How to open a PUB file in 2026
A .pub file is a Microsoft Publisher document. Microsoft 365 subscribers lose access to Publisher on or shortly after October 1, 2026 (Microsoft Support). Here are the ways to open a .pub or Publisher file that still work, from quickest to most faithful.
1. Read it in your browser (fastest)
Use the free PUB file viewer on this site: pick the file, read its text and see its pictures in a few seconds. It runs in the browser with nothing to install (tested so far in Chromium-based browsers: Chrome, Edge), and the file is never uploaded. Exports to PDF and Word are part of the paid Pro key.
2. Open it with LibreOffice Draw (free, keeps more layout)
LibreOffice is free desktop software. Open the .pub file from LibreOffice Draw, then use File > Export as PDF. Layout is approximate, and you have to install the suite (LibreOffice reads .pub files through the open-source libmspub library).
3. Use an old copy of Publisher
A perpetual licence (Publisher 2016, 2019 or 2021) still opens .pub files on Windows, but its support ended on October 13, 2026 (Microsoft Support). If you have one, save each file as PDF while you can (File > Save As > PDF).
4. Online converters
Several websites convert .pub to PDF on their servers. They work, but you upload the document, which matters for files with names, addresses or school and church records.
How to open a PUB file without Publisher on a Mac
Publisher never existed for Mac. Use the browser viewer above or LibreOffice for Mac.
Which option should I pick?
| Need | Best option |
|---|---|
| Read or copy the text now | Browser viewer (free) |
| Get the photos out | Browser viewer (view free, ZIP with Pro) |
| Exact page layout | Old Publisher, then LibreOffice Draw |
| Edit the text in Word | Pro export to .docx |