1. Import the publication
Open the .pub from Finder or Apple’s document picker. Fully download cloud-hosted files first.
Guide · PUB TO PDF
How to convert a PUB file to PDF without uploading it
Open the .pub in PubHarbor and export a searchable multipage PDF. Conversion runs on the device and the source document is never modified.
2. Check the compatibility warnings
Review substituted fonts and any unsupported embedded objects before you rely on the output.
3. Export a searchable PDF
Choose the multipage PDF export. Text recognised in the publication stays searchable in the PDF.
4. Save it somewhere separate
Export to a different destination from the source. Mac batch conversion skips existing outputs and never overwrites source documents.
Other export targets
- Searchable multipage PDF for a durable, universally readable archive.
- PNG or JPEG pages at 144 DPI when you need images rather than a document.
- A ZIP archive of embedded raster assets when you want the original photographs back.
- A detailed compatibility report to accompany an archive, so future readers know what was substituted.
Preparing for October 2026? Follow the Publisher retirement walkthrough with an original PUB and actual PDF example.
Compare the conversion before handing it over
Ask the sender for a reference PDF when possible. Check page count, text overflow, substituted fonts, linked pictures and embedded-object warnings. Review a dense page as well as the cover; an attractive first page does not establish complete conversion.
If important content is missing, keep the PUB source and request a PDF from the authoring environment. Renaming .pub to .pdf does not convert it.
Download the publication review checklist
Honest limits
Read this before you rely on an export. PubHarbor reports what it could not convert rather than presenting a partial result as complete.
- Exports are part of PubHarbor Pro, available as a monthly or yearly subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase.
- Fidelity varies with Publisher generation, fonts, linked media and embedded objects.
- A converted PDF is a best-effort reproduction, not a certified facsimile. Compare a critical export against the source.
- PubHarbor never modifies the original .pub file.
Questions
Can I convert .pub to PDF without uploading it?
Yes. PubHarbor generates the PDF on your own device, with no account and no document upload.
Will the PDF be searchable?
Yes. Text recognised in the publication remains searchable in the exported multipage PDF.
Can I convert a whole folder at once?
Mac batch folder conversion is available with Pro. It skips existing outputs and never overwrites source documents.
What if fonts are missing?
Unavailable fonts may be substituted. The compatibility report names them so you can decide whether the export is good enough.