What is the RP file format?
An .rp file is the native project file for Axure RP, a UX design and prototyping application developed by Axure Software Solutions. Internally it is a ZIP archive - renaming the file to .zip and extracting it reveals XML files describing the prototype's pages, widgets, interactions, variables, and styles, along with any embedded image assets.
Axure RP is used by UX designers and product teams to create interactive wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes without writing code. The .rp file is the editable source; to share a prototype with stakeholders, designers publish or export it to HTML5, either via Axure Cloud or as a locally hosted bundle. The .rp file itself is the source, not the deliverable.
The format has evolved across major versions. Axure RP 10 (2021, subscription-based) introduced an updated internal XML schema; files from Axure RP 8 and RP 9 are automatically migrated when opened in RP 10. Widget libraries saved from Axure RP use the .rplib extension but share the same ZIP/XML internal structure.
Because the container is standard ZIP with DEFLATE compression, any archive utility such as 7-Zip or The Unarchiver can extract the raw XML contents for inspection.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWRP files are ZIP/XML data with embedded image assets - no executable code. Embedded images could theoretically be malicious if opened in a vulnerable image renderer, but the practical risk is very low. The main concern is IP: RP files contain confidential design work and should be handled accordingly.
Format details
in a nutshell- RealPage Property Management File - Older RealPage property management software uses .rp for report/data files; unrelated to design.
Programs that open RP files
Windows2 apps
7-Zip
Open-source Rename .rp to .zip, then open with 7-Zip to inspect the raw XML and image assets inside. Not for editing - for inspection only. 
Axure RP 10
Paid File → Open (or double-click the .rp). Axure RP 10 is subscription-based; a 30-day trial is available. Migrates RP 8/9 files automatically. 
macOS2 apps
Axure Cloud
Freemium Publish the prototype from Axure RP (Share → Publish to Axure Cloud); stakeholders view the HTML prototype in a browser without installing Axure. Technical details
deep spec| Container | ZIP archive (standard PK format) |
| Magic bytes | 50 4B 03 04 at offset 0 (ZIP local file header; ASCII 'PK' + control bytes) |
| Internal format | XML files (pages, widgets, interactions, variables, styles) plus binary image asset subfolders |
| Compression | DEFLATE per ZIP entry |
| Encoding | Binary (ZIP container); XML entries encoded in UTF-8 |
| Byte order | Little-endian (ZIP) |
| Integrity | ZIP CRC-32 per entry |
| Encryption | Optional ZIP password protection available in some Axure RP versions |
| Typical size | 100 KB - 50 MB (larger files contain many embedded images) |
| Associated OS | Windows, macOS |
| Export output | Published to HTML5 for stakeholder review; .rp is the source file, not the deliverable |
| Related format | .rplib (Axure widget library; identical ZIP/XML internal structure) |
| Version migration | Axure RP 10 automatically migrates RP 8 and RP 9 files on open; schema updated in RP 10 |
| Collaboration platform | Axure Cloud - hosting and sharing of published HTML5 prototypes |
| Released | circa 2003 (Axure RP 1.0) |
| Latest version | Axure RP 10 (2021+); format supports all current Axure 10 features |
| Specification | www.axure.com |
RP conversions
Community Q&A
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