Microsoft to discontinue Publisher, users worried about the transition

Microsoft’s recent announcement that its decades-old publishing application, Publisher, first released in 1991, will be discontinued on October 13, 2026, has left many in a frenzy.

The message on the Microsoft 365 Admin Center reads, In October 2026, Microsoft Publisher will reach its end of life. After that time, it will no longer be included in Microsoft 365 and existing on-premises suites will no longer be supported.

It further states, As we look ahead to the retirement of Microsoft Publisher, we are exploring modern ways to achieve other common Publisher scenarios across applications like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Designer. We will update as we have more to share.

While Microsoft Publisher certainly has a limited user base and isn’t as popular as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, it is still employed by many individuals, organizations and non-profits to create newsletters, greeting cards, and reports.

Soon after the announcement, many Microsoft Publisher users shared their exasperation in a Reddit post.

As we are headed to the closing chapter of Microsoft Publisher, you should start looking for Microsoft Publisher alternatives for booklets or get used to the integrated feature set on other Microsoft 365 apps.

The good news is that you still have over two and a half years before Microsoft finally pulls the plug on Publisher!

Do share your thoughts on the announcement and how it affects you in the comments section.