Microsoft XPS document
File type: Document file
Files with xps extension are almost always documents that were exported or printed in Microsoft Windows with the default Microsoft XPS Document Writer virtual printer, for example in MS Office applications. XPS format is Microsoft's much less popular alternative to PDF for fixed layout exchange documents.
Found 3 different file type records with the same xps filename suffix.
File type category:
Document file
Date updated: July 19, 2025
File extension xps is since the times of Windows XP known for its use for a special fixed layout document type printed (exported) in Windows and Windows apps by default as an alternative to the much more popular PDF format through the integrated XPS Document Writer virtual printer driver.
The XPS (XML Paper Specification) format was developed by Microsoft and Ecma International for an electronic representation of digital documents that can be can easily created, shared, printed.
It is a essentially a ZIP archive that contains document data, including the following:
Main program that generates .xps files is the Microsoft Document Writer, which is integral part of Windows since Windows 7. Previously it was available as separate download from Microsoft's website and now is available as part of Microsoft XML Paper Specification Essentials Pack for Windows XP/Vista.
Windows 8 introduced a modernized version of XPS format, called the Open XML Paper Specification, which uses .oxps files instead the original xps suffix.
NOTE: XPS is also known as abbreviation for Xtreme Performance System which is used by Dell for its gaming and performance computers and is not related in any way to XML Paper Specification.
You can easily view .xps files in Windows since Windows 7 with the Windows XPS Viewer which is installed by default. For older versions of Windows, you will have to install the Microsoft XML Paper Specification Essentials Pack.
Other than that, you can find several 3rd party apps designed for opening and even some further editting of .xps files, but this is usually restricted to annoation and meta data changes.
XPS to PDF is one of the most common conversions, and can be simply achieved by using the Print (and virtual PDF printer) in the default XPS Viewer.
Microsoft XPS Viewer (Microsoft Windows)
Microsoft XPS Viewer (Microsoft Windows)
Pagemark XPS Viewer (Microsoft Windows)
NiXPS Edit (Microsoft Windows)
XPS Viewer (Microsoft Windows)
Danet Studio (Microsoft Windows)
XPSView (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Okular (Linux/Unix)
NiXPS View (Multiplatform)
Microsoft XPS Document Writer (Microsoft Windows)
NiXPS Edit (Microsoft Windows)
Danet Studio (Microsoft Windows)
XpsConverter (Microsoft Windows)
Pagemark XPS Converter (Microsoft Windows)
Xara Page & Layout Designer (Microsoft Windows)
Free XPS To PDF Converter (Microsoft Windows)
XPS-to-PDF (Microsoft Windows)
XPS to JPG Converter (Microsoft Windows)
XPS to Any Converter (Microsoft Windows)
xps2img (Microsoft Windows)
XPSView (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
XPS-to-PDF for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
XPS/OXPStoPDF (On-line services)
Microsoft Word (Microsoft Windows)
Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Windows)
Microsoft PowerPoint (Microsoft Windows)
Xara Page & Layout Designer (Microsoft Windows)
Online OXPS to XPS converter (On-line services)
Microsoft XPS Viewer (Microsoft Windows)
Pagemark XPS Viewer (Microsoft Windows)
NiXPS Edit (Microsoft Windows)
Danet Studio (Microsoft Windows)
File type category:
Graphics file
Date updated: December 7, 2018
The xls file extension is also used for exposure sheets created in MonkeyJam program. MonkeyJam is a digital penciltest and stopmotion animation program.
Not to be confused with standard XPS documents from Windows.
You can open these XPS files in MonkeyJam.
Videos made using MonkeyJam can be exported as AVI files.
MonkeyJam (Microsoft Windows)
MonkeyJam (Microsoft Windows)
MonkeyJam (Microsoft Windows)
MonkeyJam (Microsoft Windows)
File type category:
Temporary file
Date updated: July 7, 2019
The xps file extension is associated with the WindowBlinds, a software for Microsoft Windows operating system, which enables users to customize Windows GUI.
The xps file contains temporary data from WindowBlinds.
Probably not meant to be accessed by the user.
Probably cannot be converted to anything else.
WindowBlinds (Microsoft Windows)