If the Microsoft XPS Document Writer is missing or it's not working. Read now: 4 of the best software to open all types of files on Windows 10. XPS, Microsoft XML Paper Specification File (.xps) XPS files refer to the Open XML Paper Specification, an open specification for fixed document formats and a page description language created by Microsoft. Using a new print path, color-managed vector-based document format using the XML basis, XPS files are supported with device.

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XPS is short for XML Paper Specification. It was invented by Microsoft as a replacement for PDF files. XPS files can be used to archive and share files you routinely use for your business, such as contracts, receipts, memos, invoices or Web pages. The files are created by Microsoft XPS Document Writer, but can be opened by Microsoft XPS Viewer. You may access the Viewer directly, or open it through the file.

Open the XPS Viewer first. Click the Start button, then “All Programs” and “XPS Viewer” in the menu.

Browse to find your file. Click “Open” to load it.

Tips

• XPS Viewer will automatically launch if you click on a XPS file.
• Windows Vista and Windows 7 have XPS Viewer installed, but if you are using an earlier version of Windows, you'll need to download and install .NET Framework 3.0 (see the link in Resources) to open XPS files.

About the Author

Kim Lewis is a professional programmer and web developer. She has been a technical writer for more than 10 years and has written articles for businesses and the federal government. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science, and occasionally teaches classes on how to program for the Internet.

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XPS is a file format that Microsoft created to print content to a file very similar to PDF. It was originally introduced with Windows Vista, and even though it never really gained popularity it continued to ship with Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10.

Now, starting with the April 2018 Update (version 1803), Microsoft is finally retiring support for the file format and removing the XPS Viewer app on new installations. This means that if you're doing an in-place upgrade from version 1709 (Fall Creators Update) to version 1803, you'll continue to have support for the format, but if you're setting up a new device, or do a clean installation, the XPS Viewer app will no longer be available. Factory stairways ladders and handrails handbook of texas.

If you're among those people who still use XPS files, and you can no longer find the app, you can get the XPS Viewer back using the Settings app.

In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to re-install the XPS Viewer app since it's no longer available after installing the April 2018 Update.

How to install the XPS Viewer app on Windows 10

In order to install the XPS Viewer app on Windows 10, do the following:

1. Open Settings.
2. Click on Apps.
3. Click on Apps & features.

4. Under 'Apps & features,' click the Manage optional features link.

5. Click the Add a feature button.

6. Select XPS Viewer from the list.

7. Click the Install button.

After completing the steps, the XPS Viewer will install on your computer, and you'll once again be able to open files stored on your computer using this file format.

Converting XPS to PDF

While you can get this feature back, bear in mind that Microsoft is no longer maintaining it, as such it's now also a good time to convert those old XPS files to PDF or another file format.

Here's a quick way to convert your XPS files to PDF without having to resource to third-party apps:

1. Open the XPS file using the XPS Viewer.

2. Click the Print button from the top-right.

3. Under 'Select Printer,' pick the Microsoft Print to PDF option.

4. Click the Print button.

Once you've completed the steps, repeat the same steps for the remaining files you want to convert.

After converting the files to PDF, you can remove the XPS Viewer using the same instructions mentioned above, but on step No. 5, select XPS Viewer from the list, click the Uninstall button, and restart your device.

More Windows 10 resources

For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:

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