Open a .XPS file



xps.png
XPS files are formatted documents like PDF files, except open source. Windows Vista includes an XPS reader, so you should be able to view it just by double-clicking the file in Explorer.

Unless you have Firefox installed. Then, Windows Vista will try and open it in Firefox, which will prompt you repeatedly asking how to deal with the file.

To view the XPS file, follow these steps:

  1. Save the XPS file to your computer.
  2. Start Internet Explorer.
  3. Then, press the Alt key on your keyboard, click File, and then click Open.
  4. Click the Browse button, select your file, and then click OK.
  5. Click Open.

Internet Explorer will prompt you to open a new window. Open it up, and you can view the file.

For earlier versions of the Windows operating system, download the Microsoft XPS Document Writer to generate XPS files from any Windows application and an XPS viewer to see the results. You’ll probably need some other components, too, like the .NET Framework 3.0 (who’s using that? :) )

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16 Responses to “Open a .XPS file”

  1. Luca Pattaro says:

    Tou can set IE/ as default program for .xps file, instead of Xps viewer. It works for me

  2. Anju says:

    Thanks a lot …. for this post of opening an .xps extension file in vista

  3. sluggy says:

    The best way to open xps files with firefox is to use the IETab extension for firefox. Install this then configure it to open xps files from tools->ietab options. They then open in an IE tab within firefox without having to switch browser!!

  4. shaq says:

    Sluggy’s suggestion works like a charm. Just add “file://*.xps” to the ietab configuration and you’re done. Thanks sluggy.

  5. William Morris says:

    My good man, Thank you so much for this important, and easy, solution to the Vista operating with Firefox browser conflict when attempting to open an XPS file. Solution, simply switch browser to IE to open file – awesome! This aided me in a big way for an important work deadline – my great thanks to you!

  6. LeiLani says:

    awesome, helped me a lot to opening a XPS file! That firefox was a confusing pattern but now I got it! You help me look at my modeling pictures.

  7. Nick says:

    For XPS Viewer, i use XPS Annotator, this tool is awesome because can annotate, convert, sign and adding document properties to my XPS documents.

  8. William says:

    Didn’t work. I still get a message that asks me what program to use to open the file. Sorry, bad advice.

  9. Donna says:

    Thanks! That was extremely handy. :) I appreciate it.

  10. Dorian says:

    Very helpful, thank you.

  11. Erika says:

    This worked perfectly. Thanks so much for posting!

  12. Samir Mulani says:

    Thanks I a appreciate your suggestion for .XPS document..
    If some one have problem I really recommended you.. Thanks lot..

  13. Steve Kendrick says:

    Many thanks – saved a lot of what I thought was wasted work.

  14. Pero says:

    Cool. IE can something what mozila or Chrome can’t do it.

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