Two years after initially announcing the retirement of Microsoft Publisher, users are now starting to see in-app reminders that the software will soon stop working.
For anyone who has become reliant on the much-loved desktop publishing tool now has a limited time to see if Microsoft Word can be bent to their will, or to seek out an alternative. The warning from Microsoft is one that should not be ignored, because when the deadline rolls around, it will not be possible to use Publisher to open .pub files.
It was back in February of 2024 that Microsoft made the announcement that Publisher would be going away. It is a piece of software that has been around for more than two decades, developing a loyal following for its easy page layout options for creating everything from newsletters and business cards to posters and more.
The announcement at the time read:
In October 2026, Microsoft Publisher will reach its end of life. After that time, it will no longer be included in Microsoft 365 and existing on-premises suites will no longer be supported. Until then, support for Publisher will continue and users can expect the same experience as today.
The company had also said:
As we look ahead to the retirement of Microsoft Publisher, we are exploring modern ways to achieve other common Publisher scenarios across applications like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Designer. We will update as we have more to share.
Now, with the deadline mere months away, reminders are now being issued. The message that users are now starting to report seeing reads:
Publisher is retiring
Beginning October 2026, Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported, and you won’t be able to access Publisher or open Publisher files.
As for what to do next, there is the following advice:
Can I still use Publisher on my computer?
Users who have the stand-alone edition can keep using the software and reinstall it forever. Publisher included with 365 will continue to run on your computer, except if you must reinstall or switch to a new computer. It’s not clear yet whether Microsoft will automatically uninstall the software, or simply prevent the software from running after October 2026. For those using the 365 version of Publisher, Microsoft advises users to create PDF versions of their documents to preserve them.
Alternative Software
Unfortunately, Microsoft has already stopped selling licenses for the standalone version of Publisher. Other companies that sell Publisher licenses online have also stopped selling Publisher.
For a complete list of desktop publishing software available to users, visit these pages on Wikipedia:
Comparison of desktop publishing software:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_desktop_publishing_softwareList of desktop publishing software:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_desktop_publishing_softwareBe aware that publication software like Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress are extremely expensive and designed for the professional desktop publication industry, and involve a steeper learning curve. There are less expensive online-based or desktop-based publication desktop publication apps available.
What’s the closest equivalent to Microsoft Publisher?
At this point, Microsoft 365 users who need a Publisher-like app should consider purchasing Affinity Publisher 2. It is easy to use and has more features than Microsoft Publisher (e.g., include footnotes, better text handling). You can purchase and download it directly from Affinity’s website (or through Microsoft Store in Windows 10 or 11).
