The XPS File Extension: .xps and .oxps

The extensions .xps and .oxps both identify fixed-layout document files based on Microsoft's XML Paper Specification. They are not the same extension, and they are not interchangeable without understanding the difference. This page covers what each extension signals, how Windows handles the association, and what goes wrong when double-clicking fails.

What .xps signals

.xps is the extension for the original XML Paper Specification format introduced with Windows Vista in 2006. The file is a ZIP archive using Open Packaging Conventions; the pages are encoded as XAML markup with embedded fonts and images. The format was Microsoft's own proprietary specification before the ECMA standard arrived.

Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10, and 11 all associate .xps with the XPS Viewer — provided the Viewer is installed. On Windows 10 version 1709 (Fall Creators Update, October 2017) and later, including all of Windows 11, the XPS Viewer is an optional feature that is not present by default.

What .oxps signals

.oxps is the extension for OpenXPS, standardised by ECMA International as ECMA-388 in 2009. Windows 8 and later use .oxps as the default output of the Microsoft XPS Document Writer virtual printer. The internal structure is nearly identical to .xps, but the two follow different specifications.

Windows registers .oxps separately from .xps and associates it with the same XPS Viewer application. If the Viewer is not installed, both extensions will show a generic file icon with no default handler.

Why double-clicking an XPS file may open nothing

There are three common reasons:

1. XPS Viewer not installed. On Windows 10 v1709+ and Windows 11, the Viewer must be added manually via Settings → Apps → Optional features → Add a feature → XPS Viewer. Without it, Windows has no registered handler for the extension.
2. Wrong extension for the file's actual content. A file may have been saved with the wrong extension. Windows Explorer's default is to hide known extensions, so a file named report.xps might actually be report.xps.pdf with two extensions.
3. File association overridden. If you previously opened an .xps file with a different app, Windows may have updated the association. Right-click → Open with → Choose another app → XPS Viewer (if installed) to restore it.

Can you rename .oxps to .xps (or vice versa)?

Renaming changes only the extension Windows displays — it does not alter the file's internal format. The XPS Viewer on Windows reads both formats regardless of extension, so renaming .oxps to .xps may work with the Viewer. However, third-party tools that perform strict format checking may reject a renamed file because the internal specification markers differ between ECMA-388 and the original XPS spec.

The reliable approach is to convert rather than rename. See the OXPS vs XPS comparison for the technical detail.

File associations on non-Windows systems

macOS, iOS, Android, and Chrome OS have no built-in handler for either extension. The OS will show a generic file icon and offer no default app to open it. Linux has the libgxps library (powering Evince and Okular) for reading XPS/OXPS, but it is not pre-installed on most distributions. Everywhere outside Windows, converting to PDF first is the practical solution — PDF has a universal handler on every major platform.

Frequently asked questions

What programme opens .xps files?

On Windows, the XPS Viewer opens both .xps and .oxps files. It must be installed as an optional feature on Windows 10 v1709 and later, and it is absent from Windows 11 by default. On other platforms, there is no built-in programme — convert to PDF instead.

Why does my .xps file show a blank icon?

A blank or generic icon means Windows has no registered app for the extension. Install the optional XPS Viewer (Settings → Apps → Optional features → Add a feature → XPS Viewer) to restore the association.

Is .oxps the same as .xps?

They use the same underlying ZIP/OPC structure, but .xps follows Microsoft's original spec and .oxps follows the open ECMA-388 standard. Windows 8 and later write .oxps by default when printing to the Microsoft XPS Document Writer.

Can I just rename an .oxps file to .pdf?

No. Changing the extension to .pdf does not change the file's internal format. PDF readers will refuse to open it because the content is still XPS/XAML markup, not PDF. Convert it properly using a tool such as XPS2PDF.co.uk.

Last updated: June 2026