Microsoft Axes Microsoft Publisher in Favor of More Popular Tools

Microsoft has announced that it will be discontinuing its Microsoft Publisher application as of October 1, 2026. The company claims that this decision was made to improve the overall experience of its Microsoft 365 subscribers by focusing on features and tools that are actually used.

In an email sent to users, Microsoft stated that most people do not use Microsoft Publisher, which is why it makes sense to direct resources to other products, such as Microsoft 365 Copilot. The company noted that many common Publisher scenarios are available in other Microsoft 365 apps, including Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.

Users who have purchased a perpetual license for Office 2021 LTSC will still be able to use Publisher after the support deadline, but it may be vulnerable to attacks and security threats. Users with Microsoft 365 subscriptions are advised to convert their Publisher files to PDF or Word format before October 2, 2026, as they will no longer be able to access Publisher after that date.