Skip to content
Open-The-File.com

.XPS file extension

To open .XPS files on Windows, try double-clicking the .xps file and choose an installed XPS-capable viewer if prompted.

To open a .xps file, use a document viewer that supports XPS. On Linux, Okular (with its XPS backend) is a common option; on other platforms you may need an XPS-capable viewer or to convert the file on a desktop system.

HomeExtension IndexDocuments in indexDocuments category page

Last updated: October 13, 2026

Open on your device

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

How to open .XPS files

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

Windows

  1. Try double-clicking the .xps file and choose an installed XPS-capable viewer if prompted.
  2. If you don’t have an app that recognizes it, transfer the file to a system with an XPS-capable document viewer (or install one) and open it from there.
Full Windows guide

Mac

  1. macOS commonly lacks built-in XPS viewing; if the file won’t open, move it to a Windows or Linux machine with an XPS-capable viewer.
  2. If you must work on macOS, consider converting the file on a desktop system that can open XPS (for example to PDF) and then view the result.
Full Mac guide

Linux

  1. Install and open Okular, which supports XPS documents via its XPS backend.
  2. In Okular, use File → Open and select the .xps file.
Full Linux guide

iOS

  1. iOS does not typically include native XPS viewing; if it won’t open in Files, transfer the file to a desktop system with an XPS-capable viewer (for example, Okular on Linux).
Full iOS guide

Android

  1. Android devices often lack reliable XPS support; if it won’t open, transfer the file to a desktop system with an XPS-capable viewer (for example, Okular on Linux).
Full Android guide

Security notes

  • Treat .xps as an untrusted packaged document: it may contain complex content that exercises the viewer/parser, so open it only in reputable, up-to-date viewer software.
  • Because XPS-family files are typically container-based (OPC/ZIP-style packaging is commonly associated with the format family), avoid renaming it to .zip and extracting content unless you know what you’re doing—extracted embedded resources can still be untrusted files.
  • Be cautious with XPS files received unexpectedly: even without “macro” features, malformed documents can target vulnerabilities in document viewers.

Can't open this file?

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

Common reasons

  • The file won’t open or shows “unknown format”
  • Pages render incorrectly (missing fonts/graphics or layout changes)
  • Confusion between .xps and .oxps

Fix steps

  1. Confirm the extension is .xps (not .oxps).
  2. Open it in an XPS-capable viewer (on Linux, Okular supports XPS).
  3. If you only have a viewer for .oxps, use a system/app that explicitly supports .xps or convert using a desktop tool that can open XPS.

Recover a deleted or lost .XPS 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 .XPS file?

XPS is a fixed-layout document format designed to represent pages consistently across viewing/printing, similar in intent to PDF. It is part of the XPS/OpenXPS family and is commonly described as an OPC/ZIP-based package containing XML and related resources. The standardized variant is OpenXPS (ECMA-388), which uses the .oxps extension.

Background

XPS (XML Paper Specification) is used to store documents where exact layout matters—pages, fonts, and graphics are meant to render the same way regardless of where the file is opened. In practice it shows up as “print-to-file” output, exported reports, and other fixed-format documents.

The OpenXPS specification is standardized as ECMA-388. In the XPS family, you may encounter both .xps and .oxps; Wikipedia explicitly lists both extensions for the format family, and the ECMA-388 standard focuses on OpenXPS.

Because XPS/XPS-family files are packaged documents (often treated like ZIP/OPC containers), many problems users see are about missing viewer support, confusion between .xps and .oxps, or viewer bugs with certain fonts/graphics. When in doubt, open the file in a dedicated viewer rather than a web browser or text editor.

Common MIME types: application/vnd.ms-xpsdocument, application/oxps

Further reading

Authoritative resources for more details on the .XPS format.

Common .XPS issues

The file won’t open or shows “unknown format”

Many systems don’t include an XPS viewer by default, and some apps only support PDF. The file may also be confused with .oxps (OpenXPS).

  1. Confirm the extension is .xps (not .oxps).
  2. Open it in an XPS-capable viewer (on Linux, Okular supports XPS).
  3. If you only have a viewer for .oxps, use a system/app that explicitly supports .xps or convert using a desktop tool that can open XPS.

Pages render incorrectly (missing fonts/graphics or layout changes)

XPS-family documents are fixed-layout, but rendering depends on the viewer correctly handling the packaged resources and markup; different viewers may display edge cases differently.

  1. Try a different XPS-capable viewer (for example, Okular on Linux) to compare results.
  2. If the document was generated by another system, ask for a PDF export as an alternative fixed-layout format.
  3. If you control the source, regenerate the XPS with embedded resources enabled (fonts/images) where possible.

Confusion between .xps and .oxps

.xps and .oxps are related in the XPS/OpenXPS family, but software may support one extension better than the other. OpenXPS is standardized as ECMA-388 and typically uses .oxps.

  1. Check whether the software you’re using mentions support for XPS specifically versus OpenXPS (.oxps).
  2. If an app supports only one of them, use a viewer that supports your specific extension (Okular supports XPS).
  3. If you received the file, request the sender to provide the other variant (.oxps or .xps) or a PDF copy.

FAQ

What is an .xps file used for?

It’s a fixed-layout document meant to preserve the exact look of printed pages for viewing and printing, in the XPS/OpenXPS document family.

Is .xps the same as .oxps?

They’re closely related in the XPS/OpenXPS family, but they are not identical in practice. OpenXPS is standardized as ECMA-388 and typically uses the .oxps extension, while .xps is the original XPS document extension listed alongside .oxps in common references.

What MIME type is associated with .xps?

On many desktop systems, the shared-mime-info database associates .xps with application/vnd.ms-xpsdocument.

What MIME type is associated with OpenXPS (.oxps)?

OpenXPS is registered as application/oxps in the IANA media type registry and is also cited in the Library of Congress format description.

Similar file extensions

Compare related formats in the same category to find the right tool faster.

Did this guide help?