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

Microsoft, please reconsider. Nothing out on the market works like publisher. I've being doing a newsletter for 20 years. Please don't take publisher away. I need it and my customers love the product I put out. I couldn't do it without publisher.

I am very disappointed that you are taking publisher away. This is the program I use the most out of all the programs on 365. Can there be an option to purchase it separately? This is going to be a huge inconvenience for me and others in my office. Very upset!!!!

Microsoft company, Why kill off one of the most unique programs you have??? Please, please, PLEASE reconsider this drastic step! I, too, use Publisher for hundreds of jobs I do. Telling me to use Word is ludicrous because it has NOWHERE NEAR the same capabilities that Publisher has. I cannot begin to tell you how upset I am with Microsoft over this uncalled-for decision you've made! PLEASE reconsider and leave Publisher as it currently is. J

Tracy -- I have the same question about using Publisher after 2026, but your answer is muddled and confusing. You write: "Publisher will not be available after 2026, and even if the application is installed, it will not be accessible...Because publisher has stopped all services, unfortunately it will not be able to be used." But the link from OP (from support.microsoft.com) said in its FAQ section: "If you have the Perpetual version of Publisher, you will still be able to access and edit your files." and "...if you have the Perpetual version of Publisher, although support will end, you will still be able to install and use the app beyond this date." So: the perpetual version of Publisher WILL WORK indefinitely, beyond 2026? how can I confirm that I have the perpetual version? I'm using Office 2019 with a lifetime license. Is this the same as "perpetual version"?

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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102 additional answers

Anonymous

2025-05-31T16:27:26+00:00

Microsoft, please reconsider. Nothing out on the market works like publisher. I've being doing a newsletter for 20 years. Please don't take publisher away. I need it and my customers love the product I put out. I couldn't do it without publisher.
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Anonymous

2025-03-11T16:29:11+00:00

I am very disappointed that you are taking publisher away. This is the program I use the most out of all the programs on 365. Can there be an option to purchase it separately? This is going to be a huge inconvenience for me and others in my office.

Very upset!!!!
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5 people found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2025-03-09T20:04:44+00:00

Microsoft company,

Why kill off one of the most unique programs you have???

Please, please, PLEASE reconsider this drastic step! I, too, use Publisher for hundreds of jobs I do. Telling me to use Word is ludicrous because it has NOWHERE NEAR the same capabilities that Publisher has.

I cannot begin to tell you how upset I am with Microsoft over this uncalled-for decision you've made! PLEASE reconsider and leave Publisher as it currently is.

J
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5 people found this answer helpful.

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Anonymous

2025-02-23T03:53:25+00:00
Tracy --

I have the same question about using Publisher after 2026, but your answer is muddled and confusing.

You write:

"Publisher will not be available after 2026, and even if the application is installed, it will not be accessible...Because publisher has stopped all services, unfortunately it will not be able to be used."

But the link from OP (from support.microsoft.com) said in its FAQ section: "If you have the Perpetual version of Publisher, you will still be able to access and edit your files." and "...if you have the Perpetual version of Publisher, although support will end, you will still be able to install and use the app beyond this date."

So:
1. the perpetual version of Publisher WILL WORK indefinitely, beyond 2026?
2. how can I confirm that I have the perpetual version? I'm using Office 2019 with a lifetime license. Is this the same as "perpetual version"?
Was this answer helpful?

5 people found this answer helpful.

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