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.

There are 2 other file types using
the XPS file extension!

empty icon.xps - MonkeyJam exposure sheet

empty icon.xps - WindowBlinds temporary data

Detailed description

Software that open xps file

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XPS file extension - Microsoft XPS document

What is xps file? How to open xps files?

File type specification:

Document file type icon Document file type

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:

  • document page files (.fpage)
  • document settings files (.fdoc)
  • document fragment files (.frag).

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.

Updated: November 27, 2023

The default software associated to open xps file:

Microsoft XPS Viewer icon

Microsoft Corporation logoMicrosoft XPS Viewer  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Microsoft Corporation

The default Windows XPS Viewer is in various forms available in Windows operating systems since Windows Vista. The older versions needed to be installed as a separate download, but since Windows 7 it is a default application installed with the system. It is used for viewing .xps and later also .oxps files which were introduced in Windows 8.

Microsoft XPS Document Writer icon

Microsoft Corporation logoMicrosoft XPS Document Writer  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft XPS Document Writer is print to file driver that is used to create XPS documents in any Windows application.

Related articles:

Windows 10 and OXPS documents

Open XPS and OXPS documents on Mac

File types supported in Microsoft PowerPoint 2010

File types supported in Microsoft Excel 2010

Help how to open:

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.

How to convert:

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.

Find conversions from xps file:

xps to doc

xps to eps

xps to jpg

xps to mobi

xps to pdf

xps to txt

xps to xls

Find converter to xps file type:

html to xps

mobi to xps

oxps to xps

pmd to xps

ppt to xps

qpw to xps

rpt to xps

File identification strings:

HEX code: 50 4B 03 04
ASCII code: PK

Related links:

XML Paper Specification

List of software applications associated to the .xps file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open xps file, edit xps file, convert xps file, view xps file, play xps file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting xps files.

xps file viewer - programs that view xps file - Microsoft XPS document

Programs supporting the exension xps on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for view xps file action.

Microsoft Windows:

Main software associated with xps file by default:
Microsoft XPS Viewer small icon Microsoft XPS Viewer
Other suggested software:
Pagemark XPS Viewer
NiXPS Edit small icon NiXPS Edit
XPS Viewer small icon XPS Viewer
Danet Studio small icon Danet Studio

Apple macOS / Mac OS X:

Linux/Unix:

Multiplatform:

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