Microsoft is heading into 2026 with a broad cleanup across its Windows and Office ecosystem, and the changes are not limited to obscure tools. Two of the most recognizable names on the list are Windows 11 SE and Microsoft Publisher, both of which are being pushed out as the company tightens support around newer products.
The shift matters because it affects more than a small corner of Microsoft’s lineup. Several Windows versions and older Office packages are also being retired, which means users who have stayed on legacy software now face a clear need to move before support disappears.
Windows 11 SE is being phased out
Windows 11 SE was created to compete with ChromeOS and Chromebooks in education. Microsoft even released the Surface SE at a $250 price point, but the company is unlikely to follow that device with a successor.
Microsoft confirmed in 2025 that Windows 11 SE will not receive further updates. The company has also advised users to move to devices that support newer Windows editions.
That warning is especially important because support is also ending for Windows 11 version 23H2 and 24H2. Users still running those releases need to plan an update, since unsupported systems become more exposed to malicious threats.
Publisher’s long run is ending
Another major change arrives on 13 October 2026, when Microsoft will fully retire Publisher from its productivity lineup. The app first appeared in 1991 and became known as a lightweight desktop publishing tool for people who needed simple design and layout work.
Publisher had already been lagging behind the rest of Office for years. In Office 2007, it did not immediately adopt the ribbon interface and only followed later in 2010.
The retirement covers both the Publisher LTSC status and Publisher 2024. Microsoft also has no plans to release a new version of the app in the next iteration of the software suite.
For users who still rely on .pub files, Microsoft says those documents can still be opened through its free online service. Scribus is one of the alternatives most often recommended because it is open source and offers a more transparent workflow.
Other options, but with trade-offs
There are other desktop publishing choices available, although none comes without limitations. Adobe InDesign remains one of the leading tools in the category, but it requires an Adobe subscription.
Affinity Publisher 2 is also changing direction. The app has been discontinued and folded into Canva’s free Affinity bundle after Serif was acquired in 2024.
Microsoft’s retirements extend beyond consumer-facing software as well. Advanced Threat Analytics, Application Virtualization 5.0 and 5.1, along with older products such as SQL Server and Project Server 2016, are also on the unsupported list.
Advanced Threat Analytics had already been on a retirement path since 2020, with Azure Advanced Threat Protection positioned as its cloud-based successor. The wider list shows that 2026 will be a major year of transition for anyone still depending on older Microsoft software.
