Skip to main content
Document Conversion

Convert PUB to DOCX — Free Online Converter

Convert Microsoft Publisher (.pub) to Microsoft Word Open XML (.docx) online for free. Fast, secure document conversion with no watermarks or registra...

or import from

Secure Transfer

HTTPS encrypted uploads

Privacy First

Files auto-deleted after processing

No Registration

Start converting instantly

Works Everywhere

Any browser, any device

How to Convert

1

Upload your .pub file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.

2

Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.

3

Click Convert and download your .docx file when it's ready.

About PUB to DOCX Conversion

PUB (Microsoft Publisher) is a desktop publishing format for creating print-ready marketing materials — brochures, flyers, newsletters, and business cards — with precise object positioning and print-specific features like spot colors and bleed settings. DOCX is the modern Microsoft Word format supporting rich text, images, tables, and collaborative editing. Converting PUB to DOCX makes Publisher content editable in Word, Google Docs, and LibreOffice Writer by anyone, regardless of whether they have Publisher installed.

Microsoft Publisher has limited cross-platform availability (Windows-only, not in all Office editions), making PUB files inaccessible to many colleagues and clients. DOCX is universally supported across every major platform and word processor, making this conversion essential for document accessibility and collaboration.

Why Convert PUB to DOCX?

Publisher's limited availability creates a document accessibility problem. Many Office subscriptions do not include Publisher, and there is no version for Mac, Linux, or the web. When Publisher content needs to be reviewed, edited, or repurposed by people without Publisher, converting to DOCX is the most practical solution.

DOCX also enables cloud collaboration that PUB files cannot support. Microsoft 365 co-editing, Google Docs sharing, and SharePoint document management all work with DOCX but not PUB. Converting Publisher content to DOCX brings it into modern collaborative workflows.

Common Use Cases

  • Convert Publisher newsletters to DOCX for collaborative editing by distributed marketing teams
  • Extract PUB brochure text into DOCX for content reuse in proposals and presentations
  • Share Publisher designs as editable DOCX with clients who do not own Publisher
  • Import PUB content into DOCX for formatting and distribution through Microsoft 365 workflows
  • Convert Publisher document archives to DOCX for long-term accessibility without Publisher dependency

How It Works

LibreOffice imports the PUB file using its Publisher format parser, extracting text frames, embedded images, and formatting attributes. The content is exported as a DOCX file conforming to the ECMA-376 Open XML standard. Text formatting (fonts, sizes, colors, styles) transfers to DOCX paragraph and character properties. Images are embedded in the DOCX media directory. Publisher-specific features (spot colors, bleed, trim marks, mail merge) do not have DOCX equivalents and are simplified or omitted.

Quality & Performance

Text content and formatting convert with high accuracy. The primary quality trade-off is layout: Publisher's precise object positioning (x/y coordinates, layered objects, text wrapping around irregular shapes) maps imperfectly to Word's page-flow layout model. Simple Publisher documents (single-column newsletters, text-heavy content) convert well. Complex multi-frame layouts (brochures, posters) will require layout adjustment in Word after conversion.

LIBREOFFICE EngineModerateMinimal Quality Loss

Device Compatibility

DevicePUBDOCX
Windows PCPartialPartial
macOSPartialPartial
iPhone/iPadPartialPartial
AndroidPartialPartial
LinuxPartialPartial
Web BrowserNoNo

Tips for Best Results

  • 1Convert to PDF instead of DOCX if preserving the exact visual layout is more important than editability
  • 2Review and adjust the layout in Word after conversion — Publisher's precise positioning does not map directly to Word
  • 3Use DOCX for content extraction and editing; use PDF for visual preservation and sharing
  • 4For multi-frame Publisher layouts, you may need to reorganize content in Word for a clean document structure
  • 5After conversion, apply Word styles (Heading 1, Body Text) for consistent formatting and document navigation

PUB-to-DOCX conversion makes Publisher content universally accessible and editable in the modern document ecosystem, enabling collaboration through Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.

Frequently Asked Questions

DOCX is smaller, supports cloud collaboration, and is compatible with all modern word processors. DOC is only needed for legacy Office 2003 environments.
No. Publisher uses desktop publishing layout (precise positioning) while Word uses word processing layout (text flow). Complex multi-frame designs will simplify. Text content is preserved accurately.
Yes. The DOCX opens in Google Docs with full editing, commenting, and collaboration capabilities.
Yes. Images from the PUB file are extracted and embedded in the DOCX. Positioning may differ from the original Publisher layout.
Yes. If you need the exact visual layout preserved, convert to PDF instead. DOCX is the better choice when the content needs to be edited.

Related Conversions & Tools