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.WPS file extension

To open .WPS files on Windows, try opening the file in LibreOffice (it may import Works documents via libwps) or Apache OpenOffice Writer.

To open a .wps file, treat it as a Microsoft Works word processor document and try LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice (they rely on libwps for import). If it will not open, it may be a different “.wps” format, so first confirm what program created it.

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Last updated: October 13, 2026

Open on your device

Choose your operating system for a dedicated step-by-step opening guide.

How to open .WPS files

Use these platform-specific instructions to open .WPS files safely.

Windows

  1. Try opening the file in LibreOffice (it may import Works documents via libwps) or Apache OpenOffice Writer.
  2. If it opens, immediately save/export a copy to a modern format (for example .odt) to preserve the content.
Full Windows guide

Mac

  1. Try opening the .wps file in LibreOffice (import support may be provided via libwps).
  2. If import succeeds, save a new copy in a modern format such as .odt for easier long-term access.
Full Mac guide

Linux

  1. Open the .wps file in LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice Writer (on many Linux desktops, .wps is associated with application/vnd.ms-works via shared-mime-info).
  2. If it opens, save/export to .odt or another modern document format.
Full Linux guide

iOS

  1. If you cannot open it on-device, transfer the .wps file to a desktop system and open it with LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice for conversion.
Full iOS guide

Android

  1. If it does not open in your office app, move the file to a desktop system and try LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice to import/convert it; do not assume all “WPS” apps support Microsoft Works .wps files.
Full Android guide

Security notes

  • .wps is a document format and typically does not behave like an executable, but opening unknown legacy documents still exposes you to parser/importer bugs; prefer opening in a well-maintained office suite and keep it updated.
  • Because “.wps” can refer to different formats, do not trust the extension alone—verify the source of the file and be cautious if the content or origin is unexpected.
  • If you only need to read the contents, consider converting on a trusted desktop system and then sharing a safer, modern format (for example .odt) rather than repeatedly opening the legacy .wps.

Can't open this file?

These are the most common causes and fixes when .WPS files fail to open.

Common reasons

  • The file won’t open or the app says the format is not supported
  • Formatting looks wrong after opening
  • Linux file association looks odd (shows as “MS Works” MIME type)

Fix steps

  1. Confirm what created the file (if it came from Microsoft Works, treat it as a Works word processor document).
  2. Try a different importer: LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice Writer (both commonly rely on libwps-based import).
  3. If you still cannot open it, assume it may be a different .wps format and ask the sender what application produced it.

Recover a deleted or lost .WPS file

If the file was deleted by mistake or the drive was formatted, data recovery software may be able to get it back. Stop writing to that drive right away, because new data can overwrite what you want to recover.

MiniTool Power Data Recovery

Windows software that recovers deleted or lost files from PCs and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and memory cards, after deletion, formatting or a crash.

Wondershare Recoverit

Windows and Mac software that recovers deleted or lost files from computers and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and SD cards.

We may earn a commission when you use affiliate links. This supports our free file extension guides.

OS-specific troubleshooting

What is a .WPS file?

The most common meaning of .wps is a document created by Microsoft Works (the Works word processor). On Linux and cross-platform office suites, .wps is often identified as application/vnd.ms-works and opened through import filters such as libwps, which aims to read Works formats for conversion into modern document formats.

Background

Microsoft Works used .wps for its word processor documents. These files are encountered today mainly as legacy documents that people want to recover or convert to a current format like .odt or .docx.

Modern office suites may support opening .wps through import libraries such as libwps. The Apache OpenOffice documentation notes that .wps import depends on libwps, which is also used by other applications.

Be careful with the extension: “.wps” can be used by other software as well, and a file named .wps is not guaranteed to be a Microsoft Works document. Vendor guidance (WPS Office) specifically cautions that you should not assume a .wps file is the legacy Microsoft Works format or that any given app will open it.

Common MIME types: application/vnd.ms-works

Other meanings of .WPS

The extension .WPS is used by several programs. Besides the file type described on this page, it can also stand for:

  • Kingsoft Writer Document
  • Translator's Workbench Project File

Further reading

Authoritative resources for more details on the .WPS format.

Common .WPS issues

The file won’t open or the app says the format is not supported

Not every program that claims “.wps support” can read Microsoft Works .wps, and some .wps files are not Works documents at all. Import support also varies by Works version and by the importer (often libwps).

  1. Confirm what created the file (if it came from Microsoft Works, treat it as a Works word processor document).
  2. Try a different importer: LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice Writer (both commonly rely on libwps-based import).
  3. If you still cannot open it, assume it may be a different .wps format and ask the sender what application produced it.

Formatting looks wrong after opening

Conversion/import from legacy Works documents can lose layout details (fonts, spacing, tables), especially when opened through import filters rather than the original application.

  1. After opening, save a converted copy (for example .odt) and review the document carefully.
  2. Manually fix layout issues (fonts, margins, table widths) and save again in a modern format.

Linux file association looks odd (shows as “MS Works” MIME type)

On many Linux desktops, shared-mime-info maps .wps to application/vnd.ms-works. That helps identification, but it does not guarantee a specific app on your system can open it correctly.

  1. Right-click the file and choose “Open With…” to select LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice explicitly.
  2. If it works, set that app as the default for .wps files on your desktop environment.

FAQ

Is a .wps file always a Microsoft Works document?

No. .wps is commonly used for Microsoft Works word processor documents, but the extension can be used by other software too. If a file will not open in Works-compatible importers, it may be a different .wps format.

What programs can open Microsoft Works .wps files today?

LibreOffice and Apache OpenOffice can often open/import Microsoft Works .wps files using the libwps importer (support can vary by file version and content).

Is application/vnd.ms-works an official IANA-registered MIME type?

The freedesktop shared-mime-info database uses application/vnd.ms-works for Works documents (commonly including .wps). The IANA media types registry is the authoritative place to check whether a media type is officially registered.

I tried opening a .wps file in WPS Office and it didn’t work—why?

WPS Office notes that “.wps” may refer to different formats and warns you should not assume a .wps file is a legacy Microsoft Works document or that it will open in a particular app. Try LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice for Works-specific import.

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