Go to Settings, System, Optional features, View features. Find XPS Viewer in the list and install it.
Where is the xps viewer
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(163.2, 37%, 25%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EM%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Mike
20
Reputation points
Hi Microsoft
I cannot find the .xps viewer on the list of optional features in Windows 11 on my Surface Pro. Other documents will print to a .oxps file but this also will not open.
I have tried a number of conversions of .xps files from the Microsoft store but none have been able to convert these files fully.
The files themselves are from a while ago when banks, credit card companies, etc. used to provide files in .xps format and not .pdf.
I would love to resolve this or at the very least have a conversion of the files to .pdf?
Mike
Windows for home | Windows 11 | Files, folders, and storage
Answer accepted by question author
ppavle
5,200
Reputation points
Volunteer Moderator
-
Mike 20 Reputation points
2026-01-19T12:42:28.9466667+00:00 The xps viewer is not on the list on my machine.?
-
ppavle 5,200 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-01-19T12:46:07.9933333+00:00 Type "XPS" in "search added features". Maybe it has been already installed.
-
ppavle 5,200 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-01-19T12:48:41.5466667+00:00 If it's already installed, go to Settings, Apps, Default apps. Scroll down to Choose defaults by file type and search for XPS. .oxps and .xps extensions should be associated with the XPS Viewer.
-
Mike 20 Reputation points
2026-01-20T09:23:21.68+00:00 Hi ppavle,
There are xps and oxps file extensions shown but the only applications shown for opening are...
Adobe Acrobat
Notepad
Pdf Viewer Plus
Windows Media Legacy
Word
This is the same list for both xps and oxps files.
There is no xps viewer and none of the above will open them.
M
-
Mike 20 Reputation points
2026-01-20T09:29:58.2966667+00:00 Hi
Just to add...
Notepad will open the file, but with no actual recognisable words anywhere.
Word thinks it can open them by repairing the file, but then fails.
M
-
ppavle 5,200 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-01-20T18:26:31.9033333+00:00 Have you checked in Settings, System, Optional features, View features ... search for XPS? Is it installed?
-
Mike 20 Reputation points
2026-01-20T22:37:10.03+00:00 Hi ppavle,
I tried this first thing from the web, nothing there...but on looking closer the screen opens in added features and if you look closer, there is another link at the very top called available features and it is in there. I will load this and then get back to you after testing.
Thanks M
-
Mike 20 Reputation points
2026-01-21T10:57:28.4133333+00:00 Hi ppavle,
This took a long time to load, but is thankfully successful.
Many thanks for your help.
The process was...
Settings
System
Optional features (second from bottom)
View or Edit Optional Features
View Features (blue button)
Do you want this app to make changes to your machine? - yes
View features - there is a list
if it is not in here, which it wasn't then there is a...
"see available features" in small blue just under the title
Click "see available features"
Huge list of features presented - xps Viewer at the bottom.
Tick the white box on the right
This displays a blue box at the bottom with "Add (1)" - click this.
The process starts - it can take a long time (there is a progress bar) but it just comes up pale grey with added - no blue button or anything to say complete.
Test with a file - working correctly - woo, hoo - Thanks
n.b. On checking the web, some options on the list require a restart and actually this is a good idea - I did have two files that failed to open and then opened after a restart.
Otherwise, long winded, but hugely successful.
Thanks
M
Sign in to comment
Answer recommended by moderator
Mike
20
Reputation points
xps Viewer install
This took a long time to load, but is thankfully successful.
Many thanks for your help.
The process was...
Settings
System
Optional features (second from bottom)
View or Edit Optional Features
View Features (blue button)
Do you want this app to make changes to your machine? - yes
View features - there is a list
if it is not in here, which it wasn't then there is a...
"see available features" in small blue just under the title
Click "see available features"
Huge list of features presented - xps Viewer at the bottom.
Tick the white box on the right
This displays a blue box at the bottom with "Add (1)" - click this.
The process starts - it can take a long time (there is a progress bar) but it just comes up pale grey with added - no blue button or anything to say complete.
Test with a file - working correctly - woo, hoo - Thanks
n.b. On checking the web, some options on the list require a restart and actually this is a good idea - I did have two files that failed to open and then opened after a restart.
Otherwise, long winded, but hugely successful.
Thanks
M
1 additional answer
Sort by: Most helpful
-
Deleted
This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Comments have been turned off. Learn more