Convert .pub files to PDF and Word, without Microsoft Publisher
Publisher was removed from Microsoft 365 on October 1, 2026 and Publisher 2021 reached end of support on October 13. If you have .pub files you can no longer open, this converter turns them into PDF (free) or editable Word documents, right in your browser.
How the converter works
- Drop one or many
.pubfiles (Publisher 2003 → 2021 / Microsoft 365). - Each file is opened by the open-source LibreOffice engine (the same engine most online converters use for Publisher files) and rendered to PDF; a Word (.docx) version is built from that PDF.
- You get a preview of page 1 for both the PDF and the Word version before you download anything. The PDF download is free. Word downloads and bulk zips are paid, because they cost real server time.
- Files are deleted automatically after 7 days. We never look at them.
What converts well, and what doesn't
| Content | Word (.docx) | |
|---|---|---|
| Text boxes, headings, columns | Exact | Good, positions may shift |
| Pictures, logos, clip art | Exact | Kept as images |
| Tables | Exact | Usually recognised as tables |
| Shapes, borders, backgrounds | Exact | Converted to images or dropped |
| WordArt and text effects | Often missing | Missing |
| Master pages, page numbers | Mostly kept | Partly |
That is why every file shows a preview first. If the preview is wrong, don't pay: write to us and we will try it by hand, or use the free offline methods.
Pricing
PDF of any file, 3 files per day. Previews of everything. No account.
Single file → Word + PDF. One file as editable .docx and exact PDF. Re-download for 7 days.
Rescue Pass. Up to 200 files within 7 days, PDF and Word, one zip. For offices with a folder full of newsletters.
One-time payments through Stripe. 14-day refund if a file does not match its preview or you could not download it. Refund policy.
What happened to Microsoft Publisher
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2026 | Publisher is removed from Microsoft 365 as the update rolls out. Subscribers can no longer open or edit .pub files in Publisher, and it can no longer be installed. |
| October 13, 2026 | Publisher 2021 (the perpetual licence sold with Office 2021 / Office LTSC 2021) reaches end of support together with Office 2021. It keeps working without updates or support. |
| Microsoft's advice | "Convert your existing files to another format": PDF to view, Word to keep editing. Microsoft's bulk script (Convert-PubFileToPDF.ps1) only works on a PC that still has a licensed Publisher. |
Source: Microsoft's support article "Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026".
Free offline ways to open a .pub file
- LibreOffice Draw (Windows, Mac, Linux, free). Install LibreOffice from libreoffice.org, open the .pub file with LibreOffice Draw, then File → Export as PDF. This is the same engine this site uses, so the result will look like our preview.
- Scribus (free). File → Import can read Publisher files, with similar limits.
- Someone with Publisher 2021 (perpetual). It still works after October 13, 2026; ask them to File → Save As → PDF, or Export → Pack and Go.
- Microsoft Word cannot open .pub files. It can open the PDF you get from any of the methods above (File → Open → choose the PDF), which is exactly what the Word download here automates.
Related
- How to open a .pub file without Publisher
- Publisher removed from Microsoft 365: what to do
- Bulk-convert a folder of .pub files
- Publisher alternatives in 2026
FAQ
Do I need Microsoft Publisher installed?
No. Everything runs on our server. You only need a browser and the .pub file.
Which Publisher versions are supported?
Files saved by Publisher 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 and Microsoft 365. Very old Publisher 97/98/2000 files sometimes work, sometimes not; the preview will tell you.
Is it safe to upload my files?
Files are stored encrypted at rest on Cloudflare, processed by our converter, and deleted automatically after 7 days. Nobody looks at them. See the privacy policy.
Why is the Word version different from the PDF?
The PDF is an exact render of the page. Word has no concept of free-floating Publisher layouts, so the Word file is rebuilt from the PDF: text stays editable, images are kept, but positions can shift and decorative shapes may be dropped. That is why you see a Word preview before paying.
What about WordArt?
WordArt and some text effects are not supported by the conversion engine and may be missing. Check the preview; if something important is gone, do not pay, and use one of the free offline methods or email us.