Microsoft never released Publisher for Mac. There is no Mac version. Opening PUB files on a Mac requires converting them first on a Windows machine, running Windows on the Mac via a virtual machine or using LibreOffice Draw (limited compatibility). The fastest path for Mac users with a PUB archive: convert all PUB files to PDF and DOCX on a Windows machine using Publisher while it is still available or Univik PUB Converter then move the converted files to Mac. The October 2026 Publisher retirement accelerates this for anyone in a mixed Mac-Windows team who still has PUB files in shared drives.
Publisher Was Never Available on Mac
Microsoft Publisher has been Windows-only for its entire 35-year history. There was never a Mac version. Microsoft never announced one. Publisher was positioned as a small business tool within the Windows ecosystem from the start.
This means Mac users encountering PUB files have always faced the same problem: the format is tied to an application that does not exist on their platform. The October 2026 retirement makes this more urgent because Windows users who were converting PUB files using Publisher on a Windows machine may soon lose that capability too.
If you are a Mac user with PUB files to access or convert, the options are the same as they have always been but the window for the easiest one (using Publisher on Windows) is closing in October 2026.
Option 1: Convert on Windows First (Best)
The most reliable approach is to convert PUB files to PDF or DOCX on a Windows machine that still has Publisher running, then move the converted files to Mac. Once converted, PDF and DOCX files open natively on Mac no Publisher required.
If you have access to a Windows machine with Publisher: Copy the PUB files to the Windows machine. Open each in Publisher and export to PDF (File then Export then Create PDF/XPS) or DOCX (File then Save As then Word Document). Transfer the converted files back to Mac.
For bulk conversion without opening each file manually: Use Univik PUB Converter on the Windows machine. It does not require Publisher to be installed. Load the PUB files, select PDF or DOCX as the output format and convert the entire archive in one batch. Transfer the output folder to Mac via shared network drive, USB or cloud storage.
If you do not have access to a Windows machine: Cloud-based Windows instances (Azure Virtual Desktop, Amazon WorkSpaces) provide temporary Windows access for conversion tasks. For a one-time conversion project, a short-term cloud Windows session is more practical than purchasing a perpetual Windows licence or hardware.
Option 2: Run Windows on Your Mac (VM)
Mac users who regularly work with PUB files can run a Windows virtual machine on their Mac using Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion or Apple’s own Virtualization framework. This gives full access to Windows applications including Publisher without separate hardware.
Parallels Desktop is the most popular option for Mac users and runs Windows smoothly on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. Cost is around $100 per year subscription or $130 one-time for the standard version. A Windows licence is also required (around $139 for Windows 11 Home).
VMware Fusion Pro is free for personal use as of 2024 and runs Windows on Intel and Apple Silicon Macs. Requires a Windows licence separately.
Important consideration: After October 2026, Publisher on a Windows VM is only useful if you have a perpetual Publisher licence. If Publisher was accessed through a Microsoft 365 subscription, it will stop working on the VM after the deadline exactly as it would on a physical Windows machine.
A VM is a good investment for Mac users who regularly need to work with PUB files or other Windows-only formats. For a one-off conversion project, the setup time and cost may not justify it compared to using a Windows machine at work or a cloud Windows instance.
Option 3: LibreOffice on Mac (Limited)
LibreOffice Draw on Mac has partial PUB file support. It can open some PUB files and render basic layouts. The compatibility is incomplete files with complex layouts, custom fonts, layered images or master page elements frequently fail or produce a broken result.
LibreOffice Draw’s PUB support is worth trying for simple, text-heavy PUB files where layout complexity is low. Do not rely on it for brochures, newsletters with columns or any design-heavy Publisher output. The results are inconsistent and there is no way to predict in advance which files will open correctly and which will not without testing each one.
LibreOffice is free and available for both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs at libreoffice.org.
LibreOffice PUB support is not reliable for complex files
LibreOffice has made efforts to support the PUB format but the format has no published specification. LibreOffice’s PUB reader is based on reverse-engineering and handles only a subset of the format’s features. For important PUB files, always verify the LibreOffice output against the original before relying on it for distribution or archiving.
The October 2026 Deadline and Mac Users
Mac users who work in organisations with Windows colleagues face a specific problem with the October 2026 deadline: the Windows users who were previously able to open and convert PUB files on request may lose that capability too.
For M365 subscribers on Windows, Publisher stops working on October 13, 2026. If your organisation relied on a Windows colleague to open PUB files and convert them for Mac users as needed, that workaround disappears after the deadline.
The practical implication: Mac users who have PUB files in shared drives, SharePoint or OneDrive need to identify those files and arrange for conversion before October 2026 not after. Once Windows colleagues lose Publisher access, the shared knowledge base for opening and converting PUB files goes with it.
For a full picture of the October 2026 timeline and what it means for different licence types, see our Microsoft Publisher end of life guide.
Mixed Mac and Windows Teams
Organisations with both Mac and Windows users often have PUB files scattered across shared storage inherited from Windows users, created by a single Windows power user or imported from an external source. These files are inaccessible to Mac team members without conversion.
The recommended approach for mixed teams:
Audit shared storage for PUB files now. Search SharePoint, OneDrive and network drives for *.pub. Identify who owns each file and which are still actively needed.
Convert the active files before October 2026. While Windows colleagues still have Publisher, convert actively used PUB files to PDF and DOCX. Replace the PUB files in shared storage with the converted versions so Mac users can access them immediately.
Archive the originals. Keep the original PUB files in an archive folder rather than deleting them. After October 2026, they will be inaccessible without a Windows perpetual Publisher installation but they may have historical value.
Creating New Content on Mac After Publisher
Mac users replacing Publisher for new content creation have several strong options that do not exist on the Windows side of this conversation.
Canva browser-based, works identically on Mac and Windows. The most popular choice for non-designers. Free tier covers basic use cases. See our Publisher to Canva migration guide for the workflow.
Affinity Publisher 2 available on Mac and Windows. The closest feature equivalent to Publisher. One-time purchase (~$55). Native Apple Silicon support on M1/M2/M3 Macs. The strongest professional desktop publishing alternative for Mac users.
Apple Pages free on Mac and iOS. Handles newsletter and brochure layouts adequately for simple use cases. Not a professional layout tool but available at zero cost.
Adobe InDesign available on Mac and Windows. Industry standard for professional print layout. Subscription-based (~$20-55/month). The right choice for professional designers or studios with commercial print requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was there ever a Mac version of Microsoft Publisher?
No. Microsoft Publisher has been Windows-only for its entire existence from 1991 to its retirement in 2026. Microsoft never released a Mac version. This distinguishes Publisher from most other major Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) which all have Mac versions. Publisher was always a Windows-only product.
Can I open a PUB file on a Mac without any additional software?
No. macOS has no built-in PUB viewer or converter. The file will appear in Finder as an unknown document with no associated application. You cannot double-click it to open it. You need either LibreOffice (free, limited compatibility) or a converted version of the file (PDF or DOCX) that macOS applications can open natively.
Does Affinity Publisher on Mac open PUB files?
No. Despite the similar name, Affinity Publisher from Serif is an entirely different application from Microsoft Publisher. Affinity Publisher does not open PUB files and there is no planned PUB import feature. The name similarity causes confusion but the two applications are unrelated.
What is the easiest way to get a PUB file opened on a Mac right now?
Ask a Windows colleague to open the PUB file in Publisher and export it to PDF, then send you the PDF. This takes a few minutes and produces a high-fidelity result. For a one-off file, this is faster than any other approach. For a library of PUB files, arrange for a batch conversion on the Windows side before Publisher access disappears in October 2026.
What happens to PUB files in our shared OneDrive after October 2026?
The files remain in OneDrive they are not deleted. But they become inaccessible to anyone who no longer has a working Publisher installation. Mac users cannot open them before or after October 2026. Windows M365 users will no longer be able to open them after October 13, 2026. Only Windows users with a perpetual Publisher licence will retain the ability to open the original PUB files. Convert shared PUB files to PDF and DOCX before the deadline and replace them in OneDrive with the converted versions.
Conclusion
Publisher was never on Mac and never will be. That is not a new problem Mac users have been locked out of PUB files since 1991. What is new is the October 2026 deadline, which removes the most practical workaround: asking a Windows colleague to open and convert PUB files using Publisher.
Convert now while that workaround still exists. Whether you are a Mac user with a handful of inherited PUB files or an IT admin managing shared drives in a mixed team, the conversion project needs to happen before October 2026 not after.
How many PUB files are on your shared drives or personal storage that Mac team members cannot currently access? That count is the starting point for the conversion project.