Overview
As of October 1, 2026, Microsoft Publisher will reach its end of life. Due to security issues, LTS will no longer provide support after September 1, 2026. This means LTS will remove the Publisher software, and files can no longer be opened or edited. Support for Publisher will continue, and users can expect the same experience while it remains available.
It is highly recommended that all files created and used in Microsoft Publisher be downloaded as PDF or Word format before September 1. The PDFs can be uploaded to Adobe Express, where you can continue to edit and use the files.
Considerations
- PDF files can be imported into Adobe Express. This is recommended for graphic files as it will upload with editable layers.
- Publisher files can also be exported as Word documents. This option only allows text to be edited. Graphic elements will not be exported.
- Publisher is not recommended for creating PDF documents. Additional manual remediation of documents in Adobe Acrobat is necessary to meet accessibility standards.
Export Instructions
The following instructions demonstrate how to export Publisher files, including exporting Publisher files as PDF and Word documents.
Converting Publisher Files to PDF Files
The following instructions are ways to export Publisher files as PDF documents. Please note: This method will retain graphics and text, but it will not be editable in this format. To edit the graphics, import the PDF file into Adobe Express (see instructions below).
- Open the Publisher file.
- Go to File>Export.
- Select Create PDF/XPS Document.
- Choose a location (such as OneDrive) to save the file.
- Select PDF as the file type and Publish.
- If editing is needed, import the PDF file into Adobe Express.
Converting Publisher Files to Word Documents
The following instructions are ways to export Publisher files as Word Documents. Please note: This method will retain text only. The graphics are not saved.
- Open the Publisher file.
- Go to File>Save As.
- Choose a location (such as OneDrive) to save the file.
- Review the File Name.
- Select Word Document (*.doc) under the Save as Type.
- A pop-up will appear as a warning that only text will be supported in this file type.
- To save just the text, click OK.
- To save the entire publication as a graphic, click Cancel and export as a PDF.
Importing PDFs to Adobe Express
Adobe Express is a user-friendly design and content creation program accessible through the Adobe Creative Suite license. All UWEC students, staff, and instructors have access to Express through the Creative Suite online portal. PDFs created in programs such as Canva or Publisher can be imported into Express with layers, making the original graphics and text editable.
Steps to import
- Download the creation as a PDF (print or standard). Note: Don’t flatten the image.
- Navigate to Adobe Express and sign in using your UWEC credentials.
- Select the + button.
- Within the Get Started pop-up, select Import from other apps.
- Select the app in which the original file was created, such as Canva or Adobe Acrobat.
- Drag and drop your file or select Browse to access the file.
- Once converted, select Open to access the file directly or go to the Your Stuff button in the global navigation bar.