Open a .pub file without Publisher

Updated 2026-11-01.

Microsoft removed Publisher from Microsoft 365 on 1 October 2026, and the standalone version lost support on 13 October 2026. The .pub files made over twenty-five years are still around: newsletters, club flyers, menus, posters, cards. Here is how to open them again.

The simplest way: in your browser

Go to the Pubora home page.
Drag your .pub file into the frame, or click “Choose files”.
The document appears page by page. Click “Download PDF” to keep, print or send it.

The file is not uploaded to any server: it is read on your computer. That matters for internal documents, member lists or anything with personal data.

Dozens of files? Drop the whole folder and get every PDF in one ZIP.

Open a file

Other options

Option	Price	Install	File uploaded	Fidelity
Pubora	Free	None	No	Good to very good
LibreOffice Draw	Free	Desktop suite (≈ 350 MB)	No	Fair: text often shifts
Publisher still installed	Already paid	—	No	Perfect, while it runs
Typical online converters	Often limited	None	Yes	Varies

If Publisher is still on an old computer

Convert everything while you can: File › Export › Create PDF/XPS Document. A copy installed before the retirement usually still starts, but gets no more security updates.

LibreOffice Draw

LibreOffice has imported .pub files since 2013, using the same open-source reader we build on, libmspub. You need the full suite, and text layout is often approximate: different line breaks, linked boxes not flowing correctly.

Online conversion sites

They work, but your file is uploaded to their servers, and free conversion is often limited to one file or requires an account.

Questions

My file won’t open. What now?

Some very recent or damaged files are not recognized yet. Write to [email protected] with a short description (Publisher version if you know it): we look for a fix for each case.

Will I be able to edit?

It is in the works. Meanwhile, the PDF keeps text selectable, so you can copy it into another program.