What is the GPD file format?
A .gpd file is a Generic Printer Description file, a plain-text configuration file used by the Microsoft Windows Universal printer driver (Unidrv). Written in Microsoft's proprietary GPD language, the file describes every capability of a non-PostScript printer: supported paper sizes and trays, print resolutions, color modes, duplexing options, and the PCL or ESC/P command sequences needed to drive the hardware. Every directive in the file is prefixed with an * (asterisk), making the syntax immediately recognizable.
.gpd files are installed as part of a printer driver package alongside .inf setup files and binary driver DLLs. When a printer is installed, Windows parses the .gpd and compiles a binary .pnf cache for faster subsequent loading; the original text file is not used at print time.
The GPD language was introduced with Windows NT 4.0 in 1996 and extended in GPD v2 (Windows Vista) to add Unicode string support for international printer-feature names. It is fully documented in the Windows Driver Kit (WDK). GPD is distinct from PostScript PPD files, which serve the same role for PostScript printers but are processed by Pscript.dll rather than Unidrv.
Windows 8 introduced v4 printer drivers that use a different manifest model, but v3 GPD-based drivers are still widely shipped by OEMs and remain fully supported on Windows 10 and 11. Users most commonly encounter .gpd files when unpacking a printer driver archive downloaded from a manufacturer's website.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWPlain text printer driver definition file. Cannot execute directly; poses no malware risk. Modifying a GPD may break the printer driver installation.
Format details
in a nutshell- Game Package Data (various games) - .gpd extension is also used by some game engines for game data/save packages - entirely unrelated to printer drivers.
Programs that open GPD files
Windows3 apps
Microsoft Windows
Paid Windows reads GPD files automatically during printer driver installation via the Print Spooler / Unidrv parser. End users do not open GPD files directly. 
Visual Studio Code
Open-source Open the file in VS Code for syntax highlighting (no GPD-specific extension exists, but text mode works). Technical details
deep spec| Format type | Text-based printer description language (Microsoft GPD) |
| Encoding | ASCII/ANSI text; Unicode strings supported in GPD v2+ |
| Keyword syntax | Each directive prefixed with `*` (asterisk) |
| Driver component | Parsed by `unidrv.dll` (Universal Printer Driver) |
| Runtime caching | Compiled to binary `.pnf` at install time; `.gpd` is not read during printing |
| Describes | Paper sizes, resolutions, color modes, duplexing, PCL/ESC-P command sequences, hardware-resident fonts |
| Driver package contents | Deployed alongside `.inf`, binary DLLs, and printer resource files |
| Typical file size | 5 KB - 500 KB |
| Version keyword | `*GPDFileVersion` declares format version (e.g., "1.0" or "2.0") |
| GPD v2 additions | Unicode string support for international feature names (Windows Vista+) |
| OS support | Windows NT 4.0 and later; v3 driver model fully supported on Windows 10 and 11 |
| Distinct from PPD | PPD files describe PostScript printers via Pscript.dll; GPD targets non-PostScript PCL/ESC-P hardware |
| Released | Windows NT 4.0 (1996) with the UniDrv printer driver architecture |
| Latest version | GPD v2 (Windows Vista+); ongoing, documented in Windows Driver Kit (WDK) |
| Specification | learn.microsoft.com |
GPD conversions
Community Q&A
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