stand alone MS Publisher fighting with MS Office

Susan Comer 0 Reputation points
2026-08-30T17:14:05.2066667+00:00

I would like to have a stand alone version of MS Publisher. It is fighting with MS Office. Is there a way to download stand alone Publisher software without interfering with MS Office.

Thank you ~

Microsoft 365 and Office | Publisher | Other
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  1. AI answer

    2026-08-30T17:14:15.7766667+00:00

    Yes, but the supported guidance in the provided material indicates that standalone Publisher can conflict with Microsoft 365/Office when installed under the same Windows user account.

    A practical workaround is:

    1. Keep Microsoft 365 installed in the current Windows user account.
    2. Create a second Windows user account on the PC:
      • Start > Settings > Accounts > Family & other users
      • Select Add a user account
    3. Sign in to that second account.
    4. Install the perpetual version there, such as Publisher 2021.

    This separates the installations so Microsoft 365 runs in one account and the perpetual Publisher version runs in the other, avoiding version conflicts.

    If trying to install Publisher 2021 directly alongside Microsoft 365 in the same account, installation conflicts can occur where one setup asks for the other to be removed.

    Also note:

    • Publisher for Microsoft 365 will no longer be available after October 2026.
    • A perpetual version of Publisher can still be installed and used beyond that date, although support ends in October 2026.

    References:

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

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  2. Marcin Policht 106.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-08-30T18:47:45.3733333+00:00

    Unfortunately not - as per https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-apps/deploy/install-different-office-visio-and-project-versions-on-the-same-computer , you would need to separate them by leveraging virtualization (e.g. Hyper V if you have Windows 11 Pro or Oracle VM VirtualBox )

    If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

    hth

    Marcin

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