Microsoft has announced that Microsoft Publisher will be retired in October 2026. After that date, the application will no longer receive feature updates, and will eventually stop functioning on modern versions of Windows. If you have years of newsletters, brochures, flyers, or catalogues stored as .pub files, now is the time to convert them to PDF before they become inaccessible.
Why Microsoft Publisher is being retired
Publisher has been part of the Microsoft 365 suite for decades, but Microsoft is consolidating its design and publishing tools. Modern alternatives like Microsoft Designer, Word's desktop publishing features, and third-party tools have made Publisher largely redundant. Microsoft is directing users toward Word for simple publications and Designer or PowerPoint for more visual layouts.
The retirement means no new features, no security patches after end-of-life, and eventual incompatibility with future Windows or Office updates. Businesses and individuals with legacy .pub documents need to act before that window closes.
How to convert Publisher to PDF for free
The fastest way is Filero's free Publisher to PDF tool — it works directly in your browser and supports both single files and bulk conversion:
- Go to filero.app/tools/publisher-to-pdf.
- Click Select .pub files or drag your Publisher files onto the upload area. You can select one file or many at once.
- Click Convert to PDF.
- If you uploaded one file, your PDF downloads directly. If you uploaded multiple files, they are all converted and packaged into a single ZIP file.
No software installation required, no account needed, and no watermarks on the output.
Bulk conversion: convert your entire Publisher archive
Filero's Publisher to PDF tool is designed for bulk use. If you have a folder of .pub files, you can:
- Open Filero's Publisher to PDF tool.
- Select all your .pub files at once (Ctrl + A in Windows File Explorer, or Cmd + A on Mac).
- Drop them onto the upload area or click to select.
- Click Convert and download the ZIP containing all your PDFs.
This is much faster than converting files one at a time and is ideal for archiving large collections of Publisher documents before the retirement deadline.
Other ways to convert Publisher to PDF
Using Publisher itself (while it still works)
If you still have a working installation of Microsoft Publisher, the simplest method is to use its built-in export:
- Open the .pub file in Publisher.
- Go to File → Export → Create PDF/XPS Document → Create PDF/XPS.
- Choose a location and click Publish.
This produces a high-fidelity PDF that exactly matches Publisher's output. The downside is you need Publisher installed, and it only works one file at a time.
Using LibreOffice Draw (free desktop app)
LibreOffice Draw can open .pub files and export them to PDF:
- Download and install LibreOffice (free, libreoffice.org).
- Open your .pub file in LibreOffice Draw.
- Go to File → Export as PDF.
This is useful if you want a free local solution. Filero uses the same LibreOffice engine on its server, so the output quality is equivalent — but without any local installation required.
What happens to .pub files after October 2026?
Microsoft Publisher will not immediately delete your existing files — your .pub files will still be stored on your computer. However:
- Publisher will no longer be included in new Microsoft 365 subscriptions after the retirement date.
- Existing installations may stop working when Microsoft ends support.
- Future Windows or Office updates may break compatibility.
- No other mainstream application can natively open .pub files at full fidelity.
Converting to PDF ensures your documents remain readable on any device, in any browser, forever — with no dependency on Publisher or any specific software.
Frequently asked questions
Will the PDF look exactly like my Publisher document?
In most cases, yes. Layouts, images, and standard fonts are preserved faithfully. If your document uses unusual fonts that are not installed on the conversion server, text may be substituted with a similar font. If precise font matching is critical, convert using Publisher itself before retirement.
Can I convert a .pub file on a Mac or iPhone?
Yes. Filero works in any browser on Mac, iPhone, or Android. Since Publisher has never been available on Mac or iOS, Filero's online converter is one of the only free ways to open and convert .pub files on non-Windows devices.
Is my Publisher file kept private?
Yes. Your files are uploaded over HTTPS, converted on our server using LibreOffice, and deleted immediately after you download the result. We do not store, inspect, or share your files.
What is the file size limit?
Each file can be up to 50 MB. Publisher files with many high-resolution images can get large — if yours exceeds the limit, try saving a lower-resolution version from Publisher first.
Ready to try it?
Use Filero's free Publisher to PDF tool. No account needed, works on any device.
Open Publisher to PDF