Where Can You Buy or Download Microsoft Publisher 2021?

Published by Formfy. Formfy sells the Microsoft Publisher 2021 license linked on this page. Formfy is an independent software seller and is not Microsoft. Last updated: September 25, 2026. The Microsoft facts on this page were checked against Microsoft's Publisher retirement, lifecycle, end-of-support and Office 2021 pages on September 25, 2026.

Already lost Publisher in Microsoft 365? Here is what to do now that Publisher is gone from Microsoft 365.

Where Can You Buy Microsoft Publisher 2021?

You can buy Microsoft Publisher 2021 from software sellers that still offer it as a one-time purchase. Formfy sells Microsoft Publisher 2021 for 1 Windows PC at formfy.ai/microsoft-publisher-2021, with the license key and download link delivered by email.

Microsoft Publisher 2021 is the perpetual version of Microsoft's Windows desktop publishing application, sold as a license (a product key) for a set number of Windows PCs. It is a different product from Publisher in Microsoft 365, which comes with a subscription and which Microsoft 365 subscribers can no longer access after October 1, 2026.

Publisher also comes inside a larger suite: Microsoft's Office 2021 FAQ lists Publisher, together with Access, as part of Office Professional 2021. Whether Microsoft's own store offers a particular Office 2021 product changes over time, so check microsoft.com for Microsoft's current offer.

For current availability and terms, see Microsoft Publisher 2021 at Formfy: a license for 1 Windows PC, delivered by email with a download link, with support by email and live chat.

Where Can You Download Microsoft Publisher 2021?

You download Microsoft Publisher 2021 from the source that comes with your license, not from a search result. A product key redeemed with Microsoft at office.com/setup is installed from your Microsoft account; Formfy's Publisher 2021 is installed from the download link in Formfy's delivery email and activated inside Publisher.

Microsoft's process for products that come with a product key (from Microsoft's Office 2021 install guide):

1. Buy a product that comes with a product key.
2. Sign in with an existing or new Microsoft account and enter the product key at office.com/setup.
3. Install the product from your Microsoft account's Office apps page.
4. Open the app and complete activation.

Formfy's process for Microsoft Publisher 2021 (from Formfy's Publisher 2021 product page):

1. Buy Microsoft Publisher 2021 on formfy.ai.
2. Receive the license key and a download link by email, typically within minutes of payment.
3. Install Publisher 2021 from the download link in that email.
4. Open Publisher, click "Enter product key instead" (or go to Account (bottom-left), then Activate Product), type the key once, and Publisher then activates over the internet by itself. There is no office.com/setup redemption step for this product; activation happens inside Publisher.

Can You Still Buy Microsoft Publisher 2021 in 2026?

Yes. Microsoft Publisher 2021 is still sold in 2026 by sellers that still offer it, including Formfy, but Microsoft is retiring Publisher and Microsoft support for Publisher 2021 ends in October 2026.

Microsoft 365 subscribers lose access to Publisher after October 1, 2026, while perpetual copies of Microsoft Publisher 2021 keep working after support ends (Microsoft's Publisher retirement page). That makes a one-time Publisher 2021 license, on its own or inside Office Professional 2021, a way to keep desktop Publisher on a Windows PC after Publisher leaves Microsoft 365. Buying it in late 2026 makes sense for a specific need, such as editing existing .pub files or keeping an established workflow; it is not a way to get a Microsoft-supported, long-term product.

How to Buy and Install Microsoft Publisher 2021

To buy and install Microsoft Publisher 2021, choose a license, check its terms, follow its redemption or delivery instructions, install from the source that came with the license, then activate Publisher.

1. Choose a Publisher 2021 license. For example, Microsoft Publisher 2021 at Formfy, for 1 Windows PC. Confirm the product name says Publisher 2021 and how many PCs it covers.
2. Check what you are buying. Read the seller's license terms, delivery method and refund policy, and confirm your PC runs Windows 10 or Windows 11 without the Microsoft 365 desktop apps.
3. Follow the redemption or delivery instructions for that license. Keys redeemed with Microsoft go through office.com/setup and your Microsoft account; Formfy's key arrives by email with its own download link.
4. Install from the source that came with your license. Do not run Publisher installers found through search results or on file-sharing sites.
5. Activate and check Publisher. For Formfy's product: open Publisher, click "Enter product key instead" (or go to Account, then Activate Product), type the key once, and Publisher then activates over the internet by itself.

Is Microsoft Publisher 2021 a One-Time Purchase?

Yes. Microsoft Publisher 2021 is what Microsoft calls the perpetual version of Publisher: a one-time purchase rather than a subscription, unlike Publisher in Microsoft 365.

Microsoft's Office 2021 FAQ calls Office 2021 a perpetual release of Office, describes it as a one-time purchase that does not include any of the services that come with a Microsoft 365 subscription, and says Office 2021 for Windows "will remain locked in time" while Microsoft 365 Apps keep getting new capabilities. "Perpetual" describes how the version is sold, not how long Microsoft supports it: support for Publisher 2021 ends in October 2026.

Formfy's Microsoft Publisher 2021 is a one-time purchase for 1 Windows PC, with no subscription.

Does Microsoft Office 2021 Include Publisher?

Only some Office 2021 editions include Publisher. Microsoft's Office 2021 FAQ lists Publisher, together with Access, in Office Professional 2021; the descriptions of Office Home & Student 2021 and Office Home & Business 2021 do not include Publisher.

Check the exact edition name before buying an Office 2021 suite for Publisher. In every edition, Publisher is a Windows-only application.

Will Microsoft Publisher 2021 Still Work After October 2026?

Yes. A perpetual copy of Microsoft Publisher 2021 keeps working after Microsoft's support ends in October 2026: Microsoft says owners of the perpetual version "will still be able to install and use the app beyond this date" and can still access and edit their files.

What stops after October 2026 is Microsoft's support: Microsoft's list of products reaching end of support in 2026 includes Publisher 2021 and says that after end of support there are no new security updates, non-security updates or assisted support options. Publisher in Microsoft 365 is a different case. Microsoft says Microsoft 365 subscribers will not be able to access Publisher after October 1, 2026, will no longer be able to open or edit Publisher files in Publisher, and that Publisher will no longer be available for installation or download for them after October 2026 (Microsoft's Publisher retirement page).

When Does Microsoft Publisher 2021 Support End?

Microsoft support for Publisher 2021 ends in October 2026. Microsoft's Publisher retirement page says support for the perpetual version of Publisher ends on October 13, 2026, when Office 2021 reaches end of support; Microsoft's lifecycle listing for Publisher 2021 shows the retirement date as 10/14/2026 6:59:59 AM Pacific Time.

Microsoft's list of products reaching end of support in 2026 also gives Publisher 2021 a retirement date of October 13, 2026, and says that upon retirement or end of support "there will be no new security updates, non-security updates, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates." The Publisher 2021 lifecycle listing shows its dates in Pacific Time.

End of support does not switch Microsoft Publisher 2021 off. Microsoft's retirement page says owners of the perpetual version can still install and use it after that date; it simply receives no further updates or support.

What Should You Check Before Buying Microsoft Publisher 2021?

Before buying Microsoft Publisher 2021, check the exact product, the number of Windows PCs it covers, how the key is redeemed or activated, the seller's delivery and refund terms, and whether the PC already has the Microsoft 365 desktop apps installed.

• The exact product. "Publisher 2021" on its own, or a suite such as Office Professional 2021 that includes Publisher. Office Home & Student 2021 and Office Home & Business 2021 do not include Publisher.
• Windows only. Microsoft Publisher 2021 runs on Windows; there is no Mac version.
• Devices. How many Windows PCs the license covers, and what happens if you replace your computer.
• License type and account requirements. Whether it is a one-time license or a subscription, and whether the key is redeemed with a Microsoft account or activated inside the app. Ask the seller before paying if it is not stated.
• Microsoft 365 on the same PC. Microsoft says a Microsoft 365 subscription and a non-subscription Office version in most cases cannot run together on the same computer (Microsoft's guidance).
• Region. Any regional restrictions the seller states.
• Seller terms. Delivery method, where the installer comes from, support and the refund policy.
• The October 2026 end of support, described above.

Formfy's Publisher 2021 product page states these before checkout: the product (Publisher 2021, standalone), 1 Windows PC, email delivery with a download link, activation inside Publisher, the same-PC rule for Microsoft 365, support and the 30-day refund terms.

Is It Safe to Download Publisher 2021 From a Third-Party Website?

Buying a Publisher 2021 license from a third-party seller is normal, but running a Publisher 2021 installer from an unknown website is not safe: a license seller and a download source are different things.

Who Should Still Buy Microsoft Publisher 2021?

Microsoft Publisher 2021 is still worth buying for people who need to open and edit existing Publisher (.pub) files, or keep an established Publisher workflow, after Publisher leaves Microsoft 365.

• People who need to open and edit existing Publisher (.pub) files.
• Businesses, churches, schools and clubs with an established Publisher workflow: newsletters, flyers, bulletins, labels.
• Microsoft 365 subscribers losing Publisher who want a one-time Publisher installation, keeping in mind the same-PC limit with Microsoft 365 described above.
• Anyone keeping legacy documents editable while planning a move to another format.

Which option fits you:

• You edit .pub files regularly, on a PC without the Microsoft 365 desktop apps: Publisher 2021 is the direct fit; see Microsoft Publisher 2021 at Formfy.
• You keep Microsoft 365 on your main PC: install Publisher 2021 on a second PC, or make one PC your Publisher PC and use the Microsoft 365 apps in the browser at office.com there.
• You want Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher on one PC without a subscription: Office Professional 2021 includes Publisher.
• You only need old files to stay readable: convert them to PDF or Word, as Microsoft recommends. Microsoft's sample script for converting many files at once needs a working, licensed copy of Publisher installed.
• You are starting a new publishing workflow: an application that is still supported may serve you better, because Publisher is being retired.

What Are the Alternatives to Microsoft Publisher After 2026?

Microsoft says many common Publisher scenarios are already available in other Microsoft 365 apps such as Word and PowerPoint, and recommends converting existing Publisher files to PDF or Word format.

Microsoft's retirement page also provides a sample PowerShell script that converts many Publisher files to PDF at once, and notes that it needs a working and licensed version of Publisher installed on the computer. A file converted to PDF can be viewed and printed, but it is no longer an editable Publisher document.

Other design and desktop publishing applications, such as Adobe InDesign, Affinity, Canva or Scribus, are separate products with their own file formats; check whether one can import your existing .pub files before switching. Someone who must keep editing .pub files can keep using a perpetual Publisher 2021, unsupported, after October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions About Buying and Downloading Publisher 2021

Buy Microsoft Publisher 2021 at Formfy →

Sources and Further Reading

• Microsoft Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026 (Microsoft Support): the retirement, the October 1, 2026 date for Microsoft 365, the October 13, 2026 end of support for the perpetual version, that perpetual owners can keep installing and using Publisher, and the conversion advice and sample script.
• Publisher 2021 lifecycle (Microsoft Learn): Modern Lifecycle Policy; start date 10/5/2021; retirement date 10/14/2026 6:59:59 AM Pacific Time.
• Products reaching end of support in 2026 (Microsoft Learn): Publisher 2021 and Office 2021 retire on October 13, 2026; what end of support means (no new security updates, non-security updates or assisted support).
• Office 2021 FAQ (Microsoft Support): which Office 2021 editions include Publisher; Publisher is Windows only; Office 2021 is a one-time purchase.
• Download and install or reinstall Office 2021, Office 2019, or Office 2016 (Microsoft Support): redeeming a product key at office.com/setup and installing from a Microsoft account.
• Install and use different versions of Office on the same PC (Microsoft Support): Microsoft 365 and non-subscription Office versions on one computer.
• Microsoft Publisher 2021 at Formfy and Formfy's refund policy: delivery, system requirements, activation and refund terms for the product described here.

How this page was checked: every statement about Microsoft was compared word for word with the Microsoft pages above, and every statement about Formfy's product with its product page and refund policy, on September 25, 2026. Availability and licensing details can change.