In a surprising move, Microsoft is set to retire another one of its long-standing applications. After over three decades of service, Microsoft Publisher will officially be phased out in October 2026.
This isn’t entirely new information, as alert users on our forums first spotted hints about Publisher’s imminent end back in June 2024. The topic recently gained traction again when Microsoft updated a support document to guide users in preparing for the application’s sunset.
According to records from the Wayback Machine, this guidance document got an update somewhere between mid-February and early March. Interestingly, unlike Skype—which is set to cease operations as early as May of this year—Publisher fans still have until October 2026 to transition to other tools.
In Microsoft’s words, “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. Microsoft 365 subscribers will no longer be able to open or edit Publisher files in Publisher. Until then, support for Publisher will continue, and users can expect the same experience as today.”
The phase-out plan for Publisher is tied to Microsoft’s strategy to streamline their suite of applications, given that a lot of Publisher’s functionality now exists in other Microsoft programs like Word and PowerPoint. These apps are advised for crafting ads, flyers, brochures, and similar media. While Word and PowerPoint cover most uses for Publisher, the Designer tool is also suggested for specific tasks.
People wondering whether it’s still possible to install Microsoft Publisher can breathe easy for now. Those with a Microsoft 365 subscription can download it up until October 2026. After that, it’ll no longer be available for download under the subscription. If you own a perpetual version of Publisher, it’ll continue to work beyond this end date, but it will no longer receive support.
For those worried about converting Publisher files, there’s good news. You can convert your documents, although you might notice some layout changes. Before October 1, 2026, you need to save existing Publisher files in other formats since post that date, opening them in Publisher won’t be possible. Microsoft advises using a macro if you have numerous files to convert.
Here’s a quick guide from Microsoft to convert Publisher files to PDF: Open your Publisher file, head to File > Save as, choose your save location, select PDF as your file type, and save it. To turn a PDF into a Word document, open Word, navigate to File > Open, find and open the PDF, and confirm in the dialog box. Remember, highly graphic files might not convert perfectly, so keep an eye out for noticeable changes.
All this makes me wonder if anyone out there will truly miss Microsoft Publisher. I’ve yet to meet anyone who swears by it, but maybe it’s a hidden gem for some of you professionals? If you’re among its fans, do share your experiences and thoughts in the comments.
