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File ConvertersAn XPS file is a fixed-layout document in Microsoft’s XML Paper Specification format, introduced with Windows Vista in 2006 as an alternative to PDF. Like a PDF, it stores finished pages with fonts, images and vector graphics that look the same on every device. Windows creates XPS files through the Microsoft XPS Document Writer virtual printer (a job saved through any other driver becomes a PRN file instead). Windows 10 and 11 open them with the XPS Viewer, an optional feature you may need to install, or you can convert the XPS file to PDF.
What is an XPS file?
XPS stands for XML Paper Specification. Microsoft designed it as the print and document format of the Vista era: the print pipeline of Windows still uses XPS internally, and every Windows installation ships the Microsoft XPS Document Writer, a virtual printer that saves any printable document as an .xps file. The specification was later standardized as OpenXPS (ECMA-388), and Windows 8 and later save OpenXPS files with the .oxps extension by default.
| Property | XPS file |
|---|---|
| Extensions | .xps (Microsoft XPS), .oxps (OpenXPS, ECMA-388) |
| Developer | Microsoft; OpenXPS standardized by Ecma International |
| Structure | ZIP archive (Open Packaging Conventions) with XML page descriptions, fonts, images |
| Purpose | Fixed-layout documents for viewing, printing and archiving |
| Opens with | XPS Viewer (Windows optional feature), XPS to PDF converters |
Inside, an XPS file is a ZIP archive. Rename it to .zip and you find one XML file per page, written in a XAML-like markup that places text runs, paths and images at fixed coordinates, plus the embedded fonts and pictures the pages use. The OpenXPS specification describes this package in full.
XPS vs PDF: what is the difference?
Both are fixed-layout page formats, and for a reader the result looks identical. The difference is adoption. PDF is an ISO standard supported by every browser, phone and operating system. XPS support is limited to Windows and a handful of third-party viewers; macOS, iOS, Android and web browsers do not open it. PDF also has features XPS lacks in practice: form filling, digital signatures with wide verification support, annotations, and a mature ecosystem of editors. For anything that leaves your own PC, PDF is the safer choice, which is why most XPS files end up being converted.
XPS is also the name of a Dell laptop line and has nothing to do with Excel. An .xps file is a document, never a spreadsheet.
How do I open an XPS file?
- Windows 10 and 11: XPS Viewer. Windows 10 version 1709 and earlier included the XPS Viewer. Since version 1803 (April 2018) it is an optional feature: open Settings > Apps > Optional features, choose Add a feature, search for XPS Viewer and install it. Windows 11 uses the same path. After installation, double-clicking an .xps or .oxps file opens it.
- Older Windows. Windows 7 and 8 open XPS files out of the box with the built-in viewer.
- Mac, Linux, phones, browsers. There is no built-in support. Convert the file to PDF first, or use a free online viewer.
How do I convert an XPS file to PDF?
The XPS to PDF online converter turns a single file into a PDF in the browser, with text, vector graphics and fonts preserved. XPS to JPG renders pages as images for a quick preview or a slide.
Companies that archived years of invoices or reports as XPS need the batch route. Total PDF Converter converts folders of XPS and OXPS files to PDF, DOC, DOCX, XLS, JPG, TIFF, HTML or TXT on Windows, keeps the folder structure, and runs from the command line for scheduled jobs. The 30-day trial is free and asks for no card or email; a Personal license starts at $39.90.
If the XPS Viewer is installed, a manual alternative is File > Print > Microsoft Print to PDF inside the viewer. That works one file at a time and re-rasterizes nothing, but it drops the document outline and metadata.
Frequently asked questions
Is an XPS an Excel file?
No. An .xps file is a fixed-layout document similar to a PDF. It may contain a printed spreadsheet, but it is not editable in Excel. Convert it to XLS with Total PDF Converter if you need the numbers back in a worksheet.
Is XPS the same as PDF?
They serve the same purpose but are different formats. XPS is Microsoft’s ZIP-and-XML page format with support mostly on Windows; PDF is the ISO standard that every platform reads. XPS files are usually converted to PDF for sharing.
What is an XPS file and how do I open it?
An XPS file is a document saved through the Microsoft XPS Document Writer or another XPS-capable program. Open it with the XPS Viewer, installed from Settings > Apps > Optional features in Windows 10 and 11, or convert it to PDF with the online XPS to PDF converter.
How do I open an XPS file as a PDF?
Upload the file to the XPS to PDF online converter and download the PDF, or print it to Microsoft Print to PDF from the XPS Viewer. For many files, run Total PDF Converter on the whole folder.
Can I still open XPS files in Windows 11?
Yes. The XPS Viewer is not preinstalled, but it is available as an optional feature under Settings > Apps > Optional features. Once added, it opens both .xps and .oxps files.
