How to Open .pub Files After Microsoft Publisher’s End
Microsoft Publisher is gone from Microsoft 365, but your .pub files aren’t lost. Several tools can open, convert and even edit Publisher files — some free, some paid. Here’s what works, what to watch for and which option suits your needs.
What happened to Publisher?
Microsoft 365 subscribers lost access to Publisher completely on or shortly after October 1, 2026 as its removal update rolled out. For subscribers that’s a kill switch, the ‘365’ version of Publisher won’t work at all.
However, Publisher with a perpetual-license version of Office (e.g. Office 2021, Office 2019 and earlier) keeps running, though without security or bug fixes. Support for perpetual (bought) Publisher 2021 ended on October 13, 2026, along with Office LTSC 2021 and Office 2021.
In short: if you only had Publisher through Microsoft 365, you need one of the tools below. If you own Office 2019 or 2021 Professional, or standalone Publisher, you still have the most faithful option.
Key issues when converting .pub files
Some of the .pub conversion options are of little practical use because they convert to a non-editable format like JPG image or PDF. The Publisher to PDF option was recommended by Microsoft but is almost useless for editing.
Other software or services convert .pub files into another editable format which you can use in the future. That’s a better choice; however, any file conversion will have problems that need fixing. Format, layouts, detailed positioning and fonts can all alter when converting a .pub file to another format. That’s not a reflection on the converting software but the reality of the complex task.
Most faithful way to open and convert .pub files
Publisher comes with Office 2019 and 2021 Professional and Professional Plus. Office 2024 has no Publisher, and installing a newer Office over an older one can delete Publisher along with it. Office Watch’s buying guide covers which bundles to look for.
We have a guide to installing only Publisher from an Office bundle. However the safest approach is keeping it on a separate computer or virtual machine.
What to do before converting .pub files
Test before you pay. Try your hardest, most complicated Publisher file in PubOut, Affinity and LibreOffice (or Pubwork) first.
Install the original fonts before judging any conversion. If necessary change the fonts in the new version.
Keep the original .pub files. Better tools keep arriving.
Make two copies: a PDF for faithful viewing and printing, plus an editable copy in whichever app you choose.
Best Publisher alternatives for .pub files
All that said, here’s a summary of the Publisher .pub viewing and editing choices available.
| Your situation | Try this … |
| You already own Office 2019 or 2021 Professional | Keep using Publisher, ideally on a separate PC |
| Just view a .pub or save it as PDF, nothing to install | PubOut |
| Open and edit a file free on Windows | LibreOffice Draw or Affinity |
| Keep editing and make new publications, free | Affinity or Scribus |
| Edit on a Chromebook, tablet or locked down PC | Pubwork |
| Open files on a Mac | Affinity, LibreOffice, PubKeep or Korva |
| View files on iPhone or iPad | PubHarbor or PubOut |
| Layouts must look exactly like Publisher | PubKeep, or an old copy of Publisher |
| Convert a few files to PDF | PubOut or LibreOffice |
| Convert hundreds of files | LibreOffice from the command prompt, Korva Pro, PubKeep Converter or Microsoft’s script with old Publisher |
| Confidential files (staff, pupils, patients, members) | A desktop app, or a browser tool that doesn’t upload. An old copy of Publisher |
All the Publisher .pub options at a glance
“Can edit” means you can change the content after opening. Only Publisher itself saves back to .pub. Everything else edits a converted copy in its own format.
| Name | Cost | Converts .pub to? | Edit .pub directly? |
| Microsoft Publisher 2019 or 2021 | Already owned, or buy older Office | PDF, Word, images | Yes, and saves .pub |
| Affinity | Free | Affinity, PDF, PDF/X | Yes |
| LibreOffice Draw | Free | ODG, PDF and more | Yes |
| Scribus | Free | Scribus (.sla), PDF | Yes |
| PubOut | Free | No, view only | |
| Pubwork | Free | PDF, Word, PowerPoint, ODG, InDesign, Scribus, images | Yes |
| Publican | Free | PDF, .publican | Yes |
| stillPUB | Free | PDF, JPG, PNG, .stillpub | Yes |
| Free Pub Editor | Free | Yes | |
| PubStudio | Free | Not stated, prints to PDF | Yes |
| Aspose PUB Viewer | Free | Images (PDF with Aspose’s converter) | No, view only |
| Zamzar | Free, paid plans available | ODT (OpenOffice), HTML, images and more | No |
| PubKeep | $149, seven day trial | PDF, .pubk | Yes |
| PubKeep Converter | 3 files free, then credit packs | No | |
| Korva | Free; Pro $49 once | PDF, .kva (Pro) | Yes |
| PubHarbor | 3 files free; Pro $4.99 a month, $14.99 a year or $24.99 once | PDF, Word, images (Pro) | No, view only |
| PUB Reader for Mac | About $30 | Word, ODT, PDF, RTF | No |
| PUB Reader for iPhone and iPad | $14.99 | Word, RTF, PDF | No |
| PUB Editor & Converter (Mac) | $49.99 | Yes, basic | |
| PUB Editor Pro (Windows) | Check Store listing | PDF, JPG, .pub (claimed) | Yes |
| CorelDRAW (Windows) | 15 day trial, then paid | CorelDRAW, PDF | Yes, Publisher 2002 to 2010 files only |
Keep Your .pub Files Working
If you still have Publisher through a perpetual Office license, How to Install Only Publisher and Skip the Rest of Microsoft Office walks you through setting it up safely alongside Microsoft 365, and Keep Publisher Working: Which Microsoft Office Version to Buy in 2026 helps you pick the right bundle before stock dries up.
For the full timeline of what changed and when, Microsoft Publisher Ends October 2026: How to Keep It Working lays out every deadline, while October 2026 Office Changes: Publisher Dies, Office 2021 Support Ends covers the eight other Microsoft deadlines that landed the same month.
Microsoft’s own advice to convert .pub files to Word was underwhelming. Publisher to Word Conversion Tested: Microsoft’s Method in the real world shows exactly how badly that recommendation holds up with real documents.