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How to Open and Edit Microsoft Publisher Files After Publisher Is Retired

Microsoft has retired Publisher. You can still open, edit and print most of your existing Publisher (.pub) files with free apps. This guide shows you three ways to do it, step by step.

What's changing

  • Microsoft 365: Microsoft began removing Publisher from Microsoft 365 on October 1, 2026. Once it's gone from your computer, you can't open or edit .pub files with Publisher anymore.
  • Stand-alone versions you bought once (such as Publisher 2021): Microsoft support ends October 13, 2026. Older versions are already out of support. The app keeps working, but it no longer gets updates or fixes.
  • Your files don't disappear. Your .pub files stay where they are. You just need another app to open them.

Still have Publisher on a computer?

Open your important files and save a PDF copy of each one now: File > Save As, then choose PDF as the file type. A PDF keeps the exact look of your document and makes the steps below easier.

Microsoft's announcement: Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026.

Before you start

  • Always keep your original Publisher files. Don't delete or overwrite them.
  • Save converted documents under a new file name, for example Spring Newsletter - edited.odg.
  • LibreOffice can't save changes back into .pub format. Your edited copy will be a different file type.
  • Some formatting may need fixing after you open or convert a file.
  • PMX can help. If an important document won't convert, contact PMX.

Which option should I use?

If you want to... Use
Open and edit your Publisher files for free, on your own computer Option 1: LibreOffice Draw (recommended)
Keep designing flyers and newsletters in Canva Option 2: Canva
Reuse the text of a document in Word Option 3: Microsoft Word

Options 2 and 3 both start with LibreOffice Draw, so start with Option 1.

LibreOffice is a free office suite for Windows, Mac and Linux. Its drawing app, LibreOffice Draw, can open Publisher files. There's no license fee.

Install LibreOffice

  1. Go to the official download page: libreoffice.org/download.
  2. Download the version for your computer (Windows or Mac) and install it.

Download LibreOffice only from libreoffice.org. The download is free. Donations are optional. Versions in the Microsoft Store and Mac App Store charge a small fee, so use the website instead.

Open your Publisher file

  1. Open LibreOffice.
  2. Click Open File and choose your .pub file.
  3. The file opens in LibreOffice Draw.

Make changes

  • Edit text: double-click inside a text box and type.
  • Move or resize something: click it once, then drag it or drag its corner handles.
  • Add a picture: click Insert > Image and choose the picture.
  • Remove something: click it once and press Delete.

Save an editable copy

  1. Click File > Save As.
  2. Type a new file name.
  3. Keep the file type ODF Drawing (.odg) and click Save.

Next time, open the .odg file to keep editing. Keep the original .pub file as it is.

Export a PDF for printing or sharing

  1. Click File > Export As > Export as PDF.
  2. Click Export, give the PDF a name and click Save.

Use the PDF to print, email or post your document, and for Options 2 and 3 below.

What might look different

LibreOffice isn't Publisher, so check each page before you print or send it:

  • Fonts may change if your computer doesn't have the font the document used.
  • Pictures and graphics may shift, or a few may be missing.
  • Linked text boxes (text that flows from one box to the next, common in newsletters) may come in as separate boxes, or text may overlap.
  • Some newer Publisher files may not open correctly. LibreOffice officially lists support for files from Publisher 98 to 2010. Files made in newer versions may open, but some may not import correctly.

If a file won't open or looks wrong, keep the original and contact PMX.

Option 2: Continue editing in Canva

Canva is a popular online design app with a free plan. You can bring a Publisher document into Canva as a PDF and keep editing it there.

  1. Open the Publisher file in LibreOffice Draw. See Option 1.
  2. Export it to PDF. See Export a PDF.
  3. Open Canva in your web browser and sign in.
  4. Import the PDF. On the Canva home page, click Upload and choose your PDF. (Depending on your version of Canva, the option may be called Import file or Upload files. You can also drag the PDF onto the home page.) Canva turns it into a design. Click it to open it.
  5. Review the design. Click on text and pictures to see which parts Canva lets you edit.
  6. Fix any formatting. Replace fonts that changed, move pieces that shifted, and re-add anything that came in as a flat image.

  7. Reuse it as a template, for free. For publications you make again and again, like a bulletin or monthly newsletter, keep one clean master design and make a copy each time:

    • In the open design, click File > Make a copy. The copy opens in a new tab. Or,
    • On the Canva home page, go to Projects, point to the design, click the ... (More) button, and choose Make a copy.

    Give the copy a new name, like "Bulletin - May 4," and edit the copy. Your master design stays untouched. This works on Canva's free plan.

Things to know about Canva:

  • Not everything stays editable. Canva tries to split the PDF into separate text and pictures, but some parts may come in as one flat image that you can't edit.
  • Fonts may change. Canva swaps in a similar font when it doesn't have the original.
  • Your document goes to the cloud. Canva is an online service, so the PDF is uploaded to and processed on Canva's servers, and the design is saved in your Canva account. Think about this before uploading documents with private information.
  • You don't need a paid plan to reuse designs. Making a copy (step 7) works on the free plan. Canva's "Brand Templates" feature, for publishing locked templates to a whole team, needs a paid or special plan, such as Canva for Nonprofits for eligible organizations. Most customers don't need it.

Option 3: Reuse Publisher content in Microsoft Word

If you mostly need the words from a publication, Microsoft Word can turn a PDF into a document you can edit. Use the Word app installed on your computer.

  1. Open the Publisher file in LibreOffice Draw. See Option 1.
  2. Export it to PDF. See Export a PDF.
  3. Open Word and click File > Open, then choose the PDF.
  4. Let Word convert it. Word says it will convert the PDF into an editable document. Click OK. Your PDF isn't changed.
  5. Review the text and fix anything that moved.
  6. Save it as a Word document: click File > Save As, type a new file name, and choose Word Document (.docx).

The layout may not survive

Word works best with documents that are mostly text. Newsletters, flyers and anything with many text boxes, columns or graphics may come out rearranged, and some pages may come in as pictures. Plan to rebuild the layout in Word, or use Option 1 if the layout matters.

Frequently asked questions

Is LibreOffice free?

Yes. LibreOffice is free to download and use, for home, church, school, nonprofit and business use, with no license fees. Download it from libreoffice.org.

Can I still open my old Publisher documents?

Yes, in most cases. Your .pub files are still on your computer, and LibreOffice Draw can open most of them. If you still have Publisher installed, save a PDF copy of your important files.

Can I continue editing them?

Yes. Open the file in LibreOffice Draw, make your changes, and save it as an .odg file under a new name. You can't save changes back into the .pub format.

Will the documents look exactly the same?

Not always. Fonts, pictures, spacing and linked text boxes can change. Check every page before you print or send it, and keep your original .pub file.

Can I import them into Canva?

Yes, as a PDF. Open the file in LibreOffice Draw, export it to PDF, then import the PDF into Canva. Some parts may not be editable in Canva, and the file is uploaded to Canva's online service. On the free plan, reuse a design by making a copy of it each time. See Option 2.

Can I convert them into Word documents?

Yes. Export a PDF from LibreOffice Draw, open it in Word, and save it as a .docx. The text comes across well, but newsletter-style layouts usually need rework. See Option 3.

What should I do if my document doesn't open correctly?

  1. Make sure you're using the latest LibreOffice from libreoffice.org.
  2. Try opening a copy of the file, not the original.
  3. If you still have Publisher on any computer, open the file there and save it as a PDF.
  4. If it still won't work, contact PMX. Tell us the file name, about when it was made, and what goes wrong. Keep the original file so we can look at it.

Need help?

PMX can help you convert important documents, like bulletins, newsletters, forms and flyers. Contact PMX and choose Software & Documents.

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