Tips to open XPS file
Can't open the XPS file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open XPS files as well as a list of programs that support XPS files.
XPS file extension
| File Name |
XML Paper Specification Format |
| File Developer |
Microsoft |
| File Category |
Layout Files |
The XPS file is supported on 3 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the XPS files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the XPS file on each system platform.
What is XPS file?
The .XPS file is a printout of a text document. It is saved in the proprietary XPS format, which works in the same way as the PDF format. Unlike the popular .PDF file, .XPS uses XML instead of PostScript. XPS is a closed format developed by Microsoft. The Office suite offers the option of printing directly to a file using a virtual printer. Windows systems have a built-in viewer of this format. In case of problems with opening it, there are converters that allow you to save the file in a different format.
How to open XPS file?
The most common problem when using XML Paper Specification Format is that a specific XPS is not associated with the program. This is manifested by the fact that XPS files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. How to solve such a problem?
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the XPS file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.
Step 1. Install PDF Converter
An often overlooked issue is to make sure that PDF Converter is installed on the computer. This can be achieved by typing PDF Converter into the operating system search engine. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open XPS files.
Programs to open XPS file
Remember to download programs supporting XPS files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of PDF Converter with XPS files
However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the XPS file to open in the PDF Converter application, but you can set it manually. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. If there is no software on the list, simply select "Browse" and manually select the directory where the application is installed. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the XPS file with the PDF Converter program.
Step 3. Update PDF Converter to the latest version
If, despite the association of the PDF Converter program with the XML Paper Specification Format file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the XPS file
If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:
The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the XPS file. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file XPS or the program directory. However, remember that not every infected XPS file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the XPS files changes over time. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular XPS file corruption.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted XPS files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. It is best to move XPS to a different directory.
This problem only occurs with more complex files. Some file types can only be opened in one program at a time. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the XPS file again. However, some background programs may block the XPS file while scanning. If the problem persists, restart the machine.
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