Microsoft Publisher 2019

Unfortunately not - you cannot upgrade to Office 2024 on the same computer and keep using Publisher 2019.

If you install Office 2024, the installer will automatically detect and overwrite older versions of Office applications, meaning Publisher 2019 will be removed from your system. Because Office 2024 does not include Publisher in any configuration, you will lose the ability to open or edit your .pub files altogether. Microsoft is officially retiring the entire Microsoft Publisher product line in October 2026.

If you stick with Publisher 2019, your standalone license will continue to function after the retirement date. However, it is now "End of Life," meaning it receives no security updates.

Because you have hundreds of village files, you might want to hold off on the upgrade. Keep your current computer as is. This allows you to finish current village newsletters while you figure out a transition plan.

One option is to bulk convert your historical newsletters and templates to PDF. This ensures you will always be able to view and print them. For hundreds of files, Microsoft offers a PowerShell script to automate bulk conversion of folders of .pub files into PDFs.

You should also consider transitioning to an alternative for future village posters and newsletters. Affinity Publisher is a desktop publishing tool, Canva is designed for ease of use and posters.

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