher will not be supported after 2026, but the announcement was vague so I wanted to clear up a few things:

Will Microsoft Publisher still be available to use (albeit unsupported) after October 2026 or will it be removed from computers that have them?
If it is removed, does this only apply to Microsoft 365 subscriptions or will Office 2021 lifetime standalones also have Publisher removed?
What if you want to continue using Publisher? Much of my work revolves around using Publisher. Is there any way to keep it after Oct. 2026?

Original End of Support message: Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026 - Microsoft Support

Thanks in advance!

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

Diane Poremsky MVP 17,526 MVP Volunteer Moderator

Will Microsoft Publisher still be available to use (albeit unsupported) after October 2026 or will it be removed from computers that have them?
If it is removed, does this only apply to Microsoft 365 subscriptions or will Office 2021 lifetime standalones also have Publisher removed?
What if you want to continue using Publisher? Much of my work revolves around using Publisher. Is there any way to keep it after Oct. 2026?

Publisher is being removed from the Microsoft 365 subscription in October 2026. As of March 2025, the plan is to remove it from computers that have the subscription. (This may change.)
It only applies to the Microsoft 365 subscription. Office 2021 and older are not affected. Note: Publisher is not in Office 2024.
If you have Office 2021 or older, Publisher will not be removed. Microsoft is considering options for people who are using Publisher.

Any changes to the policy will be updated in this article:

Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026 - Microsoft Support

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Anonymous

2025-03-06T14:20:41+00:00

This is TERRIBLE. I have used and loved Publisher for 20 plus years. Word does NOT do the same thing. Why can´t you just leave Publisher on our computers. I NEVER call or write for support anyway.
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Anonymous

2025-03-05T21:26:22+00:00

Publisher is the format for all my creative files!

Converting to Word will be a ridiculous and futile attempt to preserve them.

Future use of Word for the same purposes as Publisher will be impossible.

Change for the sake of change is not improvement!
Jean
Was this answer helpful?

20+ people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2025-03-05T21:04:41+00:00

I really don't understand why Microsoft is doing this to us! Publisher is perfect for creating newsletters, flyers, etc.! I have been using Publisher for over 25 years! I was creating community newsletters for Gig Harbor Cultural Art's Commission in Washington State! MS Word and Power Point is nothing like Publisher and requires more "work arounds" to accomplish the things Publisher does! You know that those programs do not and will not take the place of Publisher!

So, here's a thought... if enough of us rally for keeping Publisher maybe Microsoft will reconsider... if not part of their larger program offerings then perhaps a STAND ALONE PUBLISHER program... I would definitely pay for that! Consider it a public service Microsoft!

COME ON! MICROSOFT! WE'VE BEEN SUPPORTING YOU SINCE 1991... SINCE PUBLISHER WAS A BETA!! IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE PULLING THE RUG OUT FROM UNDER US!!!
Was this answer helpful?

60+ people found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2025-03-05T20:51:54+00:00

The loss of Publisher is TERRIBLE news. Change is not necessarily improvement, especially in this case!

Substituting Word for Publisher is ridiculous, cumbersome and a giant step backwards.

This will be a disaster for me and my work.

I am appalled.

Jean
Was this answer helpful?

40+ people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments