Quick answer: no. Microsoft Word can't open Microsoft Publisher .pub files, on Windows, Mac or the web. Microsoft's own advice is to save the publication as a PDF, then open that PDF in desktop Word. Without Publisher, make the PDF in Free Pub Editor first. Expect busy layouts to need tidying.
Can Word open a .pub file directly?
No. Word has no reader for Publisher's format, even though both came from Microsoft. Microsoft's support page on the retirement doesn't offer a direct route; it tells you to convert the publication to PDF and then open the PDF in Word (Microsoft Support).
The same goes for Word for the web. Microsoft lists the formats it can open, and both .pub and PDF are missing: it handles Word's own formats and OpenDocument text only (Microsoft Support).
What does Microsoft suggest instead?
Microsoft's steps are short:
- In Publisher, choose File → Save as and pick PDF.
- In Word, choose File → Open and select the PDF.
- Click OK when Word says it will convert the PDF.
Microsoft adds an honest warning: the converted document "will be optimized for text editing", and the layout may change, "particularly if the document includes many graphics" (Microsoft Support). The same page points people to Word for newsletters, labels and envelopes, and to Word or PowerPoint for brochures, business cards and calendars.
The catch: step 1 needs Publisher. If you no longer have it, you need something else to make the PDF.
How do I get a .pub file into Word without Publisher?
There are three practical routes, depending on what you need at the end.
1. PDF, then Word (keeps the most)
- Open the .pub file in Free Pub Editor. It runs in your browser and the file isn't uploaded.
- Click Export PDF and choose Save as PDF.
- Open the PDF in desktop Word and let it convert.
- Save as a Word document (.docx) and tidy up.
Full steps, with tips on what to fix afterwards, are in our .pub to Word guide.
2. Copy and paste the text (cleanest)
If you only need the words, say for a report or a website, open the file in the editor, click into each text box, select all and copy it into Word. You lose the layout but get clean, editable text with no stray boxes. Work through the boxes in reading order so the story stays in sequence.
3. Pictures of each page (simplest)
Export each page as PNG or JPEG and insert the pictures into Word. It looks exactly like the original but nothing in the pictures is editable. Handy for putting a poster or flyer into a Word report. See .pub to JPG or PNG.
Which route should I use?
| Route | Layout kept | Text editable in Word | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PDF → Word conversion | Partly; columns and captions often shift | Yes | Simple, text-heavy pages |
| Copy and paste text | No | Yes, cleanly | Reusing the words elsewhere |
| Page pictures in Word | Exactly | No | Including a design in a report |
| Keep editing the .pub | Exactly | Not in Word, but editable | Updating and reprinting |
Why do converted publications look messy in Word?
Publisher and Word think about pages differently. Publisher places each text box, picture and shape at a fixed spot on the page. Word flows text from top to bottom and treats pictures as things that sit in or around that flow. Converting means Word has to guess how dozens of separate boxes fit into one stream of text.
Simple pages, such as a letter or a one-column notice, survive well. Newsletters with three columns, pull quotes, overlapping pictures and a coloured sidebar usually don't. You'll often find text boxes stacked in the wrong order or captions drifting away from their pictures.
What should I check after converting?
- Reading order. Scroll from top to bottom and make sure stories run in the right sequence.
- Pictures. Check each one is still there and sits near the text it belongs to.
- Fonts. Headings sometimes come back in a different font or size.
- Page count. Text that overflowed a box in the original can push everything onto extra pages.
Is Word the right place for it at all?
Sometimes. If your organisation is standardising on Word and you're happy to rebuild designs there, the PDF route gives you a starting point. But if you just need to change this term's dates and print it again, converting is extra work. Editing the original file keeps every box where it was.
For brand-new designs it's often easier to start fresh in Word with one of its own templates than to convert an old publication. Use the old design as a reference on screen, and rebuild it with Word's styles so it's easy to update next time.
For a wider look at what to use now, see what replaced Microsoft Publisher and our comparison of Publisher alternatives.