Print XPS to PDF

“Printing to PDF” is a distinct approach from direct file conversion: you open the document in a viewer and send it to a virtual PDF printer. On Windows this is the Microsoft Print to PDF driver, which has been built into Windows 10 and 11. It is entirely offline and leaves no file size restrictions.

This guide covers the Windows-native print-to-PDF route and the online converter for users on macOS, Linux, or Windows machines where XPS Viewer is not available.

Print to PDF vs direct conversion: what’s the difference?

A direct conversion tool reads the XPS file structure and re-renders it to PDF programmatically. Printing to PDF routes the output through the printer driver pipeline: the viewer renders each page to a virtual printer, which captures the output as a PDF.

In practice, both produce a PDF. The differences:

Text layer: direct conversion typically preserves text as selectable PDF text objects. Printing to PDF via a raster printer driver can produce a flattened image; Microsoft Print to PDF on Windows generally does preserve a text layer from XPS because XPS Viewer passes vector data to the driver rather than rasterising.
Colour accuracy: both are generally equivalent for office documents.
Speed: direct conversion (this tool) is faster for batch files.

Installing XPS Viewer on Windows 10 and 11

XPS Viewer was bundled by default up to Windows 10 version 1703. From version 1709 (Fall Creators Update, October 2017) it became an optional feature. Windows 11 ships without it.

To install via Settings: Settings → Apps → Optional features → Add a feature → search “XPS Viewer” → Install.

To install via command line (run as Administrator):

dism /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0

No reboot is required.

Cross-platform: the online tool

If you are on macOS, Linux, or a Windows machine where you cannot install XPS Viewer (e.g. a managed corporate machine with restricted optional features), the online converter above handles the conversion in a browser. No software is installed on your device. Files up to 25 MB, up to 20 at a time, with no watermark.

macOS has no native XPS support at all — Apple Preview cannot open .xps or .oxps files. The online tool is the simplest route on Mac.

No XPS Viewer? Convert Online Instead

Up to 20 files at once · 25 MB per file · no watermark · files deleted within 60 minutes.

Troubleshooting: Microsoft Print to PDF not in the printer list

If Microsoft Print to PDF does not appear in the printer dropdown:

Open Control Panel → Devices and Printers → Add a printer.
Select “The printer that I want isn’t listed”.
Choose “Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings”.
Select PORTPROMPT: (Local Port) as the port.
Under manufacturer choose Microsoft; under printer choose Microsoft Print to PDF.

Alternatively, run Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Printing-PrintToPDFServices-Features in an elevated PowerShell session.

Frequently asked questions

Does Microsoft Print to PDF add a watermark?

No. It is a native Windows feature with no restrictions or branding on the output.

Is the PDF produced by printing searchable?

Generally yes — XPS Viewer passes vector text data to the Microsoft Print to PDF driver, which retains it as selectable text in the output. This depends on the original XPS having a real text layer; scanned documents will still be image-only.

Can I print .oxps to PDF the same way?

Yes. XPS Viewer handles both .xps and .oxps. The print-to-PDF route is identical for both file extensions.

I’m on a Mac — can I print XPS to PDF?

No. macOS has no XPS Viewer and no native XPS support. The print-to-PDF approach requires a viewer that can open the file. Use the online converter above instead.

What’s the file size limit for print to PDF?

There is no file size limit for the Windows native print-to-PDF route — it processes the file locally on your machine. The online converter has a 25 MB per file limit.

Why is XPS Viewer not installed on my Windows 11 PC?

Windows 11 does not include XPS Viewer by default. Install it via Settings → Apps → Optional features → Add a feature → XPS Viewer, or via DISM from an elevated command prompt.

Last updated: June 2026