Publisher to AVIF Converter

Publisher to AVIF Converter

.pub is the proprietary file format of Microsoft Publisher, a desktop-publishing app used for flyers, newsletters, brochures, and certificates — and almost nothing other than Publisher itself opens it cleanly. AVIF is a modern, AV1-coded still-image format built for the web. Converting .pub to AVIF renders each page of your publication to a compact, browser-ready picture, which is a practical way to preview or archive old Publisher artwork now that Microsoft is retiring the app. If you instead need an editable or print-faithful document, a PDF is the better target — see "When AVIF is the wrong choice" below.

Publisher (.pub) Format at a Glance

AVIF Format at a Glance

How to Convert Publisher to AVIF

1. Upload Your Publisher File: Drag and drop your .pub file onto the page or click "+ Add Files" to browse. You can queue several Publisher files at once.
2. Set the Conversion Quality (DPI): In Advanced Options, "Conversion Quality" controls the render resolution of each page — 300 DPI (High Quality / Print Recommended) is the default; drop to 96 or 150 DPI for smaller web previews.
3. Adjust Quality Preset and background (Optional): "Quality Preset" (Very High is the default) trades sharpness against file size, "Preset Resolutions" caps the pixel dimensions, and "Image Transparency" sets the page background colour (White by default).
4. Convert and Download: Click "Convert" and download your AVIF file. No sign-up, no watermark, no Publisher licence required.

When AVIF is the Wrong Choice

Converting .pub to AVIF rasterizes your publication: each page is rendered to a flat image, so the text and layout are no longer selectable or editable — you get a picture of the page, not a document. That is fine for a web preview or a visual archive, but it is the wrong tool if you need to read, search, reflow, or reprint the content.

For keeping your publications usable after Publisher's October 1, 2026 retirement, Microsoft recommends saving to PDF for viewing (and Word for editing), not an image format. A PDF preserves the page layout as a portable document with selectable text and opens on any device — which is what most people searching for a .pub converter actually need. Use Publisher to PDF for that. If you only want a flat raster of each page but need broader compatibility than AVIF, Publisher to JPG and Publisher to PNG open everywhere, including older browsers and image editors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert .pub to AVIF before Microsoft retires Publisher?

Microsoft has confirmed that the perpetual version of Publisher loses support on October 1, 2026, and Microsoft 365 subscribers will no longer be able to install or open Publisher at all. Because .pub is proprietary and few other tools read it reliably, getting your content out while a tool can still open the file is genuinely time-sensitive. AVIF is a good fit when you want a compact web image of each page; for an openable, shareable document, Publisher to PDF is the rescue path Microsoft itself recommends.

Will the AVIF keep my Publisher text editable?

No. The conversion renders each page to a raster image, so the text becomes pixels — you cannot click into it, search it, or restyle it afterward. If you need the words back as editable text, convert to a document format first (Publisher to PDF) and, if necessary, export that PDF to Word. AVIF is for the visual result, not the underlying content.

Does a multi-page Publisher file become one AVIF or several?

AVIF is a single-image format, so a multi-page .pub is rendered to one AVIF per page rather than a single multi-page file. If you need every page bundled together as one document, convert to PDF instead with Publisher to PDF, which keeps all pages in one file.

How faithful is the rendered AVIF to the original layout?

.pub is Microsoft's proprietary format, so non-Microsoft renderers cannot reproduce it perfectly. In our testing, simple single-page flyers and certificates render cleanly, while documents with unusual fonts, heavy layering, or externally linked images are more likely to shift or substitute elements — fonts that are not embedded in the .pub get the closest available match. Spot-check complex publications, and for a print-exact result export from Publisher itself while you still can.

Which devices and browsers can open an AVIF file?

AVIF is supported by browsers covering roughly 93% of users, including Chrome 85+, Firefox 93+, Safari 16.4+ (2023), and Edge 121+. Older browsers and some image viewers cannot display it, so if you need a picture that opens absolutely everywhere — including legacy software — choose Publisher to JPG or Publisher to PNG instead.

Should I raise the DPI for sharper Publisher pages?

The "Conversion Quality" setting controls the render resolution: 300 DPI (the default) is sharp enough for print-quality detail, while 96 or 150 DPI produces smaller files for on-screen use. Raise it before converting rather than enlarging the finished AVIF — each image has a fixed pixel count, so stretching it afterward only blurs existing pixels.

How is my Publisher file handled, and is it kept private?

Files are uploaded over an encrypted connection, processed on our servers, and deleted automatically a few hours after conversion — no sign-up, no watermark, never shared or made public. For very large publications, the practical limit is upload time rather than the page count itself.

Is the AVIF smaller than a JPG of the same Publisher page?

Usually, yes. AVIF uses AV1 intra-frame compression, which typically produces a noticeably smaller file than JPEG at the same visual quality, so a page rendered to AVIF is a compact way to store or preview artwork. The trade-off is reach: Publisher to JPG opens in older browsers and image editors that cannot yet display AVIF.