IT Admin Change Calendar Microsoft 365
Microsoft Publisher retires from Microsoft 365 on October 1, 2026
Microsoft 365 subscribers lose access to Publisher on October 1, 2026. Convert .pub files to PDF or Word before the retirement date.
Product
Microsoft Publisher
Announced
15 February 2024
Effective from
1 October 2026
Completes
13 October 2026
Who is affected
Anyone who creates or opens Publisher (.pub) files. Microsoft 365 subscribers lose the app on October 1, 2026; perpetual-license (Office LTSC 2021 / Office 2021) support ends October 13, 2026.
Admin roles to involve: Microsoft 365 admin, Desktop/application admin, Helpdesk
What administrators should do
Inventory .pub files across the organization and convert them to PDF or Word before October 1, 2026. Microsoft provides a PowerShell script for bulk exports. Move recurring Publisher workflows (labels, newsletters, business cards) to Word or PowerPoint. The retirement was announced in Microsoft 365 Message Center post MC716267 (February 15, 2024).
What happens if this is ignored
After October 1, 2026, Microsoft 365 users can no longer open or edit .pub files, so unconverted documents become inaccessible in place.
Official source
Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026
Published by Microsoft · Source dated 15 February 2024 · Checked 24 August 2026
Last verified 24 August 2026
Related changes
- Project Online retires on September 30, 2026 (30 September 2026)
- Office 2016 and Office 2019 reached end of support on October 14, 2025 (14 October 2025)
- AzureAD and MSOnline PowerShell modules deprecated and retiring (30 March 2025)