Open-The-File.com

Find how to open any file type

How to open .OXPS files on Windows

To open .OXPS files on Windows, double-click the .oxps file; if it opens in an XPS/OpenXPS viewer, you’re done.

Step-by-step instructions

  1. Double-click the .oxps file; if it opens in an XPS/OpenXPS viewer, you’re done.
  2. If it does not open, right-click the file → Open with → choose an XPS/OpenXPS-capable viewer installed on your PC.
  3. On Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2, if the file was created on newer Windows versions and won’t open, follow Microsoft’s support guidance for the .oxps compatibility issue.

Common issues

The .OXPS file won’t open on Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008 R2

Some .oxps files (often created on newer Windows versions via print-to-file workflows) may not open on these older systems without specific support.

  1. Check Microsoft’s support article for the Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008 R2 .oxps opening issue and apply the recommended fix/update.
  2. If you cannot update the system, open the file on a newer Windows version that supports OpenXPS and re-export as needed in your workflow.

Windows asks “How do you want to open this file?”

No application is associated with .oxps, or the XPS/OpenXPS viewing component is missing/disabled.

  1. Right-click → Open with and select an installed XPS/OpenXPS-capable viewer.
  2. If you manage the device, ensure the relevant Windows viewing capability for XPS/OpenXPS is installed/enabled.

The file opens but pages look wrong or printing is off

OpenXPS is fixed-layout, but rendering/printing can differ if the viewer/driver has limited support or substitutes resources.

  1. Try opening/printing the same .oxps file in a different Windows viewer/print path on the same machine.
  2. If the .oxps was generated from an app, regenerate it and confirm print settings (page size, orientation) before “printing to file.”

The file won’t open on macOS, Linux, iOS, or Android

Many non-Windows environments don’t have consistent, built-in OpenXPS support.

  1. Transfer the file to a Windows PC to view it with an XPS/OpenXPS viewer.
  2. If you need cross-platform sharing, convert in a controlled workflow (for example, within your organization’s approved tooling) instead of relying on mobile/preview support.

Security note

Treat .oxps files from unknown sources with caution: like other complex document formats, they rely on viewers/parsers, and malformed files can potentially trigger viewer vulnerabilities.

Back to .OXPS extension page