afpub

.afpubAffinity Publisher Document

Serif (Europe) Ltd · 2019

Developer
Serif (Europe) Ltd
Category
Documents
MIME Type
application/affinity.publisher.document
First Released
2019
Open Format
No
At a Glance
.afpub
Affinity Publisher Document

.afpub is the native file format for Affinity Publisher, used for creating professional page layouts for print and digital media.

Reviewed on June 8, 2026
Compression
Varies (Internal data compression)
Transparency
Yes
Editability
High
Best for
Page Layout & Design

Key Features

  • Supports complex page layouts with text, images, and vector elements.
  • Includes rich typography and styling controls.
  • Allows for non-destructive editing of placed images and vector art.
  • Can export to various professional print and web formats.

Best For

  • Professional desktop publishing tasks
  • Complex multi-page documents
  • Collaborative design workflows within Affinity Suite
  • High-quality print output preparation

Less Ideal For

  • Simple text documents
  • Web-native content editing
  • Sharing editable files with users of other DTP software (without export)
  • Image editing as a primary function

Common Use Cases

  • Designing magazines and newspapers
  • Creating brochures and flyers
  • Layouts for books and eBooks
  • Interactive PDF forms and presentations
  • Business cards and stationery

How to Open It

  1. Open .afpub files directly in Affinity Publisher on Windows or macOS.
  2. Ensure you have a compatible version of Affinity Publisher installed.
  3. For viewing on other platforms, consider exporting to PDF or image formats.

What is a .afpub file?

An .afpub file is a document created with Affinity Publisher, a professional desktop publishing application. These files contain complex page layouts, including text, images, vector graphics, and styling information. They are designed for creating a wide range of print and digital materials like brochures, magazines, books, and interactive PDFs. Affinity Publisher offers advanced tools for typography, image editing, and vector drawing, making .afpub files a powerful format for designers and publishers.

Programs That Open .afpub Files

PlatformProgram
WindowsAffinity PublisherPaidOfficial
macOSAffinity PublisherPaidOfficial

How to Convert .afpub Files

FormatMethod
.PDFAffinity Publisher (Export), Affinity Publisher (Save As)
.PNGAffinity Publisher (Export)
.JPGAffinity Publisher (Export)

Common Problems with .afpub Files

⚠️ Cannot open an .afpub file on a system without Affinity Publisher.
Export the file to a universally accessible format like PDF or image formats from within Affinity Publisher.
⚠️ Linked images or assets are missing.
Ensure all linked files are in the same location relative to the .afpub file, or relink them within Affinity Publisher.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I open .afpub files on an iPad or Android tablet?

Currently, Affinity Publisher is available on macOS and Windows. While there are Affinity apps for iPad (Affinity Publisher for iPad), native support for Android tablets is not yet available, and .afpub files are primarily desktop-based.

Is .afpub a common file format for printing?

.afpub files are excellent for preparing documents for print, but final print files are typically delivered as PDFs with specific print settings applied.

Technical Details

Affinity Publisher documents are proprietary binary files. They store a rich set of layout data, including object positions, formatting, layers, styles, and embedded or linked assets. The internal structure is optimized for performance and complex document rendering within the Affinity suite.

Did You Know?

Affinity Publisher is part of the Affinity creative suite, which also includes Affinity Designer and Affinity Photo.
The 'pub' in .afpub is a common suffix for publishing-related file formats.

Security Information

As a proprietary document format, .afpub files should only be opened with trusted software like Affinity Publisher. Be cautious when opening files from unknown or untrusted sources, as with any executable or document format.

Related Extensions