Microsoft 365 Phasing Out MS-Publisher 10-01-2026

Microsoft365@infomails.microsoft.com | 04/04/2026 | CharlesOconnell

[CharlesOConnell]

Beginning 10/1/2026, Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported as part of Microsoft 365. Many common Publisher scenarios are available in other Microsoft 365 apps, including Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.

Microsoft is committed to improving your Microsoft 365 subscription. We regularly review how our subscribers use features within Microsoft products. This email includes details regarding features going away next year and reminders about current benefits included with your subscription.

Action Recommended: Before 10/1/2026, convert your existing Publisher files to PDF or Word format. After this date, you will no longer be able to open or edit these files with Microsoft Publisher.

Graphics don't float or flow well in Word; getting everything correctly arrayed is easy in Publisher; it is a challenge for me in Word. (Air Cowboys competing for attention putting all their grand schemes into PowerPoint in the Gulf War permanently put me off PowerPoint, I won't touch it.) Publisher is the ideal platform for all kinds of quick & simple graphics tasks.

MS continues its unbroken suckage legacy.

[Montana_Sam]

Every time I get a new PC, Office 2003 is the first thing I install.

My wife still uses MS Office 2010, although had problems with its Outlook and switched to Thunderbird. Am trying to convince her to switch to Linux so she can use Evolution email, which is remarkably close to that Office 2010 version of Outlook.

[MayflowerMadam]

When Office introduced the “ribbon” menu, I stopped using it. A lot of the keyboard shortcuts stopped being viable, and when I can’t use shortcuts and must use a mouse, it really slows me down.

Hubby uses that godforsaken Office 365 on Windows 11. Insane. Most of my systems are Windows 7 with Office 2003. I do have a laptop and desktop with Windows 10 and it drives me nuts. There’s an “Edge” thing that demonically possesses the devices for no apparent reason and I can’t make it stop.

[MayflowerMadam]

Good one.

(My name autocorrects to “Nauseated” - LOL!)

[maddog55]

Libre Office..free and does everything MS Office or 365 does.

[Montana_Sam]

When Office introduced the “ribbon” menu, I stopped using it.

Have switched to LibreOffice (LO), which is more to my liking including the inherent menu/ribbon combination that is simpler to navigate, IMHO. Also, LO puts functional utility options in a side-panel that makes good use of total screen real-estate, by using the screen width more optimally.

Yeah, I've found the large ribbon that MS Office uses to be ridiculous - it eats up too much of the top of the screen for my taste. Admittedly, I haven't used MS Office in a few years, so my critique might be outdated, but that was what put me off the most. Also, I found the LO word processor ('Writer') to be easier for doing small community newsletters, for example. Easier to position graphics. Simple 'flowing' text boxes (or 'frames') to split an article across pages, etc. Cheers!

[cuban leaf]

Meh. Office 365 was so unreliable I finally gave up several years ago and went to libre office. The fallout from that was admitted easy for me to switch to Linux just a couple of months ago. It actually resurrected a computer that was so slow as to be unusable. It was literally like buying a new computer.

All done with Microsoft except for their natural keyboards.

[bleach]

Sad knews.

[caver]

I finally had to buy a “new” version, Powerpoint 2024. None of my older PP files will open! What kind of messed up pile is that? I am pissed to say the least.

[usconservative]

Microsoft is the reason I have been using Linux for almost thirty years now.

I'm not exactly sure how long ago I kicked Microsoft out of my life, somewhere in the 12-15 year ago range.

I don't need Microsoft for spit for anything at home.

I've been a big advocate for Linux since. Even managed to get the big multi-national bank I work for to start replacing the tens of thousands of Windows Servers we have with Linux. App modernization efforts migrated mission critical apps from Windows to Linux over the years, and now to Linux servers on Azure.

The only Windows servers we have on Azure cloud are for Azure Foundation requirements (Entra, etc..) beyond that, it's linux. Linux everywhere.

[yesthatjallen]

Microsoft related:

Microsoft says Copilot is for entertainment purposes only, not serious use — firm pushing AI hard to consumers and businesses tells users not to rely on it for important advice

[PAR35]

Acrobat is the ultimate greedy tech company. Renting you software in expensive bundles that contain junk you will never use.

Their stock decline indicates that folks are finding other solutions.

[PAR35]

isn't it a federal conspiracy

The real conspiracy was between the chip makers, the hardware makers and Microsoft to force new sales of each. They want a three year cycle for hardware, which made sense when improvements were made on an 18 month cycle. But today, with "the cloud" and computers being merely smart terminals, a good 10 year old box is fine for largely stationary use; and the only improvement in laptops is lighter (at the expense of replacing metal with plastic). Gamerz might need a faster machine (but faster connections probably make more difference in gameplay at this point.

[Dr. Sivana]

They dropped this more than a decade ago as a standalone app.

Sorta like "Mr. Salty" pretzels.

[Dr. Sivana]

After this date, you will no longer be able to open or edit these files with Microsoft Publisher.

Yet one more reason to despise subscriptions. I am stuck on Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 because Adobe went with a subscription-only model. At least I never have to worry about my program not running or my files opening.

Adobe chose the hit of cash over long-term user base size (outside of its free Acrobat Reader). Major League Baseball did the same thing when the regular season games went from free TV to pay-cable/streaming. More money short term, fewer fans long-term.

[T.B. Yoits]

When Office introduced the “ribbon” menu, I stopped using it. A lot of the keyboard shortcuts stopped being viable, and when I can’t use shortcuts and must use a mouse, it really slows me down.

Noooooooooo... You've missed out incredibly. The Ribbon enhanced the keyboard shortcuts exponentially.

Microsoft did a terrible job explaining the Ribbon when they launched it in 2007. Users really need to take a one-hour session to familiarize themselves with the new shortcut methodology. Back in 2007 it was mostly in-person at work or if you were lucky, you could even find an evening course for adults. Since then, there are a bunch online.

Prior to the Ribbon, shortcuts were limited because they were single letter (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, etc.) With the Ribbon, almost every command in Office applications can be done with key commands because they're built with multiple letters in progressive options.

For example, instead of Ctrl+V for paste, you could press Alt to bring up the Ribbon Home menu, press V for paste, and hit enter to paste it - or you could press:
K (Keep Source Formatting)
M (Merge Formatting)
T (Keep Text Only)
U (Picture)
S (Special) which goes to a submenu where you could tab through the selection for
- Microsoft Word Document Object
- Formatted Text (RTF)
- Unformatted Text
- Picture (Enhanced Metafile)
- HTML Format
- Unformatted Unicode Text

That same logic applies to hundreds, if not thousands of commands. Basically, almost every command in Office can be accomplished with keystrokes. And they don't require memorization at all. You call up the Ribbon with the Alt key, and then select from the letters that appear in small black hovering squares to use progress to the command you want to use.

[Dr. Sivana]

(My name autocorrects to “Nauseated” - LOL!)

Mine autocorrects to "Satanic". Windows must be misanthropic.

[Dr. Sivana]

A lot of the keyboard shortcuts stopped being viable, and when I can’t use shortcuts and must use a mouse, it really slows me down.

I still use WordPerfect. Lots of keyboard shortcuts, and much easier to center a page vertically (Word is superior on tables, though).

[T.B. Yoits]

Yeah, I've found the large ribbon that MS Office uses to be ridiculous - it eats up too much of the top of the screen for my taste.

Ohhh, you've suffered needlessly. From day one the Ribbon could be set to only appear when you pressed the Alt Key.

[T.B. Yoits]

I finally had to buy a “new” version, Powerpoint 2024. None of my older PP files will open!

???

You can open older versions in Compatibility Mode.

Some of the very old files, (I think prior to 2003) might still give you issues if you don't have the correct add-ins installed but you can also open them in Office 365 in your web browser and save them in the new format.

[usconservative]

Libre Office..free and does everything MS Office or 365 does.

Bears repeating. Additionally, using themes it can be made to look exactly like MS Office which eliminates the learning curve (new button/function look and feel.)