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Convert PUB to DOCX

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jun 30, 2026
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Is it possible to convert PUB to DOCX?
Yes - PUB converts to DOCX.

In Microsoft Publisher, use File > Save As and choose Word Document (*.docx). Publisher maps each text frame to a Word text box, so expect overlapping boxes, repositioned images, and broken columns in the result.

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Also to DOCX: PDF · WHTML · XHTML

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert PUB to DOCX?

PUB is a fixed print-layout format for flyers and brochures stored as a proprietary OLE2 binary. Converting to DOCX is typically done to edit the text content in Word or to share the content before Microsoft retires Publisher in October 2026. No free program converts PUB to DOCX with acceptable layout results.

How to convert PUB to DOCX

Microsoft Publisher EASIEST

Open the .pub in Publisher, go to File > Save As, choose Word Document (*.docx) from the format dropdown, save, then open in Word and fix the layout manually.

LibreOffice Draw FREE

Open the .pub in LibreOffice Draw, copy text from each text frame, and paste into a new Word document; only the text transfers - no layout, images, or formatting.

Programs that convert PUB

Microsoft Publisher

About these formats

.PUB Microsoft Publisher Document

A PUB file is a Microsoft Publisher document - a fixed print-layout file for flyers, newsletters, brochures, and cards. If you have Publisher (Office 2021 or older Microsoft 365), open it…

Open .PUB details →
.DOCX Microsoft Word Open XML Document

A DOCX file is a Microsoft Word document in the Open XML format introduced with Word 2007. You do not need to buy Microsoft Office to open one - LibreOffice Writer, Google Docs, and Word…

Open .DOCX details →

Quality & what to watch

  • Publisher maps text frames to Word text boxes - these are not standard paragraphs, and the layout typically needs extensive manual correction after export.
  • Images and decorative elements often do not survive the export; check the resulting .docx carefully.
  • No online converter handles PUB-to-DOCX reliably; the proprietary binary format prevents accurate third-party parsing.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the DOCX look so different from the original PUB?
PUB stores content as positioned frames on a fixed canvas; DOCX is a flowing paragraph format - Publisher maps each frame to a text box, which Word renders very differently.
Is there a free tool that converts PUB to DOCX with layout?
No - LibreOffice Draw can open .pub and let you copy text, but it cannot export a properly structured DOCX with layout.
What if I only need the text, not the layout?
Open the .pub in LibreOffice Draw, copy text from each text frame, and paste into a new Word document - no layout will transfer.
Should I convert to PDF instead of DOCX?
If you need to preserve the visual layout, yes - PDF is a better target; use DOCX only when you need editable text content.