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

Anonymous
2025-01-24T19:39:30+00:00

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:

  1. Will Microsoft Publisher still be available to use (albeit unsupported) after October 2026 or will it be removed from computers that have them?
  2. If it is removed, does this only apply to Microsoft 365 subscriptions or will Office 2021 lifetime standalones also have Publisher removed?
  3. 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!

Microsoft 365 and Office | Publisher | Other

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Diane Poremsky MVP 17,526 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2025-03-31T12:02:32+00:00

>>

  1. Will Microsoft Publisher still be available to use (albeit unsupported) after October 2026 or will it be removed from computers that have them?
  2. If it is removed, does this only apply to Microsoft 365 subscriptions or will Office 2021 lifetime standalones also have Publisher removed?
  3. 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?

>>

  1. 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.)
  2. It only applies to the Microsoft 365 subscription. Office 2021 and older are not affected. Note: Publisher is not in Office 2024.
  3. 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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  1. Anonymous
    2025-04-28T12:53:28+00:00

    Is there any way for me to keep using Publisher when it is no longer supported?

    For me it is the best graphic design software to use for publications. I would like to be able to use it even wheen it is not supported anymore.

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  2. Diane Poremsky MVP 17,526 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-04-29T13:17:00+00:00

    As long as you have a perpetual version of office, yes. If you have a subscription, you will need to disable update in Sept 2025 so its not removed, unless Microsoft releases a "sunset" version then you can update and keep publisher.

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-04-29T15:23:32+00:00

    As long as you have a perpetual version of office, yes. If you have a subscription, you will need to disable update in Sept 2025 so its not removed, unless Microsoft releases a "sunset" version then you can update and keep publisher.

    I don't understand what is meant by "you will need to disable update in Sept 2025 so its not removed, unless Microsoft releases a "sunset" version then you can update and keep publisher."

    I strongly urge Micorsoft to continue Publisher for the many users, like myself, who have decades of work saved in the Publisher format, and will have a future need to open the files and re-use them. It's irresponsible for a corporation to pull the rug out from under its users.

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-04-29T17:57:50+00:00

    I just learned that Publisher support will be ending soon and no version has been made since 2021. And the alternatives are ridiculous!!! Word and PowerPoint are not alternatives! And the other alternatives out there are programs that only create "ONLINE or EMAIL" publications. That is not for everyone. I have a comprehension newsletter that we print every month and mail to our participants. I use the merge feature to print the addresses on each individual newsletter. What am I supposed to do?? Create it in a program that will only let me create PDF's for printing and then have to create labels that then have to manually put on every newsletter. WHY are you getting rid of a great program????? I create 85-90% of the documents that we use daily in Publisher: Newlsetter, brochures, labels, business cards, forms. Word and PowerPoint don't function the same way as Publisher. It is next to impossible to put text boxes and images in Word in a newsletter format. Create a business card in Word and you have to copy the same information into each box, Publisher you create once and it prints on all the cards or labels. Seriously, what is wrong with Microsoft??? WE NEED PUBLISHER, SO SPEND THE MONEY, BRAIN POWER, ETC TO CONTINUE THIS PRODUCT.

    So disappointed!!!

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