Microsoft never released Publisher for the Mac, so Mac users have always had to work around .pub files that someone sent them, and Apple's built-in apps can't open them either. The good news: a free app can, and it takes about five minutes to set up.
In LibreOffice, choose File → Open and pick the .pub file. LibreOffice opens it in Draw, the part that handles page layouts. You can also drag the file onto the LibreOffice icon in your Dock.
To make .pub files open in LibreOffice whenever you double-click them, select one in Finder, press Command-I, choose LibreOffice under Open with, then click Change All.
Once the file is open, export a PDF with File → Export as PDF. Preview, Mail and every other Mac app can handle the PDF, and it's what you'd send to a printer or attach to an email. If you'll need to edit the document again, also use File → Save As and choose ODF Drawing (.odg), which keeps text boxes and images editable in LibreOffice.
Publisher documents usually use Microsoft fonts such as Calibri and Cambria, which a Mac only has if Microsoft Office is installed. Without them, LibreOffice substitutes a different font and text may reflow. Install the free fonts Carlito and Caladea, which are designed to the same measurements as Calibri and Cambria: double-click each font file and choose Install Font in Font Book. Then reopen the document.
Opening and exporting files one by one is fine for a handful. For a folder of them, LibreOffice can convert in bulk from Terminal. From inside the folder, run:
/Applications/LibreOffice.app/Contents/MacOS/soffice --headless --convert-to pdf *.pub
It handles one folder at a time and won't report failures, so check the results yourself.
Everything above works one file at a time, which is the right answer for a handful. For an archive, PubRevive converts everything at once: every file comes back as a PDF and an editable ODG copy, your folders stay as they were, and a report shows exactly what converted.
Upload the folder and you'll see page one of one of your files rescued, with the exact price, before you pay anything. If fewer than 80% of your files rescue, you get a full refund.
No. Apple's apps don't read the Publisher format. Convert the file to PDF with LibreOffice and Preview and Pages can open the PDF.
No. Publisher was only ever made for Windows, and Microsoft has now retired it altogether.
Yes. LibreOffice publishes a native build for Apple Silicon as well as one for Intel Macs.
Yes, in LibreOffice Draw. Text, images and positions are editable. Save as .odg to keep working on it, or export a PDF when you're done.
Last updated 16 October 2026.