Why is Publisher being phased out, and what is Microsoft replacing it with? Will Microsoft 365 be cheaper since they are phasing out the program?

Anonymous
2025-04-13T17:55:25+00:00

Why is Publisher being phased out, and what is Microsoft replacing it with? Will Microsoft 365 be cheaper since they are phasing out the program?

As a senior and a person who has ADHD, I don't like change, I don't like to have to upgrade and purchase programs that were included and continue to pay higher prices for fewer services. I use Publisher a lot. We make camping calendars, calendars for family birthdays, workers' schedules, etc. Soon, there will be nothing in Microsoft to fulfill this. I make camping meal plans, and prep and supplies. and no, word and its things suck. Not even close to being user-friendly for seniors, if you learned to use Word before, the updates are not as user-friendly. Great for kids learning it now, sucks for seniors. I make banners, posters, cards, signs, etc. What will I use now? I had a chat with Mohammad for 20 minutes, and he kept telling me Microsoft has a plan, just wait for it. I did mention that once you state you are phasing things out, you already have a plan and might as well explain it. No large company or corporation says they are phasing something out if they haven't come up with a plan already! When he suggested I wait, I was not impressed at all. Wait for what? Wait to hear we waited too long to be a voice the company needed to hear from us sooner? Not a happy Granny!

The person I spoke with said that the company and higher-ups need to hear from us. If you like Publisher, let them know. I am trying!!

Microsoft 365 and Office | Publisher | Other

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-05-11T22:44:35+00:00

    I was told that Microsoft does not monitor this community bulletin board. You can send feedback to Microsoft using the feedback portal at https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/. I am not sure if there is a specific category for Publisher. If there isn't, you can use the Word category. Share this information. Maybe if Microsoft hears from enough of us, they will do better than just advising us to save all our publisher files to pdf and actually improve the functionality of Word. Or better yet keep Publisher.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-05-11T23:52:38+00:00

    Word and PowerPoint are absolutely NOT adequate substitutes for Publisher.

    • In Publisher, when I put an element on a page, it stays where I put it. When I am trying to produce a 16-page newsletter with embedded photos and graphics, I need for the page elements to stick.
    • And I need a vertical format, not an overgrown slide.
    • And I need a document layout that looks like a book or magazine, not a stack of slides.

    So, what are you offering that will meet my need? And why do I have to pay more, to get less?

    Publisher ain't great, but it's better than nothing.

    And, by the way, I've just bought a new computer, and Publisher is unavailable for download. Theoretically I have 17 months to convert my Publisher files to something else (like what, for instance?). But not if I no longer have Publisher.

    Not impressed.

    Betsy Ford

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-05-12T00:00:00+00:00

    I was told that Microsoft does not monitor this community bulletin board. You can send feedback to Microsoft using the feedback portal at https://feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/. I am not sure if there is a specific category for Publisher. If there isn't, you can use the Word category. Share this information. Maybe if Microsoft hears from enough of us, they will do better than just advising us to save all our publisher files to pdf and actually improve the functionality of Word. Or better yet keep Publisher.

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  4. Stefan Blom 351.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-05-12T07:10:10+00:00

    Use your previous version of Office that did include Publisher to edit your files.

    Older perpetual licenses that include Publisher, such as Office 2021 Professional, can still be used, even after October 2026.

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  5. Anonymous
    2025-05-14T03:05:09+00:00

    I agree with Unhappy Granny 100%. I have so many publisher files that it would be next to impossible to find them all and convert them to something else. She is also correct in that for layout and signs, Banners, Mailers, and even a some simple drawings on how we lay out concrete pads and power sites. These things are not what word is designed to do. I sure hope they have something for a direct replacement if publisher has to go away.

    Unhappy Grandpa.

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