---
title: "Microsoft Publisher End of Life: Dates & What to Do"
description: "Publisher left Microsoft 365 on Oct 1, 2026 and perpetual support ended Oct 13, 2026. Dated timeline, Microsoft's words, and what to do with your files."
url: https://aretus.app/microsoft-publisher-end-of-life
last_updated: 2026-10-28
site: Aretus
---

# Microsoft Publisher end of life: what happened, and what to do with your files

> Yes, Microsoft Publisher has been discontinued. Microsoft announced the retirement in February 2024. Publisher was removed from Microsoft 365 subscriptions starting October 1, 2026, and support for the last one-time-purchase version, Publisher 2021, ended October 13, 2026. Older copies still run without security updates. Your .pub files still exist and can be converted.

## The short version

- **Publisher is retired.** Microsoft [announced it in February 2024](https://mc.merill.net/message/MC716267/v/2024-02-15T17-12-45-637Z) and carried it out in October 2026.
- **Microsoft 365 subscribers** lost Publisher starting **October 1, 2026**.
- **One-time-purchase copies** (Publisher 2016, 2019, 2021) still install and run, but get no more security fixes. The last of them, Publisher 2021, lost support on **October 13, 2026**.
- **Your .pub files are safe where they are.** You just need another way to open them: free LibreOffice Draw, a colleague with an old copy of Publisher, or a converter like the one on this site.

We're an independent service and aren't affiliated with Microsoft.

## Is Microsoft Publisher being discontinued?

Yes. It isn't just "being" discontinued anymore; it has been. Microsoft won't release a new version, it isn't included in the newest one-time-purchase Office (Office 2024 and Office LTSC 2024), and it has been removed from Microsoft 365. Publisher first shipped in 1991, so this ends a 35-year run.

## What does "Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026" mean?

That's the title of [Microsoft's official notice](https://support.microsoft.com/office/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026-ee6302a2-4bc7-4841-babf-8e9be3acbfd7) about the retirement, and IT departments repeated the wording in their own messages. In plain terms:

- If you had Publisher **through a Microsoft 365 subscription**, the app went away. You can't open or edit .pub files with it anymore.
- If you **bought Publisher outright** (on its own or in Office Professional, Office 2016, 2019 or 2021), it keeps working, but Microsoft no longer fixes bugs or security problems in it.
- In both cases, **your files aren't touched**.

## Can I still use Publisher after October 2026?

It depends on how you got it:

- **Through Microsoft 365: no.** Microsoft says subscribers [can't access Publisher after October 1, 2026](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher), and it's no longer part of any Microsoft 365 plan.
- **As a one-time purchase (Publisher 2016, 2019 or 2021): yes.** Microsoft says you can [still install and use](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher) a perpetual copy. It just gets no more security fixes or support, so see [which versions still work](#which-publisher-versions-still-work) for what that means in practice.

## Will my Publisher files still work?

Yes. The .pub files themselves haven't changed, wherever they're stored: your computer, OneDrive, SharePoint or a shared drive. What's gone, for most people, is the app that opened them. You can still open them in free LibreOffice Draw, convert them, or ask someone with a one-time-purchase copy of Publisher to save PDFs. The options are laid out [by situation below](#what-to-do-with-your-files-by-situation). If a particular file refuses to open, see [Publisher file won't open?](https://aretus.app/publisher-file-wont-open)

## Timeline: what happened and when

| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 2020 | Support ended for Office 2010, including Publisher 2010 | [Purdue lifecycle table](https://engineering.purdue.edu/ECN/Support/KB/Docs/microsoft-office-products-support-lifecycle) |
| Apr 11, 2023 | Support ended for Office 2013, including Publisher 2013 | [Microsoft](https://support.microsoft.com/kb/5002316) |
| **Feb 15, 2024** | **Microsoft announces Publisher's retirement** (Message Center post MC716267) | [MC716267](https://mc.merill.net/message/MC716267/v/2024-02-15T17-12-45-637Z), [The Register](https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/20/microsoft_publisher_eol/) |
| Sept–Oct 2024 | Office LTSC 2024 and Office 2024 are released without Publisher | [Microsoft FAQ](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/office-2024-and-office-ltsc-2024-faq) |
| Oct 14, 2025 | Support ended for Office 2016 and 2019, including Publisher 2016 and 2019 | [Microsoft](https://support.microsoft.com/KB/5002369) |
| Nov 11, 2025 | Microsoft updates its notice as a reminder | [MC716267](https://mc.merill.net/message/MC716267) |
| Sept 2026 | Microsoft sends a reminder to admins (MC1469564) | [MC1469564](https://mc.merill.net/message/MC1469564) |
| **Oct 1, 2026** | **Publisher removed from Microsoft 365 subscriptions.** Removal reached PCs gradually after that date | [Microsoft](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher), [Windows Latest](https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/10/13/microsoft-publisher-begins-disappearing-from-pcs-after-35-years-and-your-pub-files-wont-open-in-microsoft-365-anymore/) |
| **Oct 13, 2026** | **Support ended for Publisher 2021**, along with Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021. No paid extended updates are offered | [Microsoft](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher), [Office 2021](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/system-requirements/end-of-support-for-office-2021), [LTSC 2021 lifecycle](https://learn.microsoft.com/lifecycle/products/office-ltsc-2021) |
| After Oct 13, 2026 | Perpetual copies still install and run, without security fixes or support | [Microsoft](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher) |

## October 1 or October 13? Why you see two dates

Both dates are real. They apply to different people:

- **October 1, 2026** is when **Microsoft 365** subscribers lost Publisher.
- **October 13, 2026** is when support ended for **perpetual (one-time-purchase) Publisher**. That date is tied to Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021, and Microsoft's lifecycle pages list both as ending on [October 13, 2026](https://learn.microsoft.com/lifecycle/products/office-ltsc-2021).

The confusion comes partly from Microsoft itself. An earlier version of its Publisher page gave October 1 for the perpetual version too, and some articles repeated that. The current page and Microsoft's September 2026 reminder both say October 13 for perpetual copies.

## What Microsoft said

Text in quotation marks is Microsoft's exact wording. Where we couldn't confirm the exact wording, we paraphrase and say so.

From Microsoft's notice, [Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026](https://support.microsoft.com/office/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026-ee6302a2-4bc7-4841-babf-8e9be3acbfd7):

> "In October 2026, Microsoft Publisher will reach its end of life."

**Paraphrase** of the next sentence of the [same notice](https://support.microsoft.com/office/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026-ee6302a2-4bc7-4841-babf-8e9be3acbfd7): after that, Publisher is no longer included in Microsoft 365, and existing on-premises suites are no longer supported.

From Microsoft's [Publisher retirement FAQ](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026), first a **paraphrase**: Microsoft 365 subscribers lose access to Publisher from October 1, 2026, as Microsoft's removal update reaches their computers. Then, in Microsoft's words:

> "Support for the perpetual version of Publisher will end on October 13, 2026, when Office LTSC 2021 and Consumer Office 2021 reach end of support."

> "However, if you have the Perpetual version of Publisher, although support will end, you will still be able to install and use the app beyond this date."

On what to use instead ([Microsoft's notice](https://support.microsoft.com/office/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026-ee6302a2-4bc7-4841-babf-8e9be3acbfd7)):

> "Many common Publisher scenarios including the creation of professionally branded templates, envelope and label printing, and producing customized calendars, business cards, and programs are already available in other Microsoft 365 apps such as Word and PowerPoint."

Microsoft also recommends converting existing files to PDF or Word, and suggests searching your PC, OneDrive and SharePoint for ".pub" to find them ([FAQ](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher)).

## Which Publisher versions still work?

| Version | How people got it | Support ended | Opens .pub files today? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher in Microsoft 365 | Subscription | Removed from Oct 1, 2026 | No. The app is gone |
| Publisher 2021 (also in Office Professional 2021 and Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021) | One-time purchase | Oct 13, 2026 | Yes, unsupported |
| Publisher 2019 | One-time purchase | Oct 14, 2025 | Yes, unsupported |
| Publisher 2016 | One-time purchase | Oct 14, 2025 | Yes, unsupported |
| Publisher 2013 | One-time purchase | Apr 11, 2023 | Yes, unsupported |
| Publisher 2010 and older | One-time purchase | Oct 13, 2020 or earlier | Usually, but older versions may not open files saved by newer ones |
| Office 2024 / Office LTSC 2024 | One-time purchase | Supported | Never included Publisher |

**Is it safe to keep using an unsupported copy?** For opening and converting your own files, it's a reasonable bridge. Microsoft's [Office 2021 end-of-support page](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/system-requirements/end-of-support-for-office-2021) says the apps keep working but get no more security fixes. So be more careful with .pub files from people you don't know, and don't plan on keeping that copy forever. A new computer or a reinstall can turn into a hassle.

## What Microsoft offers for your files, and what it doesn't

**What it offers. Both need Publisher installed:**

- **Save as PDF** from inside Publisher: **File > Export > Create PDF/XPS Document**, or **File > Save As > PDF** ([Microsoft's steps](https://support.microsoft.com/office/save-as-or-convert-a-publication-to-pdf-or-xps-using-publisher-657332d0-d2c2-464a-9870-e9b3d22e6469)).
- **A sample PowerShell script** for bulk conversion to PDF, linked from Microsoft's retirement FAQ. It's called Convert-PubFileToPDF.ps1, and Microsoft describes it as a sample to adapt and test. It needs a working, licensed copy of Publisher on a Windows PC. It can work through a folder and its subfolders, keeps going after errors, and skips any file that already has a PDF with the same name ([how to run it](https://learn.microsoft.com/answers/a/12270959)). Our [bulk conversion guide](https://aretus.app/bulk-convert-publisher-files) compares it with the other options.

**What it doesn't offer:**

- **No Publisher viewer.** Microsoft's [own support page](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/where-is-the-publisher-viewer-a5a05230-654f-420e-8aa3-3b50f645c359) says Publisher doesn't have one.
- **No .pub import in Word, PowerPoint or Designer.** Publisher can export text to Word, but Microsoft says you [can't save a whole publication](https://support.microsoft.com/publisher/save-a-publication-as-a-word-document), with its text, graphics and layout, as a Word document in one step.
- **No route without Publisher.** If nobody in your organization still has a perpetual copy, Microsoft's tools can't help. That's where LibreOffice and converters come in.

## What to do with your files, by situation

### You still have Publisher installed

You're in the best spot, so use it while it lasts. Save a PDF of anything you might need to print or share. For more than a handful of files, try Microsoft's script or the other [bulk options](https://aretus.app/bulk-convert-publisher-files). Keep the .pub originals too.

### Publisher disappeared with your Microsoft 365 subscription

You have three free or low-cost routes:

1. **LibreOffice Draw** (free) opens .pub files on Windows, Mac and Linux, lets you edit them, and exports PDF. See [how to open a .pub file](https://aretus.app/open-pub-file).
2. **Ask someone with an old copy of Publisher** (a colleague, another church office, the district office) to save your key files as PDF.
3. **Use our converter** to [convert a .pub file to PDF](https://aretus.app/), plus page images, an editable ODG and text-only Word. You get a free, watermarked preview of every page for the first 10 files in a batch, then a one-time $5 to $59 depending on how many files convert ([pricing](https://aretus.app/pricing)). No account, and files are deleted after 24 hours.

### You only need to read or print an old file

Make a PDF and you're done. See [how to open a .pub file without Publisher](https://aretus.app/open-pub-file).

### You edit the same bulletin or newsletter every week

In the short term, open the .pub in LibreOffice Draw, or convert it to ODG, and keep going. For the long term, rebuild the template once in a tool you'll keep using. Our [guide to Publisher alternatives](https://aretus.app/microsoft-publisher-alternatives) compares Word, Canva, Affinity, Scribus and others, including which of them can open .pub files (very few can).

### You need the words in Word

See [how to convert a Publisher file to Word](https://aretus.app/publisher-to-word). The short answer: go through a PDF, or use a text-only Word file if you only need the words.

### You're on a Mac

Publisher never existed for Mac, so this is nothing new, but the options have improved. See [opening a Publisher file on a Mac](https://aretus.app/open-pub-file-on-mac).

### You manage an archive of hundreds or thousands of files

Plan before you convert: take an inventory, remove duplicates, keep the originals, and check samples. The [bulk conversion guide](https://aretus.app/bulk-convert-publisher-files) has a checklist and working commands.

## Related guides

- [What is a .pub file?](https://aretus.app/what-is-a-pub-file)
- [How to open a .pub file without Publisher](https://aretus.app/open-pub-file)
- [Microsoft Publisher alternatives](https://aretus.app/microsoft-publisher-alternatives)
- [Bulk converting Publisher files](https://aretus.app/bulk-convert-publisher-files)

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Microsoft Publisher being discontinued?

Yes, and it has already happened. Publisher was removed from Microsoft 365 starting October 1, 2026, and support for the last one-time-purchase version ended October 13, 2026. Microsoft won't release a new version.

### Will my copy of Publisher 2016, 2019 or 2021 stop working?

No. Microsoft says perpetual copies can still be installed and used. They just get no more security fixes or support. Support for Publisher 2016 and 2019 ended October 14, 2025, and for Publisher 2021 on October 13, 2026.

### Will my .pub files be deleted?

No. Files on your computer, OneDrive or SharePoint stay where they are. What changed is that Microsoft 365 no longer includes an app that opens them, so you need another way to open or convert them.

### Can I still buy Microsoft Publisher?

Not from Microsoft's current lineup. Publisher isn't part of Microsoft 365, Office 2024 or Office LTSC 2024. Be wary of secondhand license keys for old versions: they're unsupported, and their legitimacy is hard to check.

### Does Microsoft offer a Publisher viewer or a way to open .pub files in Word?

No. Microsoft has never made a Publisher viewer, and Word, PowerPoint and Designer can't import .pub files. Microsoft's routes are saving to PDF from Publisher itself, or its PowerShell script, which also needs Publisher installed.

### Why did Publisher disappear from my computer in October?

If you had it through Microsoft 365, Microsoft began removing access on October 1, 2026, and the change reached different computers at different times after that. One-time-purchase copies were not removed.

### What does Microsoft recommend instead of Publisher?

Microsoft points users to Word and PowerPoint for things like branded templates, labels, calendars, business cards and programs, plus Designer and the free templates on Microsoft Create.

## Sources

1. [Microsoft Support: Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026](https://support.microsoft.com/office/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026-ee6302a2-4bc7-4841-babf-8e9be3acbfd7)
2. [Microsoft Support: Publisher retirement FAQ (support.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher)](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher)
3. [Microsoft Support: Publisher retirement FAQ, full article URL](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026)
4. [Microsoft Learn: Office LTSC 2021 reaching end of support on October 13, 2026](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/lifecycle/announcements/office-ltsc-2021-end-of-support)
5. [Microsoft 365 Message Center MC716267 (mirror): Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026, first version, Feb 15, 2024](https://mc.merill.net/message/MC716267/v/2024-02-15T17-12-45-637Z)
6. [Microsoft 365 Message Center MC1469564 (mirror): Microsoft Publisher, reminder that support ends in October 2026](https://mc.merill.net/message/MC1469564)
7. [Microsoft Learn: Office LTSC 2021 lifecycle](https://learn.microsoft.com/lifecycle/products/office-ltsc-2021)
8. [Microsoft Support: End of support for Office 2021](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/system-requirements/end-of-support-for-office-2021)
9. [Microsoft Support: End of support for Office 2016 and Office 2019 (KB5002369)](https://support.microsoft.com/KB/5002369)
10. [Microsoft Support: End of support for Office 2013](https://support.microsoft.com/kb/5002316)
11. [Purdue ECN: Microsoft Office products support lifecycle (Office 2010)](https://engineering.purdue.edu/ECN/Support/KB/Docs/microsoft-office-products-support-lifecycle)
12. [Microsoft Support: Office 2024 and Office LTSC 2024 FAQ](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/office-2024-and-office-ltsc-2024-faq)
13. [Microsoft Support: Save As or convert a publication to .pdf or .xps using Publisher](https://support.microsoft.com/office/save-as-or-convert-a-publication-to-pdf-or-xps-using-publisher-657332d0-d2c2-464a-9870-e9b3d22e6469)
14. [Microsoft Support: Save a publication as a Word document](https://support.microsoft.com/publisher/save-a-publication-as-a-word-document)
15. [Microsoft Support: Where is the Publisher viewer?](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/where-is-the-publisher-viewer-a5a05230-654f-420e-8aa3-3b50f645c359)
16. [Microsoft Q&A: running Microsoft's Convert-PubFileToPDF.ps1 sample script](https://learn.microsoft.com/answers/a/12270959)
17. [Windows Latest: Microsoft Publisher begins disappearing from PCs (Oct 13, 2026)](https://www.windowslatest.com/2026/10/13/microsoft-publisher-begins-disappearing-from-pcs-after-35-years-and-your-pub-files-wont-open-in-microsoft-365-anymore/)
18. [The Register: Microsoft Publisher to be retired in 2026 (Feb 20, 2024)](https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/20/microsoft_publisher_eol/)

## Cite this page

“Microsoft Publisher end of life: what happened, and what to do with your files.” Aretus, last updated October 28, 2026. https://aretus.app/microsoft-publisher-end-of-life

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