XPS File

What are XPS files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an XPS file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your XPS files.

What is an XPS file?

XPS files have multiple uses, and XML Page Specification Document is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

XML Page Specification Document

Files that contain the .xps file extension are used for document files that have been written in the XPS page specification format.

Microsoft developed the XML Page Specification language, and it was intended to replace the EMF file format. XPS files are similar to PDF files.

An XPS file is created in Windows when a user selects the "Microsoft XPS Document Writer" option when printing a document that they have created.

How to open XPS files

Important: Different programs may use files with the XPS file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your XPS file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested ten different XPS openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: August 14, 2026

All known file formats using extension .XPS

While XML Page Specification Document is a popular type of XPS-file, we know of 3 different uses of the .XPS file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

MonkeyJam Exposure Sheet

We know that one XPS format is MonkeyJam Exposure Sheet. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Waves Preset

A Waves Preset (.XPS) file is a text-based file used by the Waves Audio plugins to store all the settings of a plugin at a certain moment - a snapshot of knob positions, values, routing, fader levels, and other user-adjustable controls. It is used when you want to save and later recall how a plugin was configured, such as effects chains in mixing or processing your audio. The plugin software writes these files; users load them back into the same Waves plugin when needed.

These files come in two types: factory presets, which Waves installs and users cannot overwrite, and user presets, which users create, delete, modify, and organize into folders. Plugins save and load .XPS presets via Waves' WaveSystem toolbar or preset menu. The user preset files live on disk (for example in a "Plug-In Settings" folder) and can be shared, imported, or dragged onto a plugin to apply their saved values.

Internally the .XPS format is XML-based. It begins with a signature such as "<PresetXMLTree version="2">". Entries contain tags like <PresetHeader> (with PluginName, PluginVersion, ReadOnly), <Preset name="...">, <Parameters type="...">, and may reference other files (for example .WIR files for impulse responses). The file includes keywords such as GENERICTYPE, REALWORLD, PRESETDATA SETUP, and strings like PRESET NAME. These tags and strings allow both identification and parsing of the settings stored in the .XPS file.

XPS opener for Windows

We have identified one XPS opener that is compatible with this specific type of XPS file.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of XPS files. Remember, different programs may use XPS files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about XPS file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.