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Guide · Publisher files

How to open a .pub file without Publisher

Updated · Rotomal

The free way to open a .pub file without Publisher is LibreOffice Draw, which has a Publisher import filter (listed as "Microsoft Publisher 98-2010") and can export the result to PDF. For one small file, an online converter such as Zamzar turns .pub into PDF, with a 3 MB cap on free uploads. If you still have Publisher 2016, 2019 or 2021 installed, it still opens your files, even though Microsoft no longer supports it. Microsoft 365 subscribers lost Publisher on or shortly after 1 October 2026.

Your options at a glance

Prices and limits as published by each provider on 29 October 2026. Apart from Publisher itself, none of these routes says it uses Microsoft's own code to read the file, so check every converted page.

RouteCostWhat you getLimits
LibreOffice DrawFreeView, edit, export to PDFImport filter is listed as Microsoft Publisher 98-2010; complex layouts can shift
Publisher 2016, 2019 or 2021 you already ownAlready paidFull fidelity, Save as PDFNo longer supported by Microsoft; Office LTSC 2024 does not include Publisher
Univik PUB viewer (Windows)Free for single-page filesView and printIts page offers an upgrade to view all pages; no export; PDF and Word export need its paid converter, listed at $39
Zamzar (online)Free tierPDF, DOC, RTF and other formats3 MB maximum on free PUB to PDF uploads; files leave your computer
CloudConvert (online)Free tierPDFLimits not stated on its PUB to PDF page; files leave your computer
PUB Converter app (iPhone, iPad)$14.99PDF, Word (.docx, .doc), RTFiPhone and iPad only; check output quality

Open a .pub file in LibreOffice Draw

  • Install LibreOffice from libreoffice.org (Windows, macOS or Linux).
  • In LibreOffice, choose File > Open and select the .pub file. It opens in Draw, the LibreOffice drawing program.
  • Page through the whole document and compare it with a printout or PDF of the original if you have one: look for moved text boxes, missing images and changed fonts.
  • To keep a copy, use the Export as PDF command in the File menu.

LibreOffice reads Publisher files with its own import filter, not with Microsoft's code, so treat the result as a good reading copy rather than a guaranteed match.

If you still have Publisher installed

Microsoft says people with a perpetual (one-time purchase) version of Publisher can still install it and open and edit their files after support ends. Support for Publisher 2016 and 2019 ended on 14 October 2025, and for Publisher 2021 and Publisher LTSC 2021 on 13 October 2026, so these copies get no more updates.

While you still have one working copy, use it: open each file, choose File > Save as, pick PDF as the file type and save. For a whole folder, Microsoft's free PowerShell script exports every .pub to PDF on a machine with licensed Publisher.

Online converters: fine for one small file

Zamzar lists PDF, DOC, RTF, HTML, image and text outputs for PUB files, and its PUB to PDF page shows a 3 MB maximum file size for free uploads, which is small for a newsletter with photos. CloudConvert also converts PUB to PDF.

Both mean uploading the file to a third party. Microsoft's own page notes that third-party conversion services vary in quality and capabilities and are not supported by Microsoft. Avoid them for anything with personal data, such as membership lists or certificates with names.

What changed for Microsoft 365 subscribers

  • Publisher stopped being available to Microsoft 365 subscribers on or shortly after 1 October 2026.
  • Subscribers can no longer install or download it, and can no longer open or edit .pub files in Publisher.
  • Microsoft's recommended replacements for most uses are Word and PowerPoint; it also says some third-party programs, such as Affinity, may be able to import native Publisher files.
  • Your .pub files are not deleted. They stay wherever they are stored; you just need something other than Microsoft 365 to open them.

When the free routes are not enough

The free routes work for a few files you only need to read. They are weakest where most people need them: a folder of ten years of newsletters, layouts that must look exactly as designed, or a Word version you can keep editing.

Pub Rescue converts the whole archive on licensed Publisher installations, so each file becomes a print-ready PDF and an editable Word document, with a report of anything that needs a second look. We count the files and confirm the price by email before you pay.

Questions

Can Word open a .pub file?

Microsoft's documented route goes through Publisher: save the .pub as PDF in Publisher, then open the PDF in Word. It does not describe opening a .pub file directly in Word. Without Publisher, convert the file to PDF first with LibreOffice or a converter.

Is there a free .pub viewer?

Yes. LibreOffice Draw is free on Windows, macOS and Linux and also exports to PDF. Univik offers a Windows viewer for reading and printing that it describes as free with no limits on single-page files, with an upgrade offered to view all pages; its export to PDF or Word is part of a paid converter.

How do I open a .pub file on a Mac?

Install LibreOffice for macOS and open the file in Draw, or use an online converter for a small file. On iPhone and iPad, the PUB Converter app costs $14.99 and outputs PDF, Word and RTF.

Will Publisher 2021 still open my files?

Yes. Microsoft says perpetual versions keep working and can still open and edit files after support ends. Support for Publisher 2021 ended on 13 October 2026, so it gets no further security or other updates.

Are online converters safe for private documents?

They require uploading the file to a third-party service, and Microsoft says it does not support those services. For documents with personal data, convert offline with LibreOffice or a perpetual Publisher, or use a service that processes files on its own machines.

Sources

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