Microsoft Publisher is scheduled to lose support in October 2026, and Microsoft 365 users are expected to lose the ability to open or edit Publisher files after that date. The safest move is to convert and back up everything now , especially any .pub files you still need.

What to do first

  1. Find every .pub file across your PCs, shared drives, OneDrive, and SharePoint.
  1. Decide which files need to be preserved as editable documents and which only need archiving.
  1. Convert important files before the deadline, rather than waiting until Publisher is gone.

Best transfer options

  • PDF for final archival copies or sharing when you do not need to edit the layout later.
  • Word (.docx) if the content is mostly text and you want some editing ability after conversion.
  • A replacement design tool like Canva, PowerPoint, Microsoft Designer, or Affinity Publisher if you need to rebuild the layout for future use.

How to convert files

  1. Open the .pub file in Publisher.
  2. Go to File > Save As.
  3. Choose PDF for archival use or Word if you want a more editable version.
  1. Repeat for each file, or use Microsoft’s batch-conversion approach if you have many files.

Bulk conversion

If you have a large archive, Microsoft-recommended automation can help convert many .pub files to PDF at once. That is usually the fastest way to protect older newsletters, flyers, templates, and program notes before the cutoff.

Practical warning

Converted PDFs are not the same as original Publisher files, and editing them later can be messy or incomplete. If a file still needs frequent changes, it is better to recreate it in a supported app now instead of relying on PDF round-tripping.

Recommended plan

  • Archive everything as PDF.
  • Keep an editable copy in Word only when the document is text-heavy.
  • Rebuild high-design templates in a modern layout tool.
  • Test the conversion on a few important files before doing the whole library.
For most people, the smartest move is: back up the original .pub files, convert the final versions to PDF, and recreate anything you still actively edit in another app.
TL;DR: Move your Publisher files now by locating them, backing them up, and converting them to PDF or another supported format before October 2026.