CLICK TO RUN

Cheryl L Ford 0 Reputation points
2026-08-29T21:46:08.8466667+00:00

Please explain term "click to run" as I would like to install standalone Publisher 2016 along side of Microsoft 365 when Publisher is not longer being supported in October 2026.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Publisher | Other
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  1. Stefan Blom 351.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-08-29T22:58:54.59+00:00

    "Click-to-run" is virtualization technology, different from older install technologies used by Microsoft apps. Click-to-run also lets certain updates be pushed from Microsoft's servers without users running setup.exe (some bug fixes are installed that way).

    Older perpetual (one-time purchase) licenses that include Publisher will continue to work even after October 2026. The installation technology shouldn't make a difference.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-08-29T21:46:21.98+00:00

    Click-to-Run is the installation technology used for Microsoft 365 subscriptions and most newer Office versions. It installs and updates Office differently from the older Windows Installer (MSI) method.

    A simple way to identify it:

    • Open Word or Excel
    • Go to File > Account
    • Under Product Information, look for Click-to-Run
    • If Update Options appears there, that also indicates a Click-to-Run installation

    Why this matters for Publisher 2016:

    • Microsoft does not support installing the same version of Office products that use two different installation technologies on the same computer.
    • This applies to standalone apps such as Publisher, Visio, and Project.
    • In most cases, different Office versions also cannot run together on the same PC.

    For the specific plan to install standalone Publisher 2016 alongside Microsoft 365:

    • Microsoft 365 uses Click-to-Run.
    • If Publisher 2016 is an MSI-based standalone install, that combination is not supported on the same computer.
    • If Office detects this mismatch, it can block the installation and require one product to be removed.

    About October 2026:

    • Publisher in Microsoft 365 will no longer be supported after October 2026.
    • After that, Microsoft 365 subscribers will no longer be able to open or edit Publisher files in Publisher.
    • Microsoft recommends converting existing Publisher files to PDF or Word before that date.

    References:

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

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