Microsoft has officially announced that Microsoft Publisher will reach end‑of‑life in October 2026. After that date, the application will be removed from Microsoft 365 subscriptions, and users will no longer be able to open or edit .pub files within Publisher. Microsoft recommends converting existing files to formats such as PDF or Word in advance of retirement. Some users have switched to tools such as Adobe InDesign, which requires an additional license from IT.

Users may continue to use Publisher with its current functionality until its retirement, but Microsoft will phase out support by October 13, 2026. After that point, the application will no longer receive updates or security patches, and IT will be removing Publisher installations from campus computers.

What You Should Do Now

• Review any existing .pub files you or your department may still rely on.
• Begin converting important Publisher documents to supported formats such as PDF or Word (.docx).
• Consider transitioning publication workflows to applications like Word, PowerPoint, or Designer, or Adobe InDesign.