XPS , or Microsoft XPS Document Writer , is a format that Microsoft launched in 2006 to compete with Adobe's PDF format , which had become the standard for reading documents . This format is designed to allow for quick document sharing thanks to its ZIP compression, a format that, unlike Adobe PDF, allows you to start reading while it's downloading.
Despite the advantages it offers over PDF, as is often the case with these types of products, the first one to arrive is the one that dominates the market. Although initially developed by Microsoft in conjunction with Global Graphics, Microsoft has discontinued support for this format since 2018.
What is XPS / OXPS
XPS files incorporate XML tags that define a document's composition and structure, along with its visual appearance. This file type is similar to the MKV format for videos, as it is a compressed file using ZIP that contains all the files that make up the document.
The files that make up an XPS document are called XML files. Each page, text, font, image, chart, and other element is a separate XML file. When using ZIP compression to open any document in this format, you simply need to use an application that can decompress these types of files.
How to create XPS files
Windows 10 includes Microsoft XPS Document Writer as a printer. This printer works similarly to other applications , such as Adobe's own, for creating XPS format files.
To create files in XPS format, simply open the document you want to convert, go to the print options and select Microsoft XPS Document Writer, choose the path where you want to store the document, type the file name and click Save.
On other platforms, the only way we can create these types of files is by converting them from other formats , mainly PDF and DOCX.
How to open XPS files in Windows
As I mentioned above, Windows 10 stopped supporting this format in 2018, specifically with the release of version 1803. Therefore, since then, it's no longer possible to open XPS files natively in Windows 10. However, it does offer the option to install the XPS file that is already included in the system.
To open XPS files in Windows, you must use XPS Viewer . To install this application, follow the steps detailed below:
- We access the Windows configuration options through the keyboard shortcut Windows key + i or click on the cogwheel that is displayed in the Windows start menu.
- Next, click on Applications.
- Within applications, click on Optional features.
- Next, let's polish on Add a feature and we write XPS in the search box, we mark the XPS Viewer box and click on the Install button.
Once installed, all files with the XPS/OXPS extension will automatically be associated with the XPS Viewer application . To open XPS files in Windows 10, simply double-click the file or open the XPS Viewer application, click File > Open, and select the folder where the file is located.
How to open XPS files on Mac
Despite being a Microsoft format, we can also open these types of files on macOS-based computers, although, as with other operating systems, it is not possible to do so natively with the Preview application, so we are forced to resort to third-party applications.
In this regard, the best application for opening XPS files on a Mac is NiXPS , a paid application that takes up very little space on your hard drive. Once you've installed the application, open it, go to File – Open, and select the file in this format stored on your hard drive, USB drive, external hard drive, etc.
Another solution, if our needs don't involve modifying XPS files, is XPS & VSD Viewer Pro, a free application that allows us to open this file format. If we want to get the most out of it, we can use the in-app purchase that unlocks all the available features.
How to open XPS files in Linux
The tool we have available to open XPS files in Linux is called Ghostscript. This application not only opens XPS files but also PDF files. It is available for free download via this link.
How to open XPS files on iPhone
XPS View
XPSView allows you to open and read XPS (XML Paper Specification, *.xps) and OpenXPS (*.oxps) documents on both iPhone and iPad . This app, although paid, offers a fantastic reading experience through document outlines, page thumbnails, and text search functions.
Furthermore, XPSView allows you to convert XPS and OXPS documents to PDF and make them compatible with any PDF viewer. This application costs €3,49 . If you regularly use these types of files and want to take advantage of all the features it offers, this is the best option.
XPS to PDF Converter
If you don't usually work with this type of file and just need an application to convert files in this format to PDF, you can use the XPS to PDF Converter application, a free application (no in-app purchases), which allows us to convert XPS format files stored in Gmail, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and iCloud.
How to open XPS files on Android
XPS Viewer
XPS Viewer is a completely free, ad-free application that allows you to open XPS and OXPS files. This application does not allow you to convert files to other formats. An internet connection is not required to use it.
XPS-Converter
If you frequently need to convert XPS/OXPS files to other formats, the application you need is XPS Converter, a free app that includes ads. This application allows you to convert this format to PDF, DOC, and DOCX. An internet connection is required to use the application.
