Microsoft to Discontinue Support for its Publisher App in 2026

Office 365

Key Takeaways:

  • Microsoft is ending support for its Publisher desktop publishing application in October 2026.
  • The decision comes as Microsoft plans to integrate Publisher’s features into other Microsoft 365 applications.
  • Microsoft 365 commercial customers can continue to use the Publisher app with its existing functionality until the support ends in 2026.

Microsoft is pulling the plug on its Publisher desktop publishing application. The company will discontinue support for the tool on October 13th, 2026, and it will no longer be available for Microsoft 365 commercial customers.

Microsoft Publisher was first launched in 1991 as a desktop publishing application. It allows Office users to create professional documents, such as newsletters, brochures, greeting cards, flyers, invitations, and more. The app provides various pre-designed templates for users, and can be customized with their own images, content, and branding. Microsoft Publisher provides a variety of tools to simplify the creation process for individuals, small businesses, and organizations who need to produce professional-looking documents.

Microsoft to Kill Off its Publisher App in 2026

Microsoft plans integration of Publisher features across Office apps

Microsoft announced the upcoming retirement of the Publisher app in a message on the Microsoft 365 Admin Center yesterday. The company stated that most of the Publisher features can already be found in other Microsoft 365 applications. For instance, Microsoft Word and PowerPoint provide similar functionality to create customized calendars, business cards, envelopes, and branded templates.

“You can continue to use Publisher with its current functionality until October 2026. Support for the perpetual version of Publisher will end in October 2026, when Office LTSC 2021 reaches end of support. Microsoft 365 customers will not be able to access Publisher from that date forward,” the company said on the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

Going forward, Microsoft plans to further integrate Publisher components into widely used Office applications like PowerPoint, Word, and Designer. Microsoft Publisher has seen minimal updates in recent years, so the decision to spread its existing capabilities across these popular apps seems to be a step in the right direction.