Microsoft has announced the cessation of support for its design software, Publisher, effective October 2026. This entails Publisher's exclusion from subsequent releases of the Office Suite. In a statement on its support page, Microsoft acknowledges that many features of Publisher, such as envelope and folder design, are already present in other Office programs.
The company pledges to explore integrating Publisher functionalities into Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Designer. Microsoft assures users of ongoing communication regarding these changes and commits to supporting Publisher until October 2026. This aligns with the end of support for Office LTSC 2021 and the cessation of Publisher access for Microsoft 365 customers.
At Microsoft, we are dedicated to providing our customers with the tools they need to achieve what matters, in their work and life. In order to focus on new benefits, we occasionally remove features and products. 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. Until then, support for Publisher will continue and users can expect the same experience as today. Many common Publisher scenarios including the creation of professionally branded templates, envelope and label printing, and producing customized calendars, business cards, and programs are already available in other Microsoft 365 apps such as Word and PowerPoint. You can find a wide array of customizable templates at Microsoft Create. As we look ahead to the retirement of Microsoft Publisher, we are exploring modern ways to achieve common Publisher scenarios across applications like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Designer. We will update as we have more to share.
