Convert OXPS to PDF

If you have a file ending in .oxps you have an OpenXPS document — the format written by the Microsoft XPS Document Writer on Windows 8 and later. Many PDF readers and older software do not recognise .oxps even though they handle .xps fine. This converter accepts both and outputs a standard PDF that opens everywhere.

What is an OXPS file?

OXPS is OpenXPS, standardised by ECMA International as ECMA-388 in 2009. Like the older .xps format, it is a fixed-layout document format — essentially a printout saved as a file. From Windows 8 onwards, the Microsoft XPS Document Writer (the virtual printer built into Windows) writes .oxps by default rather than .xps.

Windows 7 and earlier do not natively open .oxps. Windows 8, 10, and 11 read both .xps and .oxps. The XPS Viewer app (an optional feature on Windows 10 v1709+ and absent from Windows 11 by default) handles both formats once installed.

Why .oxps files can be problematic

Despite being a standard format, .oxps has poor support outside of Windows:

• macOS has no native support for either .xps or .oxps.
• Most PDF readers, email clients, and document viewers do not recognise .oxps.
• Older software that handles .xps sometimes rejects .oxps because of the different extension, even though the internal structure is similar.
• Linux’s libgxps-utils (xpstopdf) does handle .oxps in modern versions.

Converting to PDF removes all these compatibility issues.

OXPS vs XPS: the practical difference

For the purpose of conversion, .oxps and .xps are interchangeable on this tool — both are accepted and both produce equivalent PDF output. The distinction matters when you need to open the file natively on an older Windows machine or send it to someone who can only read .xps.

If you need to share the original fixed-layout document (rather than a converted PDF), see the OXPS vs XPS page for the compatibility differences between the two formats.

What the converted PDF retains

The PDF produced from an .oxps file includes:

• Selectable, searchable text — this is a re-render, not a scan; text characters are present in the PDF structure.
• All pages from the original document.
• Embedded images at their original resolution.

It does not retain XPS-specific features like FixedDocumentSequence navigation or print ticket metadata, but these are irrelevant for viewing and sharing as a PDF.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Windows create .oxps instead of .xps?

From Windows 8 onwards, the Microsoft XPS Document Writer defaults to .oxps (OpenXPS, ECMA-388) rather than .xps (the older Microsoft-proprietary format). You can change the output format in the XPS Document Writer properties if you need .xps for compatibility with Windows 7 systems.

Can I open an .oxps file on macOS?

Not natively. macOS has no support for .xps or .oxps. Convert it to PDF using this tool and it will open in Preview or any PDF reader.

Will the PDF be searchable?

Yes, as long as the original .oxps contained real text (not a scan). The converter preserves the text layer, producing a searchable PDF.

Is there a size limit for .oxps files?

25 MB per file. Up to 20 files can be uploaded in a single batch.

Does the tool also convert .xps to PDF?

Yes — it accepts both .xps and .oxps. Upload either format and choose PDF output.

What is the difference between OXPS and XPS?

XPS is Microsoft’s original format from 2006; OXPS is the ECMA-388 standardised version from 2009. Structurally similar, they differ in the file extension and some packaging details. Windows 8+ defaults to .oxps. See the OXPS vs XPS page for full details.

Last updated: June 2026