File Extension Database

Open XPS File

An XPS extension document is a file saved in the XML Paper specification or XPS format.

View an XPS file

While you can create an XPS file with any program that supports printing in Windows, to view or modify these files you will need specific software, such as XPS Viewer.

When you open an XPS document, XPS Viewer will automatically open the document in an Internet Explorer window.

In that case, two additional toolbars will appear, one above and one below the XPS document, offering options for viewing and managing XPS documents.

This XPS format is designed so that documents can be shared quickly thanks to the ZIP compression it uses, a format that, unlike Adobe PDF, can be read while downloading.

This XPS format is no longer supported, despite the advantages it offers us with respect to the PDF format, the latter appeared first on the market, and therefore it is the one with the greatest penetration in it, that is why Microsoft, from 2018, has stopped developing it.

This type of XPS file is similar to the MKV format in videos, since it is a compressed file using ZIP that contains all the files that are part of the document, which makes it a container for other formats.

Open XPS files

Windows

As of Windows 10, Microsoft stopped offering support for this format in 2018, specifically with the release of version 1803, so since that date, it is not possible to open XPS files in Windows 10 natively.

To open files in XPS format in Windows, we must make use of XPS Reader.

XPS Reader can be downloaded from Windows Store, also a Viewer is part of the Windows accessory and allows you to exploit files in XPS format in a separate window.

Linux

The tool that you have at your disposal to open XPS files in Linux is Ghostscript, an application to opening files in XPS format, it also allows you to open files in PDF format.

Software to open and work with an XPS file

Typical XPS application file locations:

C:\Windows\System32\xpsrchvw.exe "%1" %*

Typical XPS mime types:

application/vnd.ms-xpsdocument

Frequently associated Windows objects:

Windows.XPSReachViewer
XPSViewer.Document

How Can I Open XPS File on Windows

We researched and learned that the best way to open XPS file is to find a XPS file in question in Windows OS File Explorer and double click on it to launch the corresponding application.
If a XPS file is not opened in an application and you instead get a "Windows can't open a file" error message you should try looking for an application which can open the file in question.
If you know the application which can open XPS file then run it and see if there is a File->Open main menu option in the application.
If you don't know the application which function as XPS file opener then try to search online for "XPS viewer", "application to open XPS file" or "open XPS file" queries in the search engine you like.
Install the application you found and check if it can open XPS file

How Can I Open XPS File on Mac OS

We recommend to find a XPS file in question in Mac OS Finder and double click on it to launch the corresponding application.
If a XPS file is not opened in a Mac OS application and you instead get a "There is no application set to open the file" error message you can click on "Search App Store" in the error dialog and Mac OS will show you applications compatible with XPS file.
If you know the Mac OS application which can work as XPS file opener you can choose the "Choose Application..." option in the error box to associate the file extension and open XPS file in it.
If you don't know the application which can open XPS file then try to search for "XPS viewer", "application to open XPS file" or "read XPS file" queries in the online search engine you like.
Install the application you found and check if it can read XPS file

How Can I Open XPS File on Android

If you downloaded a XPS file on Android device you can open it by following steps below:

In the Android apps list on your Android device find "My Files" or "File manager" app and tap to start it.
Tap on "Downloads" folder inside the app.
You should see your downloaded XPS file in that folder.
Tap on the file. If Android device supports opening the file you downloaded it will open in the corresponding app.
If file does not open you can look for the corresponding app that can open the file by searching Android App Store for the "XPS".
If you cannot open the file with the apps from Android App Store it is possible that the file could only be opened on desktop platforms such as Windows or Mac OS. Try searching for "XPS viewer", "XPS file reader" online and see if any desktop applications can open it.
It is also possible that the file you downloaded is outdated and is no longer supported.

How to Open XPS File on iPhone or iPad

To open XPS File on iOS device follow steps below:

We advies to open Files app on your iPhone or iPad device. You can find it by swiping down on the home screen and typing "Files" in the search bar.
Tap on the Downloads folder on the Files app home screen.
You will see all files that you recently downloaded. Tap on the XPS file to view it.
If you have the right app that can open it it will automatically launch and open your file.
If you don't have the app which can open it you need to serch Apple app store for "XPS". This way you can find apps which can open XPS files.
If this doesn't help it is possible that your file could be opened only by the desktop application. To find an app which can open it on desktop look for "XPS viewer" or "XPS file" online in your favorite search engine.

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