Why Word will not open a Publisher file
Publisher and Word both come from Microsoft, but they store documents in completely different ways. Word has no import filter for .pub files, so if you try to open one, it either refuses or shows a page of random characters. Microsoft retired Publisher in October 2026, so a direct Publisher to Word route is not coming.
PDF is the bridge. Word has been able to open PDF files and turn them into editable documents since Word 2013, and Google Docs can do the same. So the reliable way to get a Publisher file into Word is to convert it to PDF first.
Step by step: Publisher to Word
- Convert the .pub file to PDF. Upload it in the box above, check the pages in the preview, and click "Download PDF". The PDF contains real, selectable text, which is what Word needs.
- Open the PDF in Word. On Windows or Mac, open Word, choose File, then Open, and pick the PDF. Word warns that it will convert the PDF into an editable document; click OK.
- Tidy and save. Check the layout, fix anything that moved, then choose File, then Save As, and pick Word Document (.docx).
No Word? Upload the PDF to Google Drive, right-click it and choose "Open with", then "Google Docs". You can download the result as a Word file from the File menu.
What to expect after converting
Word is built around flowing text, while Publisher places text boxes and pictures freely on the page. How well a publication comes across depends on its design:
- Letters, notices, simple newsletters and certificates usually convert well, with text and pictures where you expect them.
- Busy designs with many overlapping boxes, text running around shapes, or text on top of pictures may need some rearranging.
- Fonts follow the PDF. If the viewer here lists a replaced font, you can change it back in Word if you have the original font installed.
When you only need the words
If you just want to reuse the wording in a new document, you do not need to convert the layout at all. Open the PDF you downloaded here, select the text, copy it, and paste it into Word, Google Docs or Pages. Because the PDF has real text rather than pictures of text, this works on any device.
Keep the original layout as well
Keep the PDF next to your new Word document. It shows exactly how the publication looked, opens anywhere, and is the best format for printing or sharing the original. If you need the pages as pictures instead, see PUB to PNG and PUB to JPG. If you are moving away from Publisher for good, our guide to Microsoft Publisher alternatives compares the options.