How to open a .pub file on an iPad or iPhone

Can an iPad open .pub files on its own?

No. Microsoft Publisher only ever ran on Windows PCs, so Apple's Files app and Quick Look don't know what to do with a .pub file. You'll usually see a plain document icon and no preview. Microsoft's iPad apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) can't open it either, and Publisher itself has now been retired (Microsoft Support).

What an iPad does have is a capable browser. That's all the editor needs.

How do I open a .pub file in Safari?

1. Save the file first. If it came by email, tap the attachment, then the Share button, then Save to Files. Pick iCloud Drive or On My iPad.
2. Open freepubeditor.com/editor in Safari. Chrome and Edge on iPad work too.
3. Tap Open. When iPadOS asks, choose Browse (or Choose File) and find the .pub file.
4. The publication opens with its text boxes, pictures, tables and backgrounds where they belong. Scroll and pinch to look around the page.
5. Tap into a text box to change words, dates or prices.

Files in a connected cloud drive such as OneDrive, Dropbox or Google Drive also appear in that Browse window, as long as the provider's app is installed and turned on in Files.

What works well on a tablet, and what doesn't?

The editor uses a Publisher-style ribbon with lots of small controls. That suits a mouse and a big screen. On an iPad, a keyboard case with a trackpad makes a real difference; on an iPhone, stick to reading and small text changes.

Why is a laptop easier for editing?

Page layout is precise work. You're grabbing handles a few millimetres wide, nudging boxes into line and selecting several items at once. A fingertip covers several of those handles at the same time, and the on-screen keyboard hides half the page while you type. None of that stops you, but jobs that take two minutes with a mouse can take ten on a tablet.

A good pattern: check and approve the file on your iPad, then do the heavier edits later on a computer. If that computer is a Mac, see opening .pub files on a Mac; on a Chromebook, see the Chromebook guide.

How do I share it as a PDF or picture from an iPad?

Most people you send it to won't have Publisher either, so send a PDF or an image, not the .pub file.

• Picture: use Export and choose PNG (150 or 300 dpi) or JPEG. Safari puts downloads in the Files app (usually the Downloads folder), ready to attach to an email or post. Good for a flyer going on social media.
• PDF: tap Export PDF. This opens Safari's print window. Look for the option to share or save the preview as a PDF; where it sits depends on your iPadOS or iOS version. You can also print directly to an AirPrint printer from the same window (Apple Support).
• Editable copy: File → Save creates an .fpe file you can open again later in the editor on any device.

For more on PDFs, including print shop settings, see .pub to PDF. For pictures, see .pub to JPG or PNG.

Can I just forward the .pub file instead?

You can, but think about who's receiving it. Most phones, tablets, Macs and Chromebooks can't open a .pub file at all, and since Publisher's retirement many Windows PCs can't either. If the person only needs to read or print it, a PDF or picture is kinder. If they need to edit it, send the .pub file along with a link to opening .pub files online so they aren't stuck.

Will it look exactly like the original?

Close, in most cases. Your iPad doesn't have Microsoft's fonts, so the editor replaces them with free fonts built to the same widths, such as Carlito for Calibri and Tinos for Times New Roman. That keeps line breaks where they were. WordArt keeps its words but loses fancy effects. Files from Publisher 2000 open as text only, and Publisher 97 files aren't supported yet. If something looks off, see why a .pub file can look wrong.

Common questions