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XPS File - What is an .xps file and how do I open it?
Learn about .XPS files and view a list of programs that open them.
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Overview
What is an XPS file? An XPS file is a document that contains fixed page layout information written in the XPS page description language. The file defines a document's layout, appearance, and printing information. XPS files are similar to .PDF files, but saved in Microsoft’s proprietary XPS format.
More Information XPS file open in Microsoft XPS Viewer The XPS format was designed as a replacement for the Enhanced Metafile ( .EMF ) format. It is similar to the PDF format, but is based on XML instead of PostScript . Windows users can save a document as an XPS file by selecting Microsoft XPS Document Writer as the printer when printing (similar to how users can save a document as a PDF file by selecting Microsoft Print to PDF ). After you save a document as an XPS file, you can no longer edit it. You can, however, open, view, sign, and manage the file's permissions in Microsoft XPS Viewer. Old versions of Windows (Vista to 10) came pre-installed with Microsoft XPS Viewer. In later releases of Windows 10, Microsoft stopped installing XPS Viewer by default. Instead, XPS Viewer is now an optional feature that Windows 10 and 11 users can enable if they choose.
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DeveloperMicrosoft
Popularity3.6 | 266 Votes
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In-Depth
.XPS File Extension
XML Paper Specification File
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Popularity |
3.6 | 266 Votes |
What is an XPS file?
An XPS file is a document that contains fixed page layout information written in the XPS page description language. The file defines a document's layout, appearance, and printing information. XPS files are similar to .PDF files, but saved in Microsoft’s proprietary XPS format.
More Information
XPS file open in Microsoft XPS Viewer
The XPS format was designed as a replacement for the Enhanced Metafile ( .EMF ) format. It is similar to the PDF format, but is based on XML instead of PostScript .
Windows users can save a document as an XPS file by selecting Microsoft XPS Document Writer as the printer when printing (similar to how users can save a document as a PDF file by selecting Microsoft Print to PDF ). After you save a document as an XPS file, you can no longer edit it. You can, however, open, view, sign, and manage the file's permissions in Microsoft XPS Viewer.
Old versions of Windows (Vista to 10) came pre-installed with Microsoft XPS Viewer. In later releases of Windows 10, Microsoft stopped installing XPS Viewer by default. Instead, XPS Viewer is now an optional feature that Windows 10 and 11 users can enable if they choose.
How to open an XPS file
Windows users can open XPS files in Microsoft XPS Viewer. In Windows 11 and later versions of Windows 10, you must manually install XPS Viewer by going to Settings → Apps → Optional features → Add an optional feature and searching for XPS Viewer.
Other apps that can open XPS files include:
How to convert an XPS file
Most programs that can open XPS files allow you to convert them to the .PDF format. For example:
Open and view .XPS files with File Viewer Plus . Free Download
Programs that open XPS files
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Program Name
Platform
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X
Windows
File Viewer Plus
—
Get it from Microsoft
Free +
Microsoft XPS Viewer
Included with OS
NiXPS View
Free Trial
NiXPS Edit
Free Trial
XPS Annotator
—
Discontinued
Free
Mac
NiXPS View
Free Trial
NiXPS Edit
Free Trial
Linux
KDE Okular
Free
MuPDF
Free
Web
Google Drive
Free +
iOS
Google Drive
Free +
Android
File Viewer for Android
Free +
Google Drive
Free +
Chrome OS
Google Drive
Free +
Category: Page Layout Files
Updated: April 27, 2022