Publisher disappeared from your PC: what happened and how to open your files
Publisher disappeared because Microsoft is removing it from Microsoft 365 through a regular Office update (Version 2611: Current Channel from mid-November 2026, Monthly Enterprise Channel from early December). Microsoft’s notice is about the app; it does not say your .pub files are deleted. You can open them now in PubFold, free, in your browser: the file is read on your device and never uploaded.
What happened to Publisher
Microsoft says that in October 2026 Publisher reaches its end of life and is no longer included in Microsoft 365. It also says Microsoft 365 subscribers will not be able to access Publisher on or shortly after 1 October 2026, as the removal update rolls out (Microsoft Support).
The update is Version 2611. According to Microsoft’s message MC1469564 (admin message; we link a public archive copy), removal starts in mid-November 2026 on Current Channel and in early December 2026 on Monthly Enterprise Channel. Until a device receives it, Publisher may continue to open. Microsoft says this remaining access is not an extension and does not mean Publisher is still supported, so treat it as temporary.
The dates
| Date | What happens | Who | Microsoft’s page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 October 2026 | Microsoft 365 subscribers lose access on or shortly after this date, as the removal update rolls out. | Microsoft 365 subscribers | Support article |
| 13 October 2026 | Support for the perpetual version (bought once) ends: Office LTSC 2021 and consumer Office 2021. | Office 2021, Office LTSC 2021 | Support article |
| 4 and 6 November 2026 | Version 2611 (Builds 20625.20034 and 20625.20044) appears in the Current Channel (Preview) release notes. Preview builds come before the regular Current Channel release. | Current Channel (Preview) | Release notes |
| Mid-November 2026 | Removal update Version 2611 (Build 16.0.20625.xxxxx) starts reaching Current Channel. | Current Channel | MC1469564 (archive) |
| Early December 2026 | The same removal update starts reaching Monthly Enterprise Channel. | Monthly Enterprise Channel | MC1469564 (archive) |
Last checked 9 November 2026. We cannot tell whether the update has reached your own PC. The full timeline is on the Publisher end-of-life page.
Which situation are you in
| You have | What Microsoft says | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A Microsoft 365 subscription | Publisher will no longer be available for installation or download after October 2026 (Support article). | Reinstalling will not bring it back. Open your files in PubFold, and keep the originals. |
| Publisher or Office bought once (2021, 2019, 2016) | For the perpetual version Microsoft says you can still install and use the app beyond 13 October 2026 and still access and edit your files, without support (Support article). | Keep working if you wish, but make a backup copy and save a PDF of each file. |
| Office LTSC 2024 (for organisations) | Office LTSC 2024 never included Publisher (Overview of Office LTSC 2024). | Publisher will not be in it. Open your .pub files in PubFold. |
Are my .pub files gone?
Microsoft’s notice is about the app; it does not say files are deleted. Microsoft says a file search for “.Pub” on your PC, OneDrive or SharePoint can help you locate your Publisher files.
- Open File Explorer, choose This PC or Documents, and type *.pub in the search box.
- Search OneDrive and SharePoint the same way.
- Our advice, not Microsoft’s: copy every file you find into a backup folder before you do anything else.
Open them again today, without Publisher
PubFold reads the file on your device and never uploads it. It is free, needs no account, and has no watermark.
- Open the .pub file in your browser and save a PDF.
- Convert it to Word, then check the result page by page.
- Convert a whole folder of .pub files.
PubFold is a viewer and converter, not a full replacement for Publisher’s editor. For programs that edit, see Microsoft Publisher alternatives. If Publisher still opens on your PC, Microsoft’s advice is to save a PDF of each file now (Support article).
Lots of files?
Microsoft’s sample script for exporting many files to PDF needs a working, licensed copy of Publisher installed, so it will not help once Publisher is gone. See how to convert a whole folder of .pub files, or the checklist for old .pub files in an organisation.
Common questions
- Why did Microsoft Publisher disappear from my computer?
- Microsoft is removing Publisher from Microsoft 365 through an Office update, Version 2611. Per Microsoft’s message MC1469564, it starts in mid-November 2026 on Current Channel and in early December 2026 on Monthly Enterprise Channel.
- Where did Microsoft Publisher go, and can I reinstall it?
- With Microsoft 365, Microsoft says Publisher will no longer be available for installation or download after October 2026. If you have a perpetual version (bought once), Microsoft says you can still install and use it beyond 13 October 2026, without support.
- Are my .pub files deleted?
- Microsoft’s notice is about the app; it does not say files are deleted. Search your PC, OneDrive and SharePoint for *.pub, and copy what you find into a backup folder.
- Publisher still opens on my PC. Will it stop?
- Microsoft says that until a device receives the removal update, Publisher may continue to open, and that this is not an extension and does not mean Publisher is still supported. Save a PDF of each file while it still opens.
- How do I open a .pub file now that Publisher is gone?
- Open it in PubFold’s free browser viewer: the file is read on your device and never uploaded. You can save a PDF or export a Word file. PubFold is not a full editor; see the alternatives page for programs that edit.
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