Microsoft Publisher is being discontinued: here’s what you need to know
Microsoft is discontinuing its desktop publishing application, Microsoft Publisher, on 1 October 2026 and will remove it from Microsoft 365. In this article, you’ll find out what’s changing, what the deadlines are and what options are available to you.
In a nutshell
- Microsoft Publisher will be removed from Microsoft 365 on 1 October 2026; from that date, subscribers will no longer have access to the app.
- This affects all Publisher versions from 2007 to 2021, as well as the Developer Editions.
- Word, PowerPoint and the Microsoft Create templates cover most of the publishing scenarios to date.
- Support for perpetual licences (Office 2021, Office LTSC 2021) will end on 13 October 2026.
What Publisher’s recruitment drive means for businesses
After around three decades, Microsoft Publisher will be discontinued on 1 October 2026 and removed from Microsoft 365. For anyone still using Publisher, this means, above all, reviewing existing templates and workflows in good time and finding suitable alternatives.
Why is Microsoft Publisher being discontinued?
Microsoft cites a desire to focus more on new features and applications as the reason for discontinuing Publisher. As part of this, established products and solutions are also being discontinued.
Many tasks for which Publisher was previously used can now be carried out using Word and PowerPoint. These include, for example, designed templates, envelopes, labels, calendars, business cards and programmes. Additional templates are available in the growing library from Microsoft Create. For this reason, Publisher is becoming less and less necessary as a standalone layout programme.
Which publisher versions are affected, and which ones remain unchanged?
This change affects only Microsoft Publisher and its previous versions. Specifically, this applies to:
- Publisher for Microsoft 365
- Publisher 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007
- Publisher 2010 Developer and Publisher 2013 Developer
For existing customers, this means that Publisher, including support, will continue to operate as normal until the dates specified.
An overview of the key dates
- 1 October 2026: Publisher will no longer be part of Microsoft 365. From this date, subscribers will no longer be able to open or edit Publisher files in the app.
- 13 October 2026: Support for perpetual licences will end, along with Office LTSC 2021 and Office 2021 for home users.
What does this mean for existing Publisher users?
There are no restrictions whatsoever up until the specified cut-off dates. Existing files, templates and workflows will remain fully usable. Once the service is discontinued, access via Microsoft 365 will cease permanently. Users of the perpetual licence can, technically speaking, continue to use Publisher, but without security updates or manufacturer support. Anyone still working with Publisher should therefore decide how to handle existing Publisher files and processes in future.
To preserve content that has already been created, it is advisable to convert it to PDFs. This can be done very easily via File | Save As | File type: PDF . If you have a large number of Publisher files, it is worth using a PowerShell scriptthat automatically exports files to PDF – either individually, by directory or recursively across multiple subfolders – rather than converting each file manually.
What alternatives are there to Publisher?
Depending on the requirements profile, Microsoft offers several ways to address common publishing scenarios in future:
Word and PowerPoint as key tools: Many tasks that were previously carried out using Publisher can also be completed using Word or PowerPoint. Flyers, leaflets, banners and posters, for example, can be designed in PowerPoint. Word is suitable for invoices, forms, envelopes, labels, letterheads and newsletters.
Microsoft Create for templates: Anyone who has previously relied on ready-made Publisher templates will find that Microsoft Create offers a growing, free library of templates for business cards, calendars, invitations and many other formats.
Content creation in the age of Microsoft 365 and AI
With the discontinuation of Publisher, Microsoft is increasingly integrating features into central, AI-powered applications such as Word and PowerPoint. Microsoft Create also offers a growing selection of templates. For businesses, this transition presents an opportunity to review and modernise existing templates and processes. The sensible use of AI can also be taken into account in this process. If you would like to explore the possibilities of AI in Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Copilot in more depth, please take advantage of the free AI orientation session.
Frequently asked questions about setting up Microsoft Publisher
This is no longer the case with a Microsoft 365 subscription; Publisher will then no longer be available to download or install. Anyone who owns a perpetual licence can continue to install and use the app even after the end of support, but without security updates.
With a Microsoft 365 subscription, Publisher files can no longer be opened or edited after the cut-off date. Recommendation: Convert files to PDF or Word beforehand. Users of a perpetual licence can continue to access their files.
For most scenarios, Word and PowerPoint are sufficient, supplemented by the free templates from Microsoft Create.
A file search by extension .pub on a PC, OneDrive or SharePoint will display all existing files.
Author: Blog Editorial Team
The blog editorial team regularly reports on the latest news from Telekom’s Microsoft portfolio – from new products and price changes to relevant updates for business customers. We keep you up to date and provide practical insights into the world of Microsoft and Telekom.