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PUB File Opener
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Free PUB file opener

PUB to PDF converter: open Publisher files online

Upload a Microsoft Publisher (.pub) file, see every page in your browser, and save it as a PDF, PNG or JPG. No Publisher needed.

Drop your .pub file here

or choose it from your device

One .pub file, up to 25 MB. Deleted within 1 hour.

Page images
Quality
  • No sign-up
  • Free for single files
  • Deleted within 1 hour
  • Mac, Windows and mobile

How it works

Three steps, a few seconds

  1. 01

    Upload your .pub file

    Drag it in, paste it, or choose it from your phone or computer.

  2. 02

    Preview every page

    Pages appear in your browser with thumbnails and zoom, usually within a few seconds.

  3. 03

    Download PDF, PNG or JPG

    Save the whole document as a PDF, or any page as a PNG or JPG image.

Why use it

Built for people who just need the file open

  • See every page first

    A full preview with thumbnails and zoom appears before you download anything, so you know the file is the right one.

  • PDF, PNG and JPG from one upload

    Download a single PDF with selectable text, one page as an image, or every page as PNG or JPG in a ZIP.

  • Honest about fonts

    If your document uses a font we do not have, we tell you which one was replaced instead of leaving you to spot it.

  • Deleted on a timer

    Files are removed automatically within 1 hour. A countdown shows the time left, and "Delete now" removes them at once.

  • Any device

    Publisher only ran on Windows. This runs in the browser on Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, Chromebook and Linux.

  • Nothing to install or join

    No app, no account, no email address, no watermark and no ads around your document.

Privacy

What happens to your file

  • Stored only to show you the result

    Your upload and the converted pages are kept so you can preview and download them. They are not read by people, shared, or used for anything else.

  • Gone within 1 hour

    A scheduled job deletes every file automatically. You can also delete yours immediately with one click.

  • Private links

    Previews and downloads sit behind a long random code that exists only in your browser. There is no public gallery and no account to leak.

The PUB to PDF guide

A free PUB to PDF converter that also opens Publisher files

PUB File Opener is a free online PUB to PDF converter and PUB file viewer for Microsoft Publisher documents. Upload a .pub file, see every page in your browser, and download it as a PDF or as PNG or JPG images. You do not need Publisher, a Microsoft 365 subscription, or a Windows PC, and there is nothing to install or sign up for. Below is everything you need to know about converting Publisher to PDF, opening .pub files on any device, and what to do now that Microsoft has retired Publisher.

What is a .pub file, and why won't it open?

A file ending in .pub is a document created with Microsoft Publisher, the desktop publishing app that shipped with some Microsoft Office editions for more than 30 years. Newsletters, flyers, brochures, greeting cards, certificates, church bulletins and school notices were often made in Publisher, so plenty of these files are still being emailed around today.

The trouble is that the .pub format can only be read properly by Publisher itself. Publisher was only ever made for Windows. It was never released for Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android or Chromebook, and it was not included in the cheaper Microsoft 365 plans. Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages and the built-in file viewers on phones cannot open a .pub file. That is why a PUB file opener that works in the browser is the quickest fix.

How to convert PUB to PDF online

Converting a Publisher file to PDF takes a few seconds:

  1. Drag your .pub file into the upload box at the top of this page, or tap it to choose a file.
  2. Wait a moment while the file is converted. Every page then appears with thumbnails and zoom.
  3. Check the preview, then click Download PDF to save one PDF containing all pages.

The PDF keeps the original page size, page order, pictures, shapes and colours, and the text stays as real, selectable text that you can search and copy. There is no watermark. If your publication uses a font we do not have, a close match is used and we list the replaced fonts next to the preview, so you know exactly what to check. When you need to convert a Publisher file to PDF online for printing, emailing or archiving, PDF is the safest choice because it opens the same way on every device.

Open a Publisher file online, free and without Publisher

Sometimes you do not need to convert anything; you just want to see what is inside. Because every upload shows a full preview first, this site works as a free online Publisher viewer as well as apublisher file converter. You can open a Publisher file online free, flick through the pages, zoom in on small print, and close the tab. Downloads are optional.

This is the easiest way to open a .pub file without Publisher: no trial version, no virtual machine, and no desktop app to buy for one document.

Open a Publisher file on Mac, iPhone, Android or Chromebook

Since the conversion runs on our servers, any modern browser can open Publisher files. If you want toopen a Publisher file on Mac, drag it from Finder into Safari, Chrome or Firefox, then open the PDF in Preview. On an iPhone or iPad, pick the file from the Files app and save the PDF back to Files. On Android phones and Chromebooks, choose the file from Downloads or Google Drive in Chrome.

Publisher to Word: getting editable text

A lot of people searching for Publisher to Word want to reuse the wording of an old flyer or newsletter. The most reliable route is in two steps. First convert the .pub file to PDF here. Then open that PDF in Microsoft Word (File, then Open), which converts it into an editable Word document, or upload it to Google Drive and choose Open with Google Docs (step-by-step: Publisher to Word). Text and simple layouts come across well. Complex layouts with lots of overlapping boxes may need some tidying, which is the same with any tool that converts Publisher to Word.

PUB to JPG and PNG images

If you need a page as a picture for social media, a slideshow, a website or a messaging app, choose PNG or JPG under the upload box. Every page becomes its own image, in standard or high resolution. UsePUB to JPG when you want small files that upload anywhere, andPUB to PNG when small print and thin lines must stay perfectly sharp, since PNG avoids the soft edges JPG compression causes. Almost every app accepts both.

Looking for a Microsoft Publisher alternative?

Microsoft retired Publisher in October 2026. It no longer receives support or updates and is being removed from Microsoft 365, and Microsoft does not convert your existing .pub files for you. If you are looking for aMicrosoft Publisher alternative, there are good options (ourguide to Publisher alternatives compares them in detail):

  • Microsoft Word and PowerPoint are what Microsoft itself suggests for simple flyers and newsletters.
  • Canva and Affinity are popular design tools, and both can import a PDF to use as a starting point.
  • LibreOffice Draw is free, runs on Windows, Mac and Linux, and can import many .pub files for editing.

Whichever tool you move to, the first step is the same: convert your Publisher files to PDF while you can still read them. A PDF is an open standard that will keep working for decades, so your old documents stay readable and printable even without Publisher.

Your files stay private

Uploaded files are only stored so you can preview and download them. Everything is deleted automatically within1 hour, and the Delete now button removes your file straight away. Previews sit behind a long random link that only your browser knows, so no one else can see your document.

Ready? Upload your .pub file and convert PUB to PDF in seconds.

FAQ

PUB to PDF and Publisher file FAQ

How do I convert a PUB file to PDF?

Drop the .pub file into the upload box at the top of this page. It is converted in a few seconds and every page appears in your browser. Check the preview, then click "Download PDF" to save one PDF with all the pages. The layout, pictures and colours are kept, and the text stays real, selectable text.

Is there a free PUB to PDF converter?

Yes, this one. Converting one .pub file to PDF at a time is free, with no sign-up and no watermark.

What makes a good PUB to PDF converter?

It should keep the original page size, layout and pictures, produce text you can search and copy rather than a flat image, add no watermark, and delete your file afterwards. This converter does all of that, and it tells you if any font had to be replaced so you know what to check.

How can I convert a Publisher file to PDF if I have Publisher installed?

Open the file in Publisher, choose File, then Export (or Save As), and pick PDF. If you no longer have Publisher, or it is not on the computer you are using, upload the .pub file here instead and download the PDF.

How do I open a Publisher file online for free?

Upload the .pub file on this page. You can read every page in your browser with thumbnails and zoom, without installing anything or creating an account. Downloading a PDF, PNG or JPG is optional.

How can I open a Publisher file without Publisher?

Use an online PUB viewer like this one: upload the file and its pages appear in your browser on any device. On a computer you can also install the free LibreOffice and open the file in LibreOffice Draw, although the layout may shift.

How do I open a Publisher file on Windows 10?

Open this page in Edge, Chrome or Firefox on Windows 10 and upload the .pub file. You do not need Publisher or a Microsoft 365 subscription. If you would rather use a desktop app, LibreOffice Draw runs on Windows 10 and can import many .pub files.

Can I edit a .pub file online?

Not directly. No web app, including Microsoft 365 on the web, edits .pub files. Convert the file to PDF here, then edit the PDF in Canva, in Google Docs, or in any PDF editor. To edit the original .pub layout, use LibreOffice Draw on a computer.

Is there a free online Publisher editor?

Microsoft never made a web version of Publisher. The closest free options are Canva for designs and Google Docs or Slides for simple documents. Convert your .pub file to PDF here first, then import the PDF into Canva to keep working on it.

What can open a Publisher file?

Microsoft Publisher itself, LibreOffice Draw (free, for Windows, Mac and Linux), and online PUB viewers such as this site, which works in any browser. Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages, Canva and the built-in viewers on phones cannot open .pub files.

Can I open Publisher files in Word?

No. Word cannot read the .pub format. Convert the .pub file to PDF here, then open the PDF in Word (File, then Open). Word 2013 and later turn the PDF into an editable document you can save as .docx.

Can LibreOffice open Publisher files?

Yes. LibreOffice Draw can import most .pub files, so you can view and edit them for free. Complex layouts and fonts do not always come across exactly, so compare the result with a PDF made here if the details matter.

How can I convert Publisher files to Canva?

Canva cannot open .pub files, but it can import PDFs. Convert your .pub file to PDF here, then upload the PDF to Canva, which turns it into an editable design. Check the text and fonts afterwards, as some may need adjusting.

What is a good alternative to Microsoft Publisher in OpenOffice?

Apache OpenOffice Draw can handle simple page layouts such as flyers and posters, but OpenOffice cannot open .pub files. LibreOffice, which grew out of OpenOffice, is the better choice: its Draw app does the same layout work and can also import .pub files.

What can I use instead of Microsoft Publisher?

Word for newsletters, letters and notices; Canva for flyers, invitations and social posts; Affinity or Scribus for brochures and print work; and LibreOffice Draw if you want to keep editing old .pub files. Most of these are free.

What is Microsoft replacing Publisher with?

There is no direct replacement. Microsoft recommends Word and PowerPoint, which already have the page layout, text box and template tools most Publisher users need, and Microsoft Designer for quick graphics.

Will I be able to use Publisher after 2026?

Microsoft retired Publisher in October 2026. It is no longer part of Microsoft 365, so subscribers lose access to it. Standalone copies that are already installed may keep running, but they get no more updates or security fixes.

What will happen to my Publisher files?

Your .pub files are not deleted, but Microsoft does not convert them into another format, and fewer apps will be able to open them. Convert the ones you want to keep to PDF while you can still check them; PDF opens on every device and will stay readable.

What should I do with my old Publisher files?

Convert them to PDF so they stay readable, and keep the PDFs as a record of how each publication looked. If you still need to edit them, import the PDFs into Word, Canva or Affinity, or open the .pub files in LibreOffice Draw.

What happens to my file after I upload it?

Your file and the converted copies are stored only so you can preview and download them. Everything is deleted automatically within 60 minutes, and the "Delete now" button removes it immediately. Nobody else can see your file: the download links use a long random code that only your browser has.

Will the converted file look exactly like the original?

Layout, shapes, pictures and colours are kept. Text can look different if the document uses a font we do not have, because another font has to be used in its place. When that happens we tell you which fonts were replaced, so you know what to check.

Does it work on Mac, iPhone, Android and Chromebook?

Yes. Publisher itself only ever ran on Windows, but this tool runs in the browser, so it works on any phone, tablet or computer.

Which Publisher versions are supported?

Files saved by Publisher 98 through Publisher 2021 and Microsoft 365 generally open. Very old files and password-protected files may not; if a file cannot be read you will see a clear message rather than a broken result.

How large can my file be?

Single files up to 25 MB.

Open your .pub file now

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