Google Drive stores PUB files they upload and sit in Drive like any other file. But Drive cannot preview them and no Google application can open them. PUB files in Drive display as a generic icon with a download-only option and no preview. Convert PUB files to PDF or DOCX before uploading so they are accessible to anyone with Drive access. Use Univik PUB Converter for bulk conversion on Windows before the October 2026 Publisher deadline. Once converted, the PDF and DOCX versions are fully accessible in Drive without any Microsoft software.
What Google Drive Does With PUB Files
Google Drive accepts any file type for storage. PUB files upload successfully. They sit in Drive. Anyone with access to the folder can see them listed.
That is where the usefulness ends.
Google Drive cannot preview PUB files. There is no thumbnail, no document preview, no in-browser view. PUB files appear as a generic grey icon labelled “PUB File” with a single option: Download. No Open with. No Convert. No preview pane. Just a file that sits in Drive waiting to be downloaded by someone who has a Windows machine with Publisher installed.
After October 2026, that person becomes increasingly rare. M365 users lose Publisher on October 13. Perpetual licence users keep it, but as an unsupported application on a clock.
Why This Matters Before October 2026
If your organisation stores PUB files in Google Drive in personal My Drive, Shared Drives or Google Workspace shared folders those files are already inaccessible to anyone without Publisher installed on Windows. Mac users, Chromebook users, mobile users and anyone without a Publisher licence cannot open them.
After October 2026, even most Windows users lose the ability to open them. PUB files in Google Drive become permanently inaccessible to the majority of users in your organisation.
The fix is the same regardless of timeline: convert PUB files to PDF or DOCX and upload the converted versions alongside or instead of the originals. A PDF version of a PUB file in Drive opens in the browser, previews inline, is viewable on any device and requires no software installation.
For the full context on the October 2026 deadline and what it means for different Publisher licence types, see our Microsoft Publisher end of life guide.
Step 1: Find All PUB Files in Your Drive
Before converting, you need to know what you have. PUB files accumulate over years in personal folders, Shared Drives, archived project folders and inboxes where they were attached and saved.
Search Google Drive by file type. In the Drive search bar, type type:pub to filter results to PUB files only. This searches your personal My Drive and any Shared Drives you have access to. Review the results note the folders they are in and the approximate count.
For Google Workspace admins: use Drive audit reports. Google Workspace admins can run a Drive audit report from the Admin Console to find all PUB files across the entire organisation not just their personal Drive. Go to Reports then Audit then Drive and filter by file type. This is the most complete inventory for organisations with many users.
Download PUB files in batches for conversion. Once you have identified the PUB files in Drive, download them to a Windows machine for conversion. Right-click a folder in Drive and select Download Drive packages the folder as a ZIP. Extract the ZIP and the PUB files are ready for batch conversion.
Step 2: Choose the Right Output Format
Convert to PDF when
- The document only needs to be viewed or printed
- Layout preservation is critical
- The file will be shared or downloaded frequently
- Multiple recipients need to view it on different devices
- The original design must be preserved as-is
Convert to DOCX when
- The content needs to be edited going forward
- Team members will open it in Google Docs or Word
- The file is a template that will be updated regularly
- Text searchability within Drive matters
For most archiving purposes, PDF is the better choice it is universally viewable, previews inline in Drive and requires no editing capability. Convert actively-used templates to DOCX so they can be opened and updated in Google Docs. When in doubt, convert to both and keep both versions.
Step 3: Run the Bulk Conversion
Manual conversion of each PUB file individually is practical only for small numbers up to 15 to 20 files. For larger collections, batch conversion is the only feasible approach.
If Publisher is still available on a Windows machine: Use Publisher’s built-in File then Export to batch-convert PUB files to PDF. Microsoft also provides a PowerShell script for bulk PUB-to-PDF conversion using Publisher’s COM interface useful for IT administrators comfortable with scripting. The script requires Publisher to be installed and running.
If Publisher is no longer available or for faster bulk conversion: Use Univik PUB Converter on Windows. Load the downloaded PUB files, select PDF or DOCX as the output format and convert the entire batch in one run. The converter does not require Publisher to be installed which makes it the only practical option after Publisher access has already been lost.
Step 4: Upload Converted Files and Manage the Originals
Upload the converted files to Drive. Navigate to the same folder where the original PUB files live. Drag the converted PDF or DOCX files into the folder. Both versions now coexist the original PUB and the accessible converted version.
Decide what to do with the originals. Three options: keep both versions in the same folder (most discoverable), move PUB originals to an archive subfolder called “Original PUB Archive” (cleaner browsing for active users) or delete the originals if you are certain the converted versions are accurate and complete (not recommended verify first).
Verify converted files before removing originals. Open a sample of the converted PDF and DOCX files in Drive to confirm they display correctly. Compare against the original PUB files on a Windows machine with Publisher. Once verified, the originals can be moved to archive or kept as a safety copy.
Enable PDF preview in Google Drive
PDF files uploaded to Google Drive automatically preview in the browser no download required. Any team member with Drive access can click the PDF and see the full document in their browser on any device. This is the immediate access improvement that makes converting PUB to PDF before uploading worth doing even for files that were already in Drive as PUB originals.
Shared Drives and Team Drive Considerations
For organisations using Google Workspace Shared Drives (previously called Team Drives), PUB file accessibility is a team-wide problem rather than an individual one. A PUB file in a Shared Drive is inaccessible to every member of that Shared Drive who does not have Publisher on Windows.
Prioritise Shared Drives over personal My Drive. PUB files in Shared Drives affect multiple team members. Start the conversion project with Shared Drive content this has the broadest impact for the least effort.
Communicate to the team before replacing files. Before removing PUB files from Shared Drives or replacing them with converted versions, notify team members. Anyone who has bookmarked a specific PUB file link in Drive will need to update their bookmark if the file is replaced rather than added alongside.
Use Google Drive file version history for the transition period. If you replace a PUB file by uploading a PDF with the same name in the same location, Google Drive stores the previous version. Go to the file in Drive then right-click then Manage versions to see and restore previous versions. This provides a safety net during the transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Google Drive open PUB files?
No. Google Drive stores PUB files but cannot open or preview them. PUB files appear as a generic file icon with a download option only no preview pane, no Open with option and no conversion within Drive. The file must be downloaded to a Windows machine with Publisher installed to be opened. Convert PUB files to PDF or DOCX before uploading to make them accessible to all Drive users.
Will PUB files in Google Drive be affected by the October 2026 Publisher retirement?
Yes. After October 2026, M365 users who download PUB files from Drive will no longer be able to open them Publisher is removed from their Microsoft 365 installation. The files remain in Drive indefinitely, but the pool of people who can open them shrinks significantly after the deadline. Converting before October 2026 is the practical response.
How do I find all PUB files in my Google Drive?
Type type:pub in the Google Drive search bar. This filters results to PUB files across your personal My Drive and any Shared Drives you have access to. For a full organisational audit, Google Workspace admins can use the Drive audit report in the Admin Console to find PUB files across all users.
Can I open a PUB file stored in Google Drive on a Chromebook?
No. Chromebooks run ChromeOS which cannot run Windows applications including Publisher. No ChromeOS application opens PUB files. A PUB file in Google Drive is completely inaccessible on a Chromebook without converting it to PDF or DOCX first. This affects any organisation where Chromebooks are part of the device fleet.
What is the fastest way to convert many PUB files from Google Drive to PDF?
Download the PUB files from Drive to a Windows machine (Drive packages folders as ZIP on download), run Univik PUB Converter to batch-convert to PDF, then re-upload the PDFs to Drive. This is faster than converting files individually and does not require Publisher to be installed on the Windows machine used for conversion.
Conclusion
PUB files in Google Drive are stored but not accessible there is a meaningful difference between the two. A file sitting in Drive that nobody can open without downloading it to a Windows machine with Publisher installed is not a practical working document. It is an archive entry that is one Publisher retirement away from being permanently inaccessible.
Convert before the deadline. PDF for anything being preserved or distributed. DOCX for anything that needs to remain editable in Google Docs. Upload the converted versions to Drive and they become fully accessible to every team member on every device no Microsoft software required.
How many PUB files are in your Shared Drives versus personal My Drive? Shared Drive content affects your whole team, so that is the right place to start the conversion project.