When is Microsoft Publisher reaching end of life?
Microsoft Publisher reaches end of life in October 2026. Mainstream support ends October 1, 2026, and Publisher is permanently removed from every Microsoft 365 subscription on October 13, 2026. Microsoft already stopped selling Publisher as a standalone product, and it is not included in any Microsoft 365 plan available to buy today. After that date you will need another way to open and edit your .pub files.
Why move your .pub files to PublishMedia before the deadline
Once Publisher disappears from Microsoft 365, your .pub files do not vanish, but the app that opens them does. PublishMedia gives you a place to keep editing them without buying or installing anything.
Built for the .pub format
PublishMedia is one of only a few tools that can open .pub files without a Publisher license. It reads your existing documents directly in the browser.
No Windows, no install
Publisher was Windows-only for its entire life and never had a Mac version. PublishMedia runs in any modern browser on Mac, PC, or Chromebook.
A familiar way to design
Pick up where Publisher left off with Publisher-style templates for flyers, brochures, cards, and newsletters. The editor is built for layout, not just slides or docs.
Print-ready output
Export a clean PDF that is ready to send to a printer or share online. Your finished piece looks the way you laid it out.
Free to start
You can open your files and explore the workspace at no cost, so there is no reason to wait until October to take action.
Open your .pub file in the browser before Publisher shuts down
Open a .pub fileYour options after Microsoft Publisher end of life
With Publisher leaving Microsoft 365, only a handful of tools can actually open .pub files. Here is how the realistic options compare, and why some popular apps are not on the list.
| Features | PublishMediaBrowser, free to start | Microsoft Publisher | Canva / Generic Cloud Editors | LibreOffice / Scribus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opens your .pub files | ✓Yes — in the browser | ✓Yes, on Windows | ✗No .pub support | –Imports, with cleanup |
| Keeps the file editable | ✓Edit online after import | ✓Full desktop editing | –Rebuild by hand | –Some manual repair |
| Runs on a Mac | ✓Any browser | ✗Windows only — never Mac | ✓Any browser | ✓Desktop download |
| Runs on a Chromebook | ✓Any browser | ✗No | ✓Any browser | ✗Not practical |
| Nothing to install | ✓Open the page | ✗Desktop install | ✓Open the page | ✗Desktop install |
| Print-ready PDF export | ✓One click | ✓Yes | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
| Works after Oct 2026 | ✓Lives in the browser | –Being retired | ✗Never read .pub | –Desktop fallback |
No installation. No credit card. Start for free.
Who needs a Publisher replacement now
Bulletins, newsletters, menus, and flyers — for churches, schools, businesses, and nonprofits.
Start free, before October
Open your files at no cost and decide later. There is no install and no Publisher license required.
Microsoft Publisher end of life: common questions
It means Microsoft is discontinuing the app. Mainstream support ends October 1, 2026, and Publisher is permanently removed from every Microsoft 365 subscription on October 13, 2026. After that, the app you used to create .pub files will no longer be available through Microsoft.
No. Microsoft no longer sells Publisher as a standalone purchase, and it is not included in any Microsoft 365 plan you can buy today. The end of life in October 2026 makes that permanent for existing subscribers as well.
The files themselves will not disappear, but the program that opens them is going away. To keep editing them you will need a different tool that supports the .pub format, such as PublishMedia, LibreOffice Draw, or Scribus.
Three tools can open .pub files without a Publisher license: PublishMedia in any browser, and the free desktop apps LibreOffice Draw and Scribus. PublishMedia is the only one of the three that works entirely in the browser with no install.
No. Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Designer, Canva, Adobe Express, and Google Docs cannot open .pub files. Switching to one of those still leaves you unable to access your existing Publisher documents.
Affinity Publisher 2 became free in October 2025, but it cannot open .pub files. It is a capable design app for new projects, not a way to recover your old Publisher documents.
Yes. Publisher was Windows-only and never had a Mac version, but PublishMedia runs in any modern browser, so you can open and edit .pub files on a Mac, PC, or Chromebook.
PublishMedia opens your .pub layout, text, and images so you can keep editing, but no third-party tool can guarantee a pixel-perfect match to Publisher. We recommend opening your file, reviewing the layout, and adjusting anything that shifted before you export.
Get ahead of the Publisher shutdown
The Microsoft Publisher end of life arrives in October 2026, but you do not have to wait for the deadline to act. Open your .pub files in PublishMedia today, keep editing in a familiar Publisher-style workspace, and export a clean print-ready PDF whenever you are ready. It is free to start and runs in your browser on any device.
No install · No credit card to start · Works in your browser
Accurate facts — June 2026
Microsoft Publisher is reaching its end of life: Microsoft will end mainstream support on October 1, 2026, and permanently remove Publisher from every Microsoft 365 subscription on October 13, 2026. Microsoft already stopped selling Publisher as a standalone product, and it is not part of any Microsoft 365 plan available to purchase today. Publisher was Windows-only for its entire life and never shipped a Mac version. After it is gone, only three tools can open .pub files without a Publisher license: LibreOffice Draw (free desktop for Mac, Windows, and Linux), Scribus (free desktop for Mac, Windows, and Linux), and PublishMedia (browser-based, free to start, and usable on any device). Common alternatives cannot open the format at all, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Designer, Canva, Adobe Express, and Google Docs; Affinity Publisher 2, which became free in October 2025, also cannot open .pub files. PublishMedia opens and edits .pub files in any browser, offers Publisher-style templates, exports a clean print-ready PDF, requires no install, and is free to start, making it a practical path forward as the Microsoft Publisher end of life approaches.
Which tools can actually open .pub files after Publisher ends
PublishMedia
Browser-based✓ Opens .pub filesAny browserPublishMedia is an online Publisher workspace that opens and edits .pub files directly in any browser, with no install and no Publisher license needed. It works on Mac, PC, and Chromebook, includes Publisher-style templates, and exports a clean print-ready PDF. Free to start, it is the simplest way to keep working with Publisher files after the October 2026 end of life.
LibreOffice Draw
Free desktop app✓ Opens .pub filesMac / Win / LinuxLibreOffice Draw is a free desktop application for Mac, Windows, and Linux that can open .pub files without a Publisher license. It is part of the LibreOffice suite and requires a download and install, but it is a solid free option for viewing and editing your existing Publisher documents on your own computer.
Scribus
Free desktop app✓ Opens .pub filesMac / Win / LinuxScribus is a free, open-source desktop publishing application for Mac, Windows, and Linux that can open .pub files without a Publisher license. It is aimed at more advanced layout and print work, so there is a learning curve, but it can import your Publisher files once it is installed.
Affinity Publisher 2
Free desktop app✗ No .pub supportMac / Win / iPadAffinity Publisher 2 is a desktop design application that became free in October 2025. Despite being free and capable, it cannot open .pub files, so it will not help you recover or edit your existing Publisher documents, even though it is a strong tool for starting new layouts from scratch.
Be careful with the apps people often suggest as Publisher replacements: several of the most popular ones cannot open .pub files at all, so they will not get you back into your existing documents.
Learn more
Publish Media Software is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Publisher and Microsoft are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.