Please do NOT cancel MS1 Publisher !

Steve _ 5 Reputation points
2026-08-14T23:54:36.7433333+00:00

Please do NOT cancel MS Publisher. I have been using this program for 25 years and have 100's if not 1000's of .pub files for this program. I found out your going to delete it from Office 365 and we can not use it to open any of the files I have created over the years. PLEASE allow us to use the program as a stand lone, so I can open and work on my files.. The program works great and you do not need to have anymore updates for it.

PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL THIS GREAT PROGRAM.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Publisher | Other
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  1. Kai-H 26,135 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-08-17T09:10:47.73+00:00

    Hi, Steve _

    I completely understand why this is upsetting after 25 years of work. Unfortunately, this is a public support forum, so we cannot change the retirement decision or arrange a standalone release.

    One additional option worth testing is LibreOffice Draw, which is free and can import many .pub files. It is not a perfect Publisher replacement, and complex layouts, fonts, or newer Publisher effects may shift. However, it may provide a practical way to open older files without converting every document in advance. It is recommended that you install LibreOffice and test copies of several simple and complex publications before relying on it.

    Note: This information is provided as a convenience to you. The app is not controlled by Microsoft. Microsoft cannot make any representations regarding the quality, safety, or suitability of any software or information found there. Please make sure that you completely understand the risk before retrieving any suggestions from the above app. 

    For such a large archive, it is also recommended that you preserve a dedicated Windows computer that already has a legally licensed, working installation of Publisher. Keep the original .pub files, linked pictures, and fonts backed up, and avoid uninstalling Publisher from that computer. A perpetual Publisher installation can still be installed and used after support ends, although it will no longer receive security fixes or technical support.

    Avoid purchasing unusually cheap Publisher licenses from unofficial websites, as they may not be valid or transferable.

    Thank you for your patience in reading, I hope this information has been helpful to you. 

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  2. AI answer

    2026-08-14T23:54:54.7166667+00:00

    Microsoft has announced that Publisher will reach end of life in October 2026. After that, it will no longer be included in Microsoft 365, and Microsoft 365 subscribers will no longer be able to open or edit Publisher files in Publisher.

    Supported options in the available guidance are:

    1. Continue using Publisher with its current functionality until October 2026.
    2. Convert important .pub files before 10/1/2026.
      • To preserve viewing: open the file in Publisher, then go to File > Save as > choose PDF > Save.
      • To continue editing: open the PDF in Word using File > Open, then confirm with OK. The document opens as a Word file, but layout can vary from the original, especially for graphic-heavy files.
    3. If there are many Publisher files, use file search for .Pub on the PC, OneDrive, or SharePoint to locate them, and consider bulk export to PDF with a PowerShell script.
    4. For new work, Microsoft recommends other Microsoft 365 apps for common Publisher scenarios:
      • Word or PowerPoint for flyers, brochures, business cards, calendars, and cards
      • PowerPoint for banners, signs, and posters
      • Word for envelopes, labels, letterhead, newsletters, programs, invoices, applications, and forms

    The available guidance also states that if there is a perpetual version of Publisher, support ends on October 1, 2026, but the app can still be installed and used beyond that date.

    For product feedback about the retirement decision, the documented community guidance is to submit feedback through the Microsoft 365 Feedback Hub or the Publisher app feedback path.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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