Microsoft Publisher Is Going Away. Here's What To Do.
Microsoft is cutting off Publisher access in Microsoft 365 on October 1, 2026. If you've built bulletins, newsletters, or flyers in Publisher for years, take a breath — we'll help you sort out exactly what to do next, in plain English.
Here's what's actually happening
The cutoff is October 1, 2026
After that date, Microsoft 365 subscribers won't be able to open Publisher through their subscription anymore.
Your old .pub files don't just vanish
The files are safe on your computer. The problem is having a program that can still open them.
You have two separate decisions to make
One: what to do with your existing Publisher files. Two: what to use for anything new from here on.
You don't need to become a designer
Simple tools already exist that do almost everything Publisher did — this site just helps you pick the right one.
Which one sounds like you?
There are two separate decisions hiding in "what do I do about Publisher." You probably only need to think about one of them right now.
I have old Publisher files I need to keep.
Newsletters, bulletins, and flyers you've already made — and need to open, edit, or convert before October.
See My Conversion OptionsI need something to create new documents in.
You're ready to move on and want a replacement that won't slow you down.
Find My New ToolWhat did you use Publisher for?
Pick your project and we'll point you to the guide built for it.
If your job title has never included "graphic designer," you're exactly who this is for.
Maybe you're the volunteer who's made the church bulletin every week for over a decade. Maybe Publisher is just the program that came with your computer and you've never thought about it since. Either way, you didn't sign up to relearn software during a deadline.
That's the whole point of this site: skip the technical rabbit holes, and get a straight answer for your specific situation.
Questions people actually ask
I have 200 Publisher files. What do I do?
Start with a quick inventory instead of opening all 200 at once. Sort them into "still used regularly" and "archived, rarely touched" — most people find the second pile is much bigger.
For files you still use, plan to convert them to PDF (for anything final) or into your new tool's format (for anything you'll keep editing). For the archive pile, exporting to PDF and keeping the original .pub files in a backup folder is usually enough — you don't have to convert everything on day one.
Can Canva open my Publisher newsletter?
Not directly — Canva can't open a .pub file. What works instead is exporting your Publisher newsletter to PDF first, then rebuilding the layout in Canva using that PDF as a reference.
It's a rebuild, not a one-click conversion, so budget a little time for your most-used templates.
Will my Publisher files just stop working on October 1?
The .pub files themselves won't be deleted or damaged — they'll still sit safely wherever you've saved them. What changes is whether Microsoft 365 will let you open Publisher itself to edit them.
Check your specific Microsoft 365 plan's own announcement for the exact date that applies to your account, since rollout details can vary.
Can I still use Publisher after October if I don't update Microsoft 365?
This depends on how your copy of Office is licensed, and Microsoft's own guidance is the accurate source for your specific plan. As a general rule, subscription-based Microsoft 365 installs are tied to an active subscription, while a one-time-purchase copy of Office behaves differently.
If you're not sure which one you have, that's worth confirming before you assume either way.
How do I convert a Publisher file to Word?
Publisher has built-in export options, but Word isn't a page-layout program, so a direct Publisher-to-Word conversion often reflows your design in ways you won't love.
For anything where the exact layout matters — a bulletin, a flyer — export to PDF instead. Save the Word conversion for text-heavy documents where layout doesn't matter much.
What should our church use instead of Publisher?
For most volunteer-run bulletins and newsletters, Canva is the easiest jump — the drag-and-drop feel is closest to what Publisher volunteers already know, and it has ready-made templates.
If your church prefers to keep everything free and offline, LibreOffice is a solid alternative with a layout tool that behaves more like traditional desktop publishing. We cover both in our project guides above.
The Publisher Retirement Kit
Everything you need to safely move on from Microsoft Publisher, in one download.
- A file inventory checklist for your old .pub files
- Step-by-step PDF conversion instructions
- Canva and LibreOffice migration walkthroughs
- A "which program should I use?" decision tree
- A printable migration checklist for your whole team
You have more time than it feels like. But not unlimited time.
Tell us what you made in Publisher, and we'll point you to the exact guide built for it — no account required, no jargon.
Pick My Project