Quick answer: a Chromebook can't open .pub files by itself, because Publisher only ever ran on Windows. Open Free Pub Editor in Chrome, click Open and pick the file from the Files app or Google Drive. It opens with its layout, you can edit it, and nothing is installed or uploaded.
Why won't my Chromebook open a .pub file?
ChromeOS has no app that understands Microsoft Publisher's format. Google's own list of file types Chromebooks support covers Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, PDFs, images and media, but .pub isn't on it (Chromebook Help). Double-click one in the Files app and you'll see an "Unknown file type" message.
Microsoft never made Publisher for ChromeOS, the web or Mac. It was a Windows desktop program, and it has now been retired (see the retirement dates).
Can Microsoft 365 on the web open it?
No. There is no Publisher for the web. Microsoft's list of files that OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams can preview covers Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats, but not .pub (Microsoft Support). Word for the web can't help either: Microsoft says it can't even open PDFs, so the usual "convert via PDF" trick needs desktop Word (Microsoft Support).
How do I open a .pub file in Chrome?
- Open freepubeditor.com/editor in Chrome.
- Click Open. The ChromeOS file picker appears.
- Choose the .pub file from My files, Downloads or Google Drive in the left-hand list.
- The publication opens with its text boxes, pictures, tables and backgrounds in place. Click any text to edit it.
- Click Export PDF and set the destination to Save as PDF, or pick a printer to print straight away.
The file is processed inside Chrome on your Chromebook. It isn't sent to our server, which matters if it's a school newsletter with children's names in it. More on that in is it safe to open .pub files online?
What about files in Google Drive?
Google Drive appears inside the ChromeOS Files app, so you can pick a .pub file straight from Drive in the editor's Open window (Chromebook Help). If Drive is set to online-only and the file won't load, open it in the Files app first so it downloads, then try again.
If the .pub file arrived as an email attachment in Gmail, download it first. It lands in your Downloads folder, and you can open it from there in the editor. There's no need to upload it to Drive or convert it beforehand.
To keep an editable copy, use File → Save. That creates an .fpe file you can store in Drive and open again later. A PDF is better for sending to other people.
Does it work on a school-managed Chromebook?
Usually yes. The editor is an ordinary web page: there's no extension, Android app or Linux install to approve. A few things to check if it doesn't work:
- Website blocked. Some schools only allow approved sites. Ask IT to allow freepubeditor.com.
- Downloads disabled. If saving PDFs is blocked, print directly to a school printer instead, or export a PNG picture of each page.
- Files on a shared drive. If a file won't load from a shared folder, copy it into My files first and open it from there.
Schools moving away from Publisher may also find our guide for schools and churches useful.
What are my options on a Chromebook?
| Option | Opens .pub? | Good | Not so good |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Pub Editor in Chrome | Yes, editable | Nothing to install; file stays on the device; prints and exports PDF | One file at a time; WordArt keeps its words but not effects |
| LibreOffice Draw via Linux | Yes (import) | Free, full desktop app | Large install; Linux may be disabled on school devices; can't save back to .pub |
| Microsoft 365 on the web | No | Fine for Word, Excel, PowerPoint | No Publisher and no .pub preview |
| Google Docs or Slides | No | Good for rebuilding a simple flyer | Can't read the original file |
On Linux: Google says "you might not be able to use Linux" on work or school Chromebooks (Chromebook Help). If you can, LibreOffice works, but read our LibreOffice test first.
Tips for working on a Chromebook
- Use a mouse if you have one. Small text boxes are easier to select than with a trackpad.
- Plug into a monitor for big jobs. A 14-page newsletter is much easier to work through on a larger screen.
- Check fonts. Chromebooks don't have Microsoft's fonts, so the editor swaps in look-alikes with the same widths, such as Carlito for Calibri and Arimo for Arial. Line breaks normally stay put.
- Reprinting a newsletter? Change the dates and headline, export a PDF, and you're done.
If the file won't open at all, see what to do when a .pub file won't open. Very old files from Publisher 2000 open as text only, and Publisher 97 files aren't supported yet.