Home : Extensions : .xps files

.xps File Extension

File Type XML Paper Specification File

Developer Microsoft
Category Page layout files
File Format Zip

XPS file type

An XPS file is a document that contains fixed page layout information written in the XPS page description language. It defines the layout, appearance, and printing information for a document. XPS files are similar to .PDF files, but saved in Microsoft’s proprietary XPS format.

More Information

Screenshot of a .xps file in Microsoft XPS Viewer

XPS file open in Microsoft XPS Viewer

The XPS file can be used to view, share, save, and protect the content of your document. There are a large number of Windows programs that can be used to create an XPS file. However, you can only view, sign, and specify permissions of an XPS file through XPS Viewer. Also, once you save the XPS contents in the XPS format, you can no longer edit the XPS file.

XPS 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 the PostScript language. XPS files can be created in Windows by selecting the "Microsoft XPS Document Writer" as the printer when printing a document.

NOTE: XPS files can be opened with Microsoft's XPS Viewer, which is included with Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Internet Explorer 6 or later. It is also part of the XPS Essentials Pack, which can be downloaded from Microsoft and used with Windows XP.

Programs that open XPS files

Windows
Nuance OmniPage
Google Drive
Microsoft Word
Adobe Acrobat
Nuance PDF Converter Professional
KDE Okular
Calibre
Microsoft XPS Viewer
Dolphin
Dolphin Futures XPS Viewer
XPS Annotator
Pagemark XpsViewer
Microsoft PowerPoint
Linux
Google Drive
Adobe Acrobat
KDE Okular
Calibre
Dolphin
Pagemark XpsViewer
MuPDF
Macintosh
Apple Safari
Google Drive
Adobe Acrobat
Nuance PDF Converter for Mac 6
KDE Okular
Calibre
NiXPS View
Dolphin
Microsoft PowerPoint for Mac
NiXPS Edit
Pagemark XpsViewer
iOS
Apple Safari

About XPS Files

Our goal is to explain what .xps file is used for for and how to open it.

File XML Paper Specification File usage cases for Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS software listed on this page have been individually researched and verified using the FilesWiki team. We strive for 100% accuracy and only publish information about file formats that we have tested and verified.