How to Convert XPS to PDF on Windows 10

Windows 10 started shipping without XPS Viewer enabled by default from version 1709 (the October 2017 Fall Creators Update). On machines that were set up or reset after that date, double-clicking an .xps file produces no result. On older machines that were upgraded from Windows 7 or 8, the viewer may still be present.

This guide explains how to check, how to enable the viewer for an offline conversion via Microsoft Print to PDF, and how the online converter gives you the same result in less time.

Check whether XPS Viewer is already installed

Press the Windows key, type XPS Viewer, and see if it appears. If it does, you already have what you need to convert offline — skip to the Print to PDF section below. If nothing appears, the feature is absent on your machine.

Machines that shipped with Windows 10 v1703 or earlier, or that were upgraded from Windows 7/8, typically still have it. Clean installs and factory resets from v1709 onward typically do not.

Enable XPS Viewer (Windows 10 optional feature)

To add XPS Viewer on Windows 10:

1. Open Settings → Apps → Apps & features.
2. Click Optional features, then Add a feature.
3. Type XPS Viewer in the search box, select it, and click Install.
4. Wait for the install to complete — it takes under a minute on most machines.

On company-managed machines where the Optional features list is restricted by Group Policy, you may not be able to add it. Use the online converter instead.

Convert XPS to PDF using Microsoft Print to PDF

Once XPS Viewer is installed:

1. Open the .xps file in XPS Viewer.
2. Choose File → Print.
3. In the printer list, select Microsoft Print to PDF.
4. Click Print, choose a save location, and click Save.

This produces a PDF without any third-party software or network connection. Microsoft Print to PDF has been included in every copy of Windows 10 and 11 from the start — it does not need to be added separately.

Convert online — no viewer required

If enabling optional features is not an option, or if you just need a quick result, the online converter handles the same task. Upload your .xps or .oxps file, choose PDF, and download. The file size limit is 25 MB and up to 20 files can be processed at once.

Unlike the Print to PDF route, the online converter preserves selectable text in the output — the result is not flattened to an image.

Windows 10 vs Windows 11: what's different

The conversion method is the same on both versions, but the Settings path differs slightly. Windows 11 moved optional features to Settings → System → Optional features. On Windows 10 it is under Settings → Apps → Optional features. The viewer itself is identical — it has not been updated on either platform. For the Windows 11-specific walkthrough, see Convert XPS to PDF on Windows 11.

Frequently asked questions

Which version of Windows 10 removed XPS Viewer from the default install?

Version 1709, the Fall Creators Update released in October 2017. From that version onward, XPS Viewer is an optional feature rather than a default component.

Can I use Microsoft Print to PDF on Windows 10 without XPS Viewer?

Microsoft Print to PDF is a printer, not a viewer. You still need XPS Viewer (or another application that can open .xps files) to send the document to that printer.

Does the optional XPS Viewer cost anything on Windows 10?

No. It is a free optional Windows component available through Settings → Apps → Optional features.

My IT department has locked optional features. How do I convert XPS on a work PC?

Use the online converter — it runs entirely in your browser and requires no software installation or admin rights.

Last updated: June 2026