Why convert XPS to PDF?
PDF is supported on every platform, while XPS is only readable on Windows with a manually installed optional feature and has no built-in support on macOS or Linux. Microsoft removed XPS Viewer from default Windows installs in 2018, making XPS a poor choice for long-term storage or sharing. Converting to .pdf lets you open, share, and archive the document on any device.
How to convert XPS to PDF
XPS To PDF Converter APP
Open the .xps file in XPS To PDF Converter and export as PDF; the resulting file preserves layout, fonts, and vector graphics.
XPS Viewer + Microsoft Print to PDF FREE
Install XPS Viewer (Settings > Apps > Optional features), open the .xps file, press Ctrl+P, and select Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer.
Programs that convert XPS
About these formats
.XPS
XML Paper Specification Document
An XPS file is Microsoft's fixed-layout document format, created by the "Microsoft XPS Document Writer" virtual printer on Windows. On Windows 10 and 11 it no longer opens by default, so…
Open .XPS details →
.PDF
Portable Document Format
A PDF (Portable Document Format) is a fixed-layout document that looks identical on every device - fonts, images, and layout are all embedded. Open it in any browser or the built-in viewer…
Open .PDF details →Quality & what to watch
- The conversion is lossless in layout terms: XPS and PDF are both fixed-layout formats with embedded fonts, so text position and image quality do not degrade.
- XPS Viewer is not preinstalled on Windows 10 version 1803 or later, nor on Windows 11; if double-clicking an .xps file does nothing, install it via Settings > Apps > Optional features.
- For long-term archiving, PDF has far broader compatibility across all platforms than XPS.
