How to Open a PUB File (2026, after Publisher EOL)
For twenty-five years the answer to “how do I open a .pub file?” was simple: use Microsoft Publisher. That answer is expiring. Microsoft retires Publisher on October 13, 2026 — it’s already gone from new Microsoft 365 installs, and the .pub files on your computer are quietly turning into locked boxes.
There are still three working ways to open one, and this guide walks through each honestly: the fastest (right here in your browser, no installation), the free desktop option (LibreOffice — workable, with caveats), and Publisher itself, while it lasts. If you just want to see your file, start with the box below — it takes about fifteen seconds.
Option 1: Open the PUB file online (fastest)
Drop the file into the box above. Every page is rendered the way Publisher would show it and appears in your browser in about ten seconds — then one click downloads a PDF you can open anywhere, forever. No installation, works on Windows, Mac, Chromebooks and phones. Best for: reading, printing, emailing, and archiving. Not for: editing the original design.
Option 2: Open the PUB file in LibreOffice (free desktop program)
LibreOffice is a free office suite whose Draw module can import .pub files. Download it from libreoffice.org (about 350 MB), install, then open your file via File → Open. You’ll be able to see and even edit the document — but be prepared for layout drift: fonts get substituted, text boxes shift, and complex pages can come out visibly different from the original. Best for: people who want to keep editing and don’t mind tidying up afterwards.
Option 3: Open it in Microsoft Publisher (while it lasts)
If you or a colleague still has Publisher installed — through an older Office suite or a not-yet-updated Microsoft 365 — that remains the most faithful way to open a .pub file. Use the time wisely: export anything you care about via File → Export → Create PDF/XPS before the program disappears from your machine. Our Publisher end-of-life guide has a full rescue checklist.
Opening PUB files — common questions
What is a .pub file, exactly?
A document created in Microsoft Publisher — the desktop-publishing program used for decades for newsletters, flyers, bulletins, greeting cards and posters. Unlike Word documents, .pub files can only be opened by Publisher itself or by tools built specifically to read the format. See what opens PUB files for the full list.
Can I edit a PUB file after converting it to PDF?
A PDF is best treated as a finished, printable snapshot. For light touch-ups, many PDF editors can adjust text. If you need to keep editing the design itself, open the .pub in LibreOffice Draw or rebuild it in a modern tool — and keep the PDF as your reliable reference copy.
What about very old Publisher 97 files?
Publisher 97 used an early version of the format that every modern tool — ours included — struggles with. If you upload one here, we show an orange warning so you can check the preview before relying on it. If a Publisher 97 file is precious, opening it in a legacy copy of Publisher is the only faithful route.
Which method should I choose?
To read or print the document: Option 1, about fifteen seconds. To keep editing the design: Option 2, accepting some cleanup work. Still have Publisher? Use Option 3 while you can — and export PDFs of everything you care about.