How to open .WPS files on Android
To open .WPS files on Android, 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.
Step-by-step instructions
- 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.
Common 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).
- Confirm what created the file (if it came from Microsoft Works, treat it as a Works word processor document).
- Try a different importer: LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice Writer (both commonly rely on libwps-based import).
- 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.
- After opening, save a converted copy (for example .odt) and review the document carefully.
- 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.
- Right-click the file and choose “Open With…” to select LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice explicitly.
- If it works, set that app as the default for .wps files on your desktop environment.
Still can’t open your .WPS file?
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.
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 RecoveritWindows and Mac software that recovers deleted or lost files from computers and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and SD cards.
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Security note
.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.
