How do I identify a publisher file?

A Microsoft Publisher file is identified by the .pub file extension and the Publisher icon.

To identify one on a desktop computer:

1. Look at the file name: Publisher files end with .pub (for example, Newsletter.pub).
2. Check the file type column (in File Explorer, switch to the Details view): it will show something like “Microsoft Publisher Document.”
3. Check the icon: it will display the Publisher app icon if Publisher is installed.

If a file has the .pub extension but Publisher is not installed, it is still a Publisher file; it just cannot be opened without Publisher or conversion.

References:

• Where is the Publisher viewer?