How to Convert XPS to PDF on iPad

iPadOS has the same limitation as iPhone for XPS: there is no built-in reader and the Files app shows .xps documents as unrecognised files. The conversion step is the same — open the converter in Safari, upload the file, and download the PDF — but the iPad's larger screen and Files app integration make the workflow noticeably smoother.

Using Files app and Split View

The iPad's Files app is the central hub for managing the XPS before and after conversion. On an iPad you can run Safari and Files side by side using Split View, which makes the drag-and-drop workflow practical:

1. Open Safari and navigate to XPS2PDF.co.uk.
2. Swipe up from the bottom edge to open the Dock, then drag the Files app icon to the right side of the screen to open Split View.
3. Find the .xps file in Files and drag it directly onto the converter's upload area in Safari.
4. Choose PDF and tap Convert.
5. Download the PDF. It appears in your Safari downloads and can be dragged straight into Files on the other side of the screen.

Annotating the PDF with Apple Pencil

Once the PDF is in Files, open it — Files has a built-in PDF viewer with markup tools. Tap the pencil icon to enter markup mode and use your Apple Pencil to annotate directly on the page: highlight text, add handwritten notes, draw arrows. This is one practical advantage of converting to PDF rather than leaving the file as XPS — the XPS format has no annotation workflow on iPad.

Annotated PDFs can be shared via AirDrop, Mail, or saved back to iCloud Drive.

Saving to iCloud Drive for cross-device access

Save the converted PDF to iCloud Drive inside Files to make it available on your iPhone, Mac, and any other Apple device signed in to the same account. On a Mac, the PDF appears in Finder under iCloud Drive and opens in Preview. On iPhone it appears in Files under iCloud Drive too.

If you need to send the PDF to someone outside Apple's ecosystem, use AirDrop to a Mac and email from there, or email directly from the Files share sheet on iPad — both work well.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drag an XPS file from Files directly into the converter on iPad?

Yes. Open Files and the converter side by side using Split View, then drag the .xps file onto the upload area in Safari.

How is converting on iPad different from converting on iPhone?

The conversion process is identical, but the iPad's larger screen lets you use Split View to work with Files and Safari simultaneously, and you can annotate the resulting PDF with Apple Pencil.

Will the PDF appear in iCloud Drive automatically?

Not automatically — you choose where to save it when you download from Safari. Save it to iCloud Drive inside Files to access it on your other Apple devices.

Can I convert multiple XPS files at once on iPad?

Yes. The converter accepts up to 20 files in one batch. On iPad, use the Files picker to select multiple .xps files at once.

Last updated: June 2026