Microsoft Publisher will stop receiving updates in October 2026. This raises practical questions: What happens to your .pub files after that date? Can you still open them? What are the risks of keeping Publisher installed? Here's what you need to know.
What "Retirement" Means for Publisher
When Microsoft retires a product, it means:
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Start free preview- No more feature updates: The software won't improve or get new capabilities.
- No more security patches: Vulnerabilities won't be fixed, creating security risks.
- No more compatibility updates: Publisher won't update to work with new versions of Windows or other software.
- No more support: Microsoft won't help troubleshoot problems or answer questions.
Publisher itself doesn't stop working immediately, but it becomes riskier and less practical to keep using over time.
Short-Term: What Changes Right After October 2026
Your existing Publisher installation keeps working for a while. If you have Publisher installed on October 31, 2026, it will still open on November 1, 2026.
What you can still do:
- Open existing .pub files on computers where Publisher is already installed
- Edit and save .pub files
- Print from Publisher
- Export to PDF or other formats (while Publisher still runs)
What becomes harder:
- Installing Publisher on new computers: Microsoft may remove Publisher from Office installers, making it unavailable for new installations.
- Keeping Publisher compatible: As Windows updates, Publisher may stop launching or crash.
- Security risks: Unpatched vulnerabilities make Publisher a potential security risk, especially if you open .pub files from untrusted sources.
Medium-Term: 1-3 Years After Retirement (2027-2029)
As time passes, running Publisher becomes increasingly difficult:
Windows compatibility issues: New Windows updates may break Publisher. Users report that old Office applications sometimes stop launching after major Windows updates.
Security concerns: Security researchers may discover vulnerabilities in Publisher. With no patches available, your system is at risk if you keep Publisher installed.
File compatibility: .pub files created in newer tools (if anyone still creates them) may not open in your retired Publisher installation.
IT policies: Organizations with IT departments may prohibit using Publisher due to security risks, even if it technically still works.
Long-Term: 3+ Years After Retirement (2029 and Beyond)
Eventually, Publisher becomes impractical or impossible to use:
New computers: New PCs won't support Publisher, and you won't be able to install it.
Operating system changes: Major Windows versions after Windows 11 may not run Publisher at all.
Lost licenses: If you lose your Office installer or license key, you may not be able to reinstall Publisher.
File corruption risks: Without support, if Publisher crashes or a .pub file gets corrupted, you have no way to recover it.
At this point, your .pub files are effectively inaccessible unless you convert them beforehand or maintain an old, unsupported system just to open them.
What Happens to .pub Files Themselves
Your .pub files don't disappear. They remain on your hard drive or cloud storage. The problem is that nothing can open them.
Think of it like this: If you have a cassette tape but no cassette player, the tape still exists, but you can't listen to it.
Your .pub files will:
- Still exist as files on your computer
- Still take up storage space
- Still appear in file listings
But you won't be able to:
- Open them in Publisher (once it stops working)
- Edit them
- View their content
- Print them
Why You Can't Just "Keep Old Publisher Running"
Some people think they'll keep an old computer with Publisher installed, just for opening .pub files. This has serious problems:
Security risks: An unpatched Publisher installation is a security vulnerability. If you open a malicious .pub file, it could exploit unpatched security holes in Publisher to compromise your system.
Hardware failure: Old computers fail. Hard drives die, components wear out. When that computer stops working, you lose access to your files unless you have backups and a way to reinstall Publisher.
No support: If something goes wrong—Publisher crashes, files get corrupted, the license activation fails—you have no way to fix it.
Impractical long-term: Maintaining an old, insecure system just to open legacy files is expensive, risky, and eventually fails.
Alternative Tools for Opening .pub Files After Retirement
A few tools can open .pub files without Publisher, but they have limitations:
LibreOffice Draw
LibreOffice Draw can open some .pub files. It's free and open source.
Advantages:
- Free and actively maintained
- Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Will continue to work after Publisher retires
Limitations:
- Can't open all .pub files (especially newer ones)
- Layout and formatting may not match the original
- Complex files may not convert well
Will it still work in 2027+? Yes, LibreOffice is actively developed and will continue to improve its .pub support, though it will never be perfect.
Learn more about opening .pub files without Publisher.
Online Viewers
Some websites claim to open .pub files online. These are unreliable and often stop working as the format becomes less relevant.
Risks:
- Uploading your files to unknown third parties
- Viewers may stop working or disappear
- Poor conversion quality
Conversion Services
Services that convert .pub files to PDF and PowerPoint will continue to work after Publisher retires, as they typically use LibreOffice or similar tools that are actively maintained.
The Smart Approach: Convert Your Files Now
The safest approach is to convert your .pub files to modern formats before Publisher retires.
Convert to:
- PDF for archival and printing (preserves layout, universally readable)
- PowerPoint (PPTX) for editing (works in Google Slides, Canva, Keynote, PowerPoint)
Why convert now:
- Conversion tools are still actively maintained
- Publisher is still available to verify conversion quality
- You can compare the converted file to the original and fix issues
- You avoid the risk of losing access to your files later
Once your files are in PDF and PPTX format, they're accessible on any device, any operating system, and any application that supports those formats. These are open standards with broad support.
What to Convert and What to Keep
You don't need to convert every Publisher file. Prioritize:
High priority:
- Templates you reuse (bulletins, newsletters, flyers)
- Important documents you might need to reference later
- Files with content you might want to edit or repurpose
Low priority:
- Old drafts or test files
- One-time projects you'll never reuse
- Files you already have as PDFs or in other formats
Archive or delete:
- Truly obsolete files you'll never need again
Creating a Backup and Migration Plan
Here's a practical plan for dealing with your Publisher files:
Step 1: Inventory your .pub files
Search your computer and cloud storage for all .pub files. Sort them by importance.
Step 2: Convert high-priority files
Convert important files to PDF and PPTX now, while Publisher is still available and conversion tools are actively maintained.
Step 3: Test your converted files
Open the PDF and PPTX versions. Make sure they look correct and contain all the content you need.
Step 4: Organize your converted files
Store them in a clear folder structure so you can find them later. Use descriptive filenames.
Step 5: Back up everything
Keep backups of both the original .pub files and the converted versions in cloud storage or an external drive.
Step 6: Back up the originals
Keep the original .pub files backed up along with the converted versions. Store them in cloud storage or an external drive for safekeeping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I buy Publisher after October 2026?
Microsoft has announced that Publisher will retire in October 2026. Check Microsoft's official announcements for details on product availability after that date.
Q: Will my existing Publisher installation stop working on October 31, 2026?
No, it will keep working for a while. But over time, Windows updates and security risks will make it impractical to use.
Q: Can I convert .pub files without Publisher?
Yes, LibreOffice and some conversion services can convert .pub files without Publisher installed. But conversion quality varies.
Q: Is it safe to open old .pub files in Publisher after retirement?
Opening .pub files you created yourself is generally safe. Opening .pub files from unknown sources on an unpatched Publisher installation is a security risk.
Q: What if I don't convert my files and Publisher stops working?
LibreOffice Draw can open .pub files and is actively maintained. However, conversion quality varies, so converting important files while you can verify the results is recommended.
Next Steps
Converting your important Publisher files to PDF and PPTX ensures you can access them on any device and in any modern application.
To convert your Publisher files to PDF and PPTX, start with a free preview to see how your files will look before committing.