Convert a Publisher file to Word
Updated
Upload the .pub file here and download a Word (.docx) file with the text, fonts and pictures in reading order. You do not need Publisher installed, and you can check page 1 for free first.
How to convert a Publisher file to Word
- Upload your .pub files. Choose one file or up to 25 files on the home page. Each file can be up to 50 MB.
- Check the free preview. Page 1 of each file shows as a picture. You can download page 1 as a PDF for free.
- Download the format you need. Pay once to get every page as PDF, Word (.docx), PowerPoint (.pptx) and PNG images in one zip.
What you get in the Word file
Each Publisher page becomes a section of the Word file, with a page break between pages. Text keeps its font name, size, bold, italic and color. Pictures are placed in the order you would read the page.
Word is a text editor, not a layout tool. Text boxes that sit side by side in Publisher become normal paragraphs one after another. If you need the exact layout, use the PowerPoint or PDF download instead.
Microsoft's own route
Microsoft suggests saving the file as PDF in Publisher and then opening the PDF in Word. That needs a working copy of Publisher. Microsoft also notes the Word result is optimized for text editing, so layouts with many graphics may change.
Known limits
- Text that wraps around a picture in Publisher does not wrap in Word.
- Tables in some older Publisher files (2000 and earlier) may be missing.
- Fonts you do not have on your computer are replaced by Word.
Convert your file now
Questions
Can Word open a .pub file?
No. Word cannot open Publisher files. You need to convert the file first, for example to .docx or PDF.
Will the layout stay the same in Word?
Mostly not. Word puts the text in reading order. For the same layout, use the PowerPoint or PDF output.
Do I need Publisher installed?
No. The conversion runs on our server with LibreOffice and libmspub.
Sources
More guides: Publisher to PDF, Publisher to PowerPoint, Publisher to Canva, Open .pub without Publisher, .pub on Mac, Publisher alternatives, Publisher retirement, Bulk convert, Converter comparison