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Microsoft removed Publisher from Microsoft 365 on 1 October. If you still have a PC with Publisher 2016, 2019 or 2021, you can convert everything you've made before that copy goes too.

Windows app that batch-converts .pub files

Publisher Converter

Bulk convert whole folders of Microsoft Publisher files to PDF or Word in one go.

Buy a licenceTry the free demo

From £25, one-off.
School licences £45 (primary) and £95 (secondary).

The Publisher Converter window working through .pub files on a shared drive, with Export to Word ticked
Fig. 1Publisher Converter working through a folder on a school shared drive, with Export to Word ticked.

What it does

  • Point it at one folder.

    It finds every .pub file inside, however many subfolders deep.

  • PDF or Word.

    Print-ready PDFs (PDF/A for archiving) or .docx files you can edit.

  • About 500 files an hour, unattended.

    Stop it and restart it; it skips files already done.

  • Nothing leaves your network.

    It runs on your own PC against your own drives.

  • English\Year 7\Poetry booklet.pubPoetry booklet.pdfPoetry booklet.docx
  • English\Year 7\Reading log.pubReading log.pdfReading log.docx
  • Science\KS3\Lab safety poster.pubLab safety poster.pdfLab safety poster.docx
  • Maths\Times tables mat.pubTimes tables mat.pdfTimes tables mat.docx
  • Office\Newsletters\Autumn newsletter.pubAutumn newsletter.pdfAutumn newsletter.docx
Fig. 2Every .pub file in the folder and its subfolders comes out as a PDF or a Word document, saved beside the original.

Check before you buy

What you need

Not sure? Run the free demo first.

  1. 01A Windows 10 or 11 PC.
  2. 02Microsoft Publisher installed on that PC: Publisher 2016, 2019 or 2021. Microsoft 365 copies stop opening on 1 October 2026. The converter uses Publisher to open each file.
  3. 03Permission to read the folders you're converting and to save into them.

How well it converts

PDF

PDFs match the original page exactly.

Word

Word output depends on the layout: text-heavy documents come through cleanly; designs built from many layered boxes arrive as text boxes or images and may need tidying.

Prices

Pay by card or purchase order

One-off payment. No subscription. Unlimited conversions.

Multi-academy trust? Email enquiries@forgeclass.co.uk for trust pricing.

Free demo

Try it on your own files first.

The free demo converts a limited number of files so you can check the results before buying.

Try the free demo

Needs Windows 10 or 11 and Microsoft Publisher installed.

Questions

What can I convert my .pub files into?
PDF (print-ready or PDF/A) and editable Word (.docx). Very complex layouts may need small adjustments in Word.
Can I pick one folder and let it convert everything?
Yes. Select the top-level folder and it finds every Publisher file in that folder and all its subfolders, however deeply nested they are.
Do I have to convert everything at once?
No. It keeps track of the files it has already converted, so you can stop it and start it again whenever you like.
Does it work on a school network drive?
Yes. Point it at a folder on a shared drive. It needs permission to read the folders and to save into them, and it runs on your own PC, so nothing leaves your network.
Do I need Publisher installed?
Yes, on the PC that runs the converter: Publisher 2016, 2019 or 2021. Microsoft 365 copies of Publisher stop opening on 1 October 2026, but those standalone versions keep working. One PC is enough to convert the whole school's files.
Publisher has already gone from all our machines. Can you help?
The converter needs a working copy of Publisher on the PC it runs on. If you no longer have one, email enquiries@forgeclass.co.uk and we'll talk through what you can do.