Microsoft Publisher Is Retiring October 1, 2026: What Every Church Needs to Do Now
You have less than two months. Here is exactly what to do before the deadline.
October 1, 2026 is less than two months away. Microsoft 365 subscribers will lose access to Publisher entirely on that date. If your church uses Publisher for bulletins, newsletters, or any other materials, you need to act now.
Microsoft Publisher has been a staple of small church communications for decades. The bulletin template you have been using since 2008. The newsletter layout your secretary built in 2012. The VBS flyer someone made in Publisher and nobody remembers how. All of it stops working for Microsoft 365 subscribers on October 1, 2026.
This is not a rumor or a maybe. Microsoft has confirmed the date on their official support page. The deadline is real and it is close. Here is exactly what your church needs to do before it arrives.
What Is Actually Happening
Microsoft Publisher will reach end of life on October 1, 2026. Here is what that means specifically:
- Microsoft 365 subscribers: Publisher will be removed from your subscription on October 1, 2026. You will not be able to open or edit .pub files in Publisher after that date.
- Perpetual (standalone) version: If you purchased Publisher as a standalone product (Office 2021, Office LTSC 2021), support ends October 13, 2026. The software will still run, but you will receive no security updates or support.
- Your .pub files: They will not be deleted. But if you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you will not be able to open them in Publisher after October 1.
- No replacement within Publisher: Microsoft is not releasing a new version. Publisher is being retired entirely. The replacement is Word, PowerPoint, and third-party tools.
What Most Churches Need to Do Before October 1
Step 1: Find All Your Publisher Files
Search your computer, shared drives, and any church computers for files ending in .pub. These are Publisher files. Make a list of which ones you actually use and which ones are just sitting there from years ago.
How to Find Publisher Files
On Windows: Open File Explorer, click in the search bar, type *.pub and press Enter. This will find all Publisher files on that drive.
On a shared drive or SharePoint: Use the search function and search for .pub.
On OneDrive: Search for .pub in the OneDrive search bar.
Step 2: Convert the Files You Actually Use
For each Publisher file you actively use, convert it to a format that will work after October 1. You have two options:
Option A: Save as PDF (recommended for files you just need to print)
Open the Publisher file. Go to File > Save As. Choose a location. Select PDF as the file type. Save. This preserves the layout exactly. You can print it but not edit it.
Option B: Recreate in Word or Canva (recommended for files you edit regularly)
For templates you update regularly, like your weekly bulletin or monthly newsletter, recreate them in Word or Canva now. This takes more time upfront but gives you an editable template going forward.
Step 3: Stop Creating New Files in Publisher
Starting today, do not create any new materials in Publisher. Use Word, PowerPoint, or Canva instead. Every new file you create in Publisher between now and October 1 is a file you will have to convert later.
What to Use Instead of Publisher
Microsoft recommends Word or PowerPoint for most Publisher tasks. Here is the honest breakdown for churches:
| What You Made in Publisher | Best Replacement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly bulletin | Word or Canva | Word has bulletin templates. Canva has better design options and is free for nonprofits. |
| Monthly newsletter | Word or Canva | Word works well. Canva produces more polished results with less effort. |
| Event flyers | Canva or PowerPoint | Canva is significantly easier for flyers. PowerPoint works too. |
| VBS graphics and signs | Canva | Canva’s free nonprofit tier handles this better than any Microsoft app. |
| Certificates | Word or PowerPoint | Both have certificate templates. Word is easier for text-heavy certificates. |
| Bulletins with photos | Canva or Publisher (until Oct 1) | Canva handles photo layouts much better than Word. |
| Envelopes and labels | Word | Word has built-in envelope and label tools that match Publisher’s functionality. |
| Business cards | Canva or Word | Canva has better templates. Word works for simple designs. |
Canva for Nonprofits: The Best Free Option for Most Churches
If your church has been using Publisher primarily for design work, bulletins, flyers, and newsletters, Canva is the best free replacement. Canva for Nonprofits gives churches the full Canva Pro experience at no cost.
- Thousands of templates for bulletins, newsletters, flyers, social media, and more
- Drag-and-drop design that is significantly easier than Publisher
- Cloud-based so multiple people can access and edit files
- Free for nonprofits through the Canva for Nonprofits program
- Export to PDF for printing, or share links directly
How to Apply for Canva for Nonprofits
Go to canva.com/canva-for-nonprofits. Click Apply Now. You will need your church’s EIN (tax ID number) and basic information about your organization. Approval typically takes a few days. Once approved, you get full Canva Pro access at no cost.
The Bulletin Problem: What to Do This Sunday
The most urgent Publisher issue for most churches is the weekly bulletin. If your bulletin template lives in a Publisher file, you need a plan before October 1.
The fastest path: open your current Publisher bulletin, export it to PDF, then open that PDF in Word (File > Open > select the PDF). Word will convert it to an editable document. The layout will not be perfect, but it gives you a starting point to rebuild in Word.
The better path: spend 30-60 minutes this week recreating your bulletin template in Canva or Word. Canva has bulletin templates that are significantly better looking than most Publisher bulletins and take less time to update each week.
A Note for Bi-Vocational Pastors
If you are the pastor, the communications director, and the IT department, this transition falls on you. Here is the honest timeline:
- This week: Search for .pub files on your church computer. Make a list.
- Next week: Convert the files you actually use to PDF. Stop creating new Publisher files.
- Before September 1: Rebuild your weekly bulletin template in Word or Canva.
- Before October 1: Make sure no one on your team is still using Publisher for anything.
That is it. Four steps over the next eight weeks. The transition is not complicated. It just requires doing it before the deadline rather than after.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Microsoft Publisher retire?
Microsoft Publisher reaches end of life on October 1, 2026. Microsoft 365 subscribers will lose access to Publisher entirely on that date. Support for the perpetual (standalone) version of Publisher ends October 13, 2026, when Office LTSC 2021 and Consumer Office 2021 reach end of support. Source: Microsoft Support.
What happens to my Publisher files after October 1, 2026?
If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you will no longer be able to open or edit your .pub files in Publisher after October 1, 2026. Microsoft recommends converting all Publisher files to PDF or Word format before that date. If you have the perpetual (standalone) version of Publisher, you can still open files after October 13, but you will receive no support or updates.
What should churches use instead of Microsoft Publisher?
Microsoft recommends Word or PowerPoint for most Publisher tasks: newsletters, flyers, brochures, bulletins, certificates, and calendars. Canva (free for nonprofits) is an excellent alternative for design-heavy materials. For churches that want a free, browser-based option, Canva handles most of what Publisher did with a much easier learning curve.
Is Canva really free for churches?
Yes. Canva offers Canva for Nonprofits, which provides the full Canva Pro experience at no cost for registered nonprofits and churches. Apply at canva.com/canva-for-nonprofits. The application takes about 10 minutes and approval typically comes within a few days.
How do I convert my Publisher files to PDF before the deadline?
In Publisher, go to File > Save As, choose a location, select PDF as the file type, and save. For bulk conversion of many files, Microsoft provides a PowerShell script on their support page. Search ‘Microsoft Publisher retirement’ on support.microsoft.com for the current script.
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Source: Microsoft Support: Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026
Related: 10 AI Tools Every Small Church Should Know About | AI for Small Church Communications | The Church AI Toolkit
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