Open your Publisher files without Publisher
Microsoft is removing Publisher from Microsoft 365. Your .pub files still exist, and you can open them right here and save them as PDF.
- Your file is never uploaded
- No account, no install
- Windows, Mac and Chromebook
Why did this happen?
Microsoft retired Publisher for Microsoft 365 in October 2026. Regular Office updates start removing the app from mid-November 2026, and from early December on the slower business channel. Publisher was never available for Mac or the web. Your files stay on your computer; whether Publisher still opens them depends on the installed edition and update status.
Is it really private?
Your browser processes the file locally; the tool does not upload its contents or name. The site can send anonymous usage events to analytics. Once loaded, the viewer can also work without an internet connection.
How faithful is it?
Layout, text, clip art, tables and colors are read from the file itself. In our test of 20 publications against Publisher's own output, PubOut came closer than LibreOffice on 19. If a font is not on your computer, text uses the closest match, so line breaks can shift a little. Check anything important before you delete the original.
Works with files from Publisher 2003 to 2021. Files from Publisher 2000 or earlier are not supported yet.
A plain guide to .pub files
What is a .pub file?
A .pub file is a document made with Microsoft Publisher, the desktop publishing program that came with many versions of Office. Schools, churches, clubs, charities and small businesses have used it for decades to make newsletters, flyers, brochures, menus, certificates, calendars and forms. The format belongs to Microsoft and only Publisher could ever open it properly, which is why a folder of old .pub files can suddenly feel locked.
Why won't my .pub file open any more?
Microsoft has retired Publisher. It stopped being included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions in October 2026, and regular Office updates are removing the app from computers. Publisher was never available for Mac, iPad, Chromebook or the web, so on those devices a .pub file has never opened by itself. Nothing has happened to your files. They are still there, exactly as you left them. You just need something else that can read them.
How do I open a .pub file without Publisher?
Choose your file at the top of this page, or drag it onto the page. It opens straight away in your browser, with every page shown in order. There is nothing to install and no account to create. You can read it, copy the text, or save it as a PDF to keep and share.
How do I turn a .pub file into a PDF?
Open the file here and press Save as PDF. Your browser's print window appears. Choose Save as PDF as the printer and pick where to save it. The PDF is made on your own computer, so the text stays sharp and you can still select and search it.
Will it look the same as it did in Publisher?
Very close, in most cases. PubOut reads the layout, text, clip art, tables, colors and linked text boxes from the file itself. The biggest difference comes from fonts: if your publication uses a font that isn't on this computer, the closest match is used and line breaks can move. Unusual WordArt, very large drop caps and vertical text may look different. Always check anything important, and keep your original .pub file even after converting it.
Can I still edit my publications?
A PDF is best for keeping and printing, but not for updating next month's newsletter. For that, PubOut Pro turns each page into a slide of the same size in PowerPoint, with real text boxes, pictures and tables you can change. PowerPoint files also open in Canva and Google Slides, so you can carry on with the design tools you already have.
What if I have hundreds of files?
Opening them one at a time is fine for a few files, but not for twenty years of newsletters. PubOut Pro takes a whole folder and converts everything in one go, keeping your folders in order and listing anything it couldn't read. It runs on your own computer with no internet connection, which matters if your files mention pupils, patients, members or clients.
Which versions of Publisher does this work with?
Files saved by Publisher 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2021 are supported, along with Publisher in Microsoft 365. Files from Publisher 2000 or earlier use an older format that PubOut can't read yet. If you see a message saying so, LibreOffice Draw may be able to open them.
Is my file safe?
Your file is processed locally in your browser. The tool does not upload file contents or names. The site can send anonymous usage events to analytics; see the privacy page for details. The viewer can also work offline after loading.