How to open a .pub file on a Mac
Publisher was always Windows-only, and now it is gone from Microsoft 365 too. On a Mac you have three realistic options: convert online, install LibreOffice, or install Scribus.
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.
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.
Related
FAQ
Can Pages or Word for Mac open .pub files?
No. Neither Apple Pages nor Word for Mac can read the Publisher format. Convert to PDF or DOCX first.
Can Preview on the Mac open .pub files?
No. Preview opens PDFs and images; convert the .pub file to PDF and Preview will show it.
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.