# Microsoft Publisher Application: Microsoft Corporation Also called publisher, ms publisher, mspub Microsoft Corporation, Productivity Microsoft's desktop publishing app. The process is MSPUB.EXE. Microsoft is retiring Publisher from Microsoft 365 in October 2026. It is not Word. ## What you need to know Publisher is MSPUB.EXE and .pub files. Word is not a drop-in replacement for every layout. Microsoft Publisher is a page-layout app for flyers, newsletters, and brochures. Microsoft will remove it from Microsoft 365 after October 1, 2026, and end support for perpetual Publisher on October 13, 2026. WINWORD.EXE is a different canvas. - **What is it?**: A flyer and newsletter layout app **Still supported?**: Microsoft is retiring it in October 2026 **Same as Word?**: No. Word is WINWORD.EXE Feex says If you still live in .pub files, I would export to PDF or Word before October 2026. I would not wait for a Word repair to bring Publisher back after Microsoft removes it from 365. ## What is Microsoft Publisher? Microsoft Publisher is a desktop publishing program whose Windows executable is MSPUB.EXE. It opens .pub files. It is not Word, even when Microsoft tells 365 users to move layouts to Word or PDF. ## If you have never used it If you make church bulletins, trifold flyers, or newsletters in Publisher, this is MSPUB.EXE, not Word. Word can take some content. It does not keep every Publisher frame. Microsoft 365 subscribers can use Publisher until October 1, 2026. After that, 365 will not open .pub files in Publisher. Convert important files now. ## What is it used for? **Page layout** Flyers, newsletters, and brochures with frames. That is the .pub canvas, not a Word document. **Mailing and catalogs** Publisher-specific merge and catalog features that Word does not copy one-for-one. **Export before retirement** PDF or Word export while Publisher still runs. After October 2026, 365 subscribers lose the app. ## Who is it for? - People with archives of .pub files - Offices that still design print pieces in Publisher - Anyone who should not assume Word opens every Publisher layout ## Current status Retiring. Microsoft 365 subscribers lose Publisher after October 1, 2026. Perpetual Publisher support ends October 13, 2026. Perpetual installs may still run without new support. ## How old is it? Publisher launched in 1991 as a desktop publishing companion to Office. It is older than Microsoft 365 and is being removed from that suite in 2026. Word continues. Publisher does not. ## Versions Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here. Publisher in Microsoft 365 (until Oct 2026) Publisher 2021 perpetual Older Publisher ## System requirements Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need. ### Minimum | CPU | 1.6 GHz or faster, 2-core, per Microsoft for Microsoft 365 Apps | | ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | | RAM | 4 GB for 64-bit, per Microsoft. Large files want more | | Storage | 4 GB class install plus your documents | | Operating system | A current Windows release Microsoft lists for Microsoft 365 Apps | ## Resource profile - **CPU demand**: Layout and print preview **RAM demand**: Image-heavy publications ## Installed processes These executables belong to this product when it is installed. | MSPUB.EXE | Desktop Publisher | | --------- | ----------------- | ## Startup components Publisher starts when you open a .pub file. It should not start with Windows. ## File locations | Typical Click-to-Run | C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\MSPUB.EXE | | -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | ## File formats PUB, PDF, DOCX ## Common problems ### 365 will drop the app in October 2026 Export now. A later Word repair will not restore Publisher on a 365-only PC. ### People open .pub in Word and lose frames Word is a conversion path, not the same layout engine. ## Getting unstuck ### Inventory .pub files and export to PDF while Publisher still opens Microsoft documents this as the preparation step before October 1, 2026 for 365 subscribers. ### Do not expect Office 2024 to include Publisher Microsoft omitted Publisher from Office 2024. A 2021 perpetual box is a different SKU. ### Repair Microsoft 365 Apps only if Publisher is still in your SKU After retirement, the suite installer will not put MSPUB.EXE back. ## Alternatives Word, PowerPoint, and a dedicated layout tool overlap after retirement. None of them is MSPUB.EXE. Convert files while you still can. ## Official help and downloads Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel. | Retirement notice | [support.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026 ](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026)Dates and what 365 subscribers lose | | ------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Publisher help | [support.microsoft.com/publisher ](https://support.microsoft.com/publisher)How-to while the app still ships | | Office Publisher articles | [support.microsoft.com/office/publisher ](https://support.microsoft.com/office/publisher)Export and layout help | | Microsoft 365 plans | [www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365 ](https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365)Suite page. Publisher is leaving that suite | ## Related hardware Any PC that still runs current Office can run Publisher until Microsoft removes it. The urgent work is file conversion, not a GPU upgrade. ## Technical details Technical details Retirement dates come from Microsoft Support as of 2026. Perpetual versus 365 behavior differs. This article does not invent a replacement app Microsoft has not shipped. ## Related These entities connect to this article. Type is shown on every link. [Microsoft Word: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/microsoft-word)[Microsoft 365: Application](https://feex.it/wiki/software/microsoft-365) ## Sources and verification Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Legacy Information. [How we research](https://feex.it/wiki/research). - [Microsoft: Publisher retirement ](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/publisher/microsoft-publisher-will-no-longer-be-supported-after-october-2026)· Official end of support - [Microsoft Support: Publisher ](https://support.microsoft.com/publisher)· Current Publisher help - [Microsoft Support: Office Publisher hub ](https://support.microsoft.com/office/publisher)· How-to while the app still ships - [Foxhole process map ](https://foxhole.feex.it/)· First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark. ## Was this article useful? A yes or no is enough. Pick a reason if you want, or add a short note. Quick facts The short identity of this page. Specs, sources, and the full story stay in the article. - **Developer**: Microsoft Corporation **Category**: Desktop publishing **Process**: MSPUB.EXE **License**: Included with some Microsoft 365 and Office SKUs until retirement **First released**: 1991 **Official site**: [support.microsoft.com/publisher](https://support.microsoft.com/publisher) **Mapped by Feex**: Seen on Windows PCs in Foxhole Legacy Information: Last verified August 2026 --- Source: [Canonical Feex Wiki page](https://feex.it/wiki/software/microsoft-publisher/) [Developer guide](https://feex.it/wiki/developers/) | [API policy](https://feex.it/developers/api-policy/) | [Agent guidance](https://feex.it/wiki/llms.txt)