Can I still use a Previous Version of Publisher after October 2026?

Hi @David Frediani ,

Thank you for reaching out and sharing your concerns about Microsoft Publisher.

You're absolutely right to be thinking ahead. Microsoft has officially announced that Publisher will reach its end of support on October 13, 2026. After that date, it will no longer be included in Microsoft 365 subscriptions, and users will not be able to open or edit Publisher files using the

However, if you purchase Publisher 2021 as a standalone product (not part of a Microsoft 365 subscription), you will still be able to use it beyond October 2026. It won’t receive updates or technical support, but the program itself will continue to function on your device. This means your existing files and workflow should remain intact, though you may want to consider converting important documents to formats like PDF or DOCX for long-term accessibility.

Microsoft is encouraging users to transition to alternatives like Word, PowerPoint, and Designer, which now support many of the publishing features previously unique to Publisher. But if Publisher remains your go-to tool, purchasing the standalone version is a valid way to continue using it past the retirement date.

I hope this helps you get the thing sorted out quickly!

Wish you a productive day ahead.

Zoevi – Microsoft Q&A Support Specialist

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