Can you still download Microsoft Publisher?
And is it free? The short answer, with Microsoft's datesUpdated ~/can-you-still-download-microsoft-publisher
Mostly, no. Microsoft says Publisher can't be installed or downloaded through Microsoft 365 after October 2026, Office 2024 doesn't include it, and there has never been a free version. If what you need is your .pub files, PubStudio opens them for free, on a Windows PC or in your browser.
No Windows warningWhere you could get Publisher, and what's left
- Microsoft 365: Publisher can no longer be installed or downloaded, and subscribers can't open .pub files in it any more. An update takes it off PCs that still have it, from mid-November 2026, and early December on some business PCs.
- Office 2024: no edition includes Publisher, so buying the newest Office won't bring it back.
- A copy you bought outright (Publisher 2016, 2019 or 2021, or Office 2021 Professional): Microsoft says you can still install and use it. It just gets no more fixes or security updates.
- Buying an old copy now: Microsoft no longer sells older versions of Office. It has never offered Publisher as a free download, so a site that offers one isn't Microsoft.
Your .pub files aren't affected by any of this. They stay where you saved them, and they still open, just not in Publisher once it's gone.
How do I open my .pub files without Publisher?
- Get PubStudio from the Microsoft Store on Windows 10 or 11, or open it online in Chrome or Edge on a Mac, Chromebook or any PC.
- Open your file: double-click it, or use File > Open. Files from Publisher 98 through Microsoft 365 open with their text, pictures, tables and pages.
- Edit, print or save it. Opening, editing, printing and saving are free, with no account. Free prints and PDFs carry a "Made with PubStudio" line.
Your original .pub is never changed. When you save, PubStudio writes a .pubx copy next to it. More in how to open a .pub file.
Questions
Is Microsoft Publisher free?
No. Publisher always came with Microsoft 365 or with a copy of Office or Publisher you paid for. There was no free version and no online version.
Can I still download Publisher with Microsoft 365?
No. Microsoft says Publisher isn't available to install or download after October 2026, and the update that removes it reaches PCs from mid-November 2026.
Does Office 2024 come with Publisher?
No, not in any edition. The last versions of Office to include it were from 2021.
Can I still use Publisher 2019 or 2021?
Yes, if you bought it outright. Microsoft says it can still be installed and used, but it gets no more fixes or security updates. See the retirement dates.
Will my .pub files still open?
Yes. The retirement takes away the app, not your files. PubStudio opens them free on Windows or in your browser, and nothing is uploaded.
Sources: Microsoft, Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026 (updated October 27, 2026) and admin message MC1469564; Office Watch, Buy Microsoft Office with Publisher. Checked November 2, 2026. Publisher gone already? See Publisher disappeared from my PC.