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

I found out that if you have an account with MS, you can purchase a separate desktop version of MS Publisher that you will be able to use as long as you want, although it will not be supported by MS after the date they published. The easiest way to contact them through the account page. Hope that helps.

I have Word, Excel & Publisher 2010 discs, Will be going to Publisher 2010 and probably go back to Word & Excel 2010. which means I would cancel my 365 subscription. I think Microsoft will be losing a lot of subscribers Harold Frey

I use Publisher for its simple drawing features, and I use it for work. I draw lots of rectangles and use some arrow functions as well. I also copy, paste and scale these drawings and have become very familiar with how to scale them with the measurement feature. I tried this in Word probably a decade ago, but it does not have nearly the ease and efficiency that Publisher provides. Will Microsoft Designer be a good alternative? Also, is it available in the Microsoft Office suite? I've been a subscriber for likely over 10 years. I feel very betrayed by the canceling of Publisher and am hoping that one of the Office 365 apps will be able to assume most if not all of its functions.

They are. No idea what they will decide.

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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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

2025-04-10T19:35:07+00:00

I found out that if you have an account with MS, you can purchase a separate desktop version of MS Publisher that you will be able to use as long as you want, although it will not be supported by MS after the date they published. The easiest way to contact them through the account page.

Hope that helps.
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Anonymous

2025-04-08T18:40:08+00:00

I have Word, Excel & Publisher 2010 discs, Will be going to Publisher 2010 and probably go back to Word & Excel 2010.

which means I would cancel my 365 subscription. I think Microsoft will be losing a lot of subscribers

Harold Frey
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Anonymous

2025-03-21T16:02:39+00:00

I use Publisher for its simple drawing features, and I use it for work. I draw lots of rectangles and use some arrow functions as well. I also copy, paste and scale these drawings and have become very familiar with how to scale them with the measurement feature. I tried this in Word probably a decade ago, but it does not have nearly the ease and efficiency that Publisher provides.

Will Microsoft Designer be a good alternative? Also, is it available in the Microsoft Office suite? I've been a subscriber for likely over 10 years. I feel very betrayed by the canceling of Publisher and am hoping that one of the Office 365 apps will be able to assume most if not all of its functions.
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Diane Poremsky MVP 17,526 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2025-03-21T01:39:16+00:00

They are. No idea what they will decide.
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