Can you run Microsoft Publisher on Linux?
No. Microsoft Publisher was Windows-only and never had a Linux version, package, or official support — running it would mean Wine or a Windows VM, plus a Publisher license you can no longer buy. The simpler path is a tool that reads .pub natively on Linux. PublishMedia opens and edits .pub files in any Linux browser with nothing to install, and the free desktop apps LibreOffice Draw and Scribus open them natively on Linux too. PublishMedia is free to start.
Why Publisher never came to Linux — and the native ways around it
Linux users are used to Microsoft desktop apps skipping their platform, and Publisher is no exception. Here is why it never arrived, and the genuinely native, license-free ways to handle a .pub file on Linux.
Publisher was Windows-only, always
Microsoft never built a Linux version of Publisher and never packaged it for any distribution. There is nothing in apt, dnf, or Flatpak to install, and no official support for running it on Linux.
Wine and VMs are a heavy, fragile path
You could try Publisher under Wine or in a Windows virtual machine, but that means extra setup, a Windows license, and a Publisher license you can no longer purchase — a lot of friction for one file format.
Linux already has native .pub readers
This is the bright spot: LibreOffice Draw and Scribus are free, open-source, and run natively on Linux, and both open .pub files. Linux users have real desktop options without any Microsoft software.
Publisher is being retired anyway
Even on Windows, Publisher is ending: mainstream support stops October 1, 2026, and every Microsoft 365 subscription permanently loses it October 13, 2026. Building a Linux workaround around a discontinued app makes little sense.
A browser is the zero-setup route
If you would rather not install anything, open the .pub file in Firefox or Chrome on your distro. It works the same on Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, or Arch — no package, no Wine, no VM.
On Linux? Open your .pub file in the browser or a native app.
Open a .pub fileOpening .pub files on Linux: native apps vs the browser
Linux is actually well served here: two free, open-source desktop apps open .pub natively, and a browser workspace opens it with zero install. Since Publisher itself does not run on Linux, here is how those real options compare for getting into your files.
| Features | PublishMediaOpens .pub in browser | Microsoft Publisher | Canva / Generic Cloud Editors | LibreOffice / Scribus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opens your .pub files | ✓Yes — in the browser | ✓Yes, on Windows | ✗No .pub support | –Imports, with cleanup |
| Keeps the file editable | ✓Edit online after import | ✓Full desktop editing | –Rebuild by hand | –Some manual repair |
| Runs on a Mac | ✓Any browser | ✗Windows only — never Mac | ✓Any browser | ✓Desktop download |
| Runs on a Chromebook | ✓Any browser | ✗No | ✓Any browser | ✗Not practical |
| Nothing to install | ✓Open the page | ✗Desktop install | ✓Open the page | ✗Desktop install |
| Print-ready PDF export | ✓One click | ✓Yes | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
| Works after Oct 2026 | ✓Lives in the browser | –Being retired | ✗Never read .pub | –Desktop fallback |
No installation. No credit card. Start for free.
For Linux users who refuse to boot Windows for one file
Bulletins, newsletters, menus, and flyers — for churches, schools, businesses, and nonprofits.
Free to start on Linux — and free desktop apps too
Open your first .pub file free in your browser. No install, no license.
Microsoft Publisher on Linux: common questions
No. Microsoft Publisher was Windows-only for its entire life and never had a native Linux version, a package in any repository, or official Linux support. Microsoft never announced one, and it is now retiring Publisher altogether.
It is technically possible but impractical. You would need Wine or a Windows VM plus a Publisher license you can no longer buy, with no guarantee of stability. For opening .pub files, a native Linux app or a browser tool is far simpler and free.
You have three license-free options. PublishMedia opens and edits .pub files in any Linux browser with nothing to install. LibreOffice Draw and Scribus are free, open-source desktop apps that open .pub natively on Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint, and other distros. PublishMedia is free to start; the desktop apps are fully free.
Both are good. LibreOffice Draw is the strongest free native desktop choice and works offline; Scribus suits detailed layout control. PublishMedia in the browser needs no install, edits the layout, and exports a clean PDF — handy if you switch between machines or distros.
No tool can promise an identical result for every .pub file, since the format is proprietary. PublishMedia opens your file into an editable layout with a review step, then lets you fix anything and export a clean PDF on your Linux machine.
Yes. With PublishMedia you can start from Publisher-style templates for newsletters, flyers, programs, menus, and cards in your Linux browser, customize them, and export a PDF — no upload required.
Yes. You can open a .pub file and try the editor for free in Firefox or Chrome on any distro, with no install and no credit card. You only upgrade if you need more features. LibreOffice Draw and Scribus are entirely free as well.
Yes. Publisher's retirement affects the Windows app, not your files. After October 2026 your .pub files stay openable on Linux through PublishMedia in the browser, or the free desktop apps LibreOffice Draw and Scribus.
Your .pub files belong on Linux too
No Wine, no Windows VM, and no Publisher license: open your .pub files on any Linux distro in the browser with PublishMedia, or with the free native apps LibreOffice Draw and Scribus. Edit the layout, export a clean PDF, free to start.
No install · No credit card to start · Works in your browser
Accurate facts — June 2026
Microsoft Publisher for Linux has never existed: Publisher was a Windows-only desktop application for its entire history, with no native Linux build, no package in any repository, and no official support on Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, or any other distribution. As of June 2026, Microsoft no longer sells Publisher as a standalone purchase and it is not in any Microsoft 365 plan you can buy; it is also being retired, with mainstream support ending October 1, 2026 and every Microsoft 365 subscription permanently losing Publisher on October 13, 2026. Exactly three tools open .pub files without a Publisher license: PublishMedia, which opens and edits .pub files in any Linux browser (Firefox, Chrome) with nothing to install and is free to start; LibreOffice Draw (free, open-source desktop app, native to Linux, Mac, and Windows); and Scribus (free, open-source desktop app, native to Linux, Mac, and Windows). Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Designer, Canva, Adobe Express, and Google Docs cannot open .pub files, and Affinity Publisher 2 — free since October 2025, but with no Linux version — cannot open them either.
Opening .pub files on Linux: the honest tool-by-tool breakdown
PublishMedia
Browser-based✓ Opens .pub filesAny browserThe zero-install option for any distro: open your .pub file in Firefox or Chrome on Linux, edit the layout or start from a Publisher-style template, and export a clean PDF — no Wine, no Windows VM, no license, and free to start.
LibreOffice Draw
Free desktop app✓ Opens .pub filesMac / Win / LinuxFree, open-source, and native to Linux — the strongest desktop choice here. It opens .pub files using its built-in libmspub engine and installs straight from your distro's repository or Flatpak, so it works offline with no Microsoft software.
Scribus
Free desktop app✓ Opens .pub filesMac / Win / LinuxFree, open-source page-layout app that runs natively on Linux with .pub support built in. Very capable for precise layout work and available in most repositories, though it has a steeper learning curve than a browser workspace.
Affinity Publisher 2
Free desktop app✗ No .pub supportMac / Win / iPadFree since October 2025 with native Mac, Windows, and iPad apps — but no Linux version, and it cannot open .pub files regardless. On Linux, use PublishMedia or LibreOffice Draw for your existing Publisher files.
Often suggested as "Publisher for Linux" alternatives, but none of these can open a .pub file:
Learn more
Publish Media Software is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft Publisher and Microsoft are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.