What is the WPS file format?
Files with the .wps extension are documents created with Microsoft Works, a budget-friendly all-in-one office suite Microsoft sold from 1987 until 2009. They may contain formatted text, images, clip art and tables, making them broadly similar to .doc documents.
It is not surprising that .wps and .doc files share many similarities, since Works was Microsoft's consumer-oriented alternative to the full Office suite. Unlike .doc, however, .wps files do not provide some of the more advanced formatting options and do not contain macros. Therefore .wps files are sufficient only to support basic text documents - notes, letters and simple correspondence - everything that does not require complicated formatting or effects.
Despite the differences between the two formats, .wps was eventually replaced as users migrated to Microsoft Word and the .docx format. Microsoft discontinued Works in 2009, ending active development of .wps. Notably, Works 8 and 9 (2004-2007) changed the internal structure: those .wps files are actually stored as Word 97-2003 binary documents internally, beginning with the OLE2 compound-file signature rather than the CHNKWKS chunk markers used by earlier versions.
Opening .wps files today is possible through several applications. LibreOffice Writer reads .wps files on Windows, macOS and Linux. Microsoft Word (older versions) combined with the Microsoft Works 6-9 Converter add-in can also open them. It is also possible to convert Works documents to formats currently used by modern word processors, such as .rtf or .docx, through online tools.
Note: The .wps extension is also used by Kingsoft WPS Writer, a completely separate office suite popular in China. Kingsoft .wps files use a different proprietary format unrelated to Microsoft Works documents - the two should not be confused.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWA .wps is a plain word-processing document with no scripting, so opening one is low-risk; the practical worry is access, not malware - modern Office may simply refuse it, so use LibreOffice. As with any old binary Office format, only open files from trusted senders, and prefer a local converter (LibreOffice) over uploading personal letters/documents to anonymous online converters. If a .wps is actually a Kingsoft WPS Office file, treat it like any other office document.
Format details
in a nutshell- Kingsoft WPS Writer Document - WPS Office (Kingsoft Writer) saved word-processing documents as .wps by default - a separate, modern format unrelated to Microsoft Works.
Programs that open WPS files
Windows3 apps
LibreOffice Writer
Open-source File > Open the .wps - LibreOffice's Microsoft Works import filter reads it; then File > Save As .docx/.odt/.pdf. The most reliable free opener. 
Microsoft Word (older versions / with Works converter)
Paid Word 2010-2016 with the legacy 'Works 6-9 File Converter' can open .wps. Modern Microsoft 365 has dropped Works support - use LibreOffice instead if it errors.
Microsoft Works (the original app)
Paid If you still have Works installed it opens .wps natively - but Works was discontinued in 2009 and is no longer sold; don't rely on it. 
macOS1 app
LibreOffice Writer
Open-source Open the .wps and save it as .docx/.pdf. LibreOffice (and the older NeoOffice) include the Works import filter. 
Linux1 app
LibreOffice Writer
Open-source File > Open the .wps via the libwps import filter, then export to .odt/.docx/.pdf.
CloudConvert / Zamzar (online converter)
Freemium Upload the .wps to convert it to .docx/.pdf in the browser when you can't install software. Avoid for confidential documents. Technical details
deep spec| Developer | Microsoft |
| Parent application | Microsoft Works (word-processor module) |
| MIME type | application/vnd.ms-works |
| File structure - early versions | Proprietary binary chunk format; files typically begin with ASCII markers "CHNKWKS" or "CHNKINK" at offset 0 |
| File structure - Works 8 and 9 | OLE2 Compound Document format, internally identical to Word 97-2003 .doc |
| Magic bytes - Works 8-9 | D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 at offset 0 (standard OLE2 compound-file signature) |
| Magic bytes - early Works | ASCII string "CHNKWKS" at offset 0; no single signature covers all versions |
| Macro support | None - .wps has no macro or VBA scripting layer whatsoever |
| Template format | .wpt (Microsoft Works Word Processor Template) - shares the same chunk-based structure |
| Converter tool | Microsoft Works 6-9 File Converter - free Microsoft add-in for Word that adds native .wps open and save support |
| Supported content types | Formatted text, paragraph styles, inline images, tables, clip art |
| Character encoding | Single-byte Windows ANSI code pages; early Works versions lack native Unicode support |
| Discontinued | 2009, when Microsoft ceased Works development; the .wps format has received no updates since |
| Name collision | Kingsoft WPS Writer (unrelated Chinese office suite) independently uses .wps for a different, newer proprietary format |
| Released | Microsoft Works (1987-2009); .wps was its word-processor document format |
| Specification | learn.microsoft.com |
WPS conversions
Community Q&A
asked by usersNo questions yet - be the first to ask about WPS files.
