May 31, 2018 - By the time Microsoft unveiled the XPS format in Windows Vista, PDFs had already been around for more than a. Click on the Install button.
Okay, hands up: Who really knows what an XPS file is?
For the uninitiated, it’s Microsoft’s answer to the PDF file format. Sad thing is, it never took off. By the time Microsoft unveiled the XPS format in Windows Vista, PDFs had already been around for more than a decade and everyone was already using them.
However, the XPS format lived on. Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 all shipped with a dedicated XPS viewer called, umm, XPS Viewer.
Alas, all good things must come to an end. In the April 2018 Update (Build 1803) for Windows 10, Microsoft officially retired the XPS format and removed XPS Viewer. But what if you still use the format? Well, you’re in luck. We’re going to show you how to re-enable XPS Viewer on your system without using any dangerous hacks.
How to Unlock XPS Viewer on Windows 10
To unlock XPS Viewer after the April 2018 Update, follow the step-by-step instructions below:
Open the Settings app (accessible via the Start menu).
Select Apps.
In the menu on the left-hand side of the screen, choose Apps and Features.
Scroll down to Apps and Features > Manage optional features.
Click on Manage optional features.
Select Add a feature.
Scroll all the way to the bottom of the list and select XPS Viewer.
Click on the Install button.
Theoretically, that’s it. However, you might need to restart your machine for the app to become fully active. You will find the app in the Start menu or by using the search function. And if you change your mind about the app, don’t worry: it’s easy to remove XPS Viewer again.
If these instructions don’t interest you and you’ve decided to leave XPS files behind forever, make sure you read our guide to the best PDF readers for WindowsThe 6 Best PDF Readers for Windows in 2019The 6 Best PDF Readers for Windows in 2019The best PDF readers don't cost any money. Read our roundup of feature-rich PDF viewers that out perform even Adobe Reader.Read More.
Explore more about: Windows Tips, XPS.
Windows 10 version 1803 'April 2018 Update' is available for stable branch users. The XPS Viewer is no longer installed by default if you install Windows 10 1803 from scratch (clean install). Here is how to install it manually.
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The XPS viewer is an application designed to view XPS documents. It was bundled with Windows starting with Vista. XPS documents are files saved to the XML Paper Specification (.xps file format). In Windows 10 version 1709 'Fall Creators Update' and earlier versions, XPS Viewer is installed by default. After updating to Windows 10 version 1803 via Windows Update, the app remains available. You will still have XPS Viewer, so no action is required.
Microsoft has changed the way you get XPS Viewer in case of a clean install. On a device with Windows 10 version 1803 pre-installed, and after installing Windows 10 1803 from scratch (clean install), XPS Viewer won't be available. To use it, you need to install it manually.
To install XPS Viewer in Windows 10 version 1803, do the following.
Open the Settings app.
Go to Apps > Apps & features.
On the right, click on the link Manage optional features.
Click on the button Add a feature at the top of the next page.
Find the optional feature named XPS Viewer in the list under Add a feature.
Select it and click on the Install button.
You are done. You now have XPS Viewer installed. You can open any xps document stored on your PC or by entering xpsrchvw.exe in the Run dialog (Win + R).
Alternatively, you can get XPS Viewer installed with DISM
Install XPS Viewer in Windows 10 using DISM
Open an elevated command prompt.
Copy-paste or type the following command: dism /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0
After installing the feature, you can close the command prompt.
Uninstall XPS Viewer
To uninstall XPS Viewer, you can use either Settings or the DISM app.
Go to Settings - Apps & features - Manage optional features. Select XPS Viewer in the list of features and click on Uninstall.
Alternatively, open the command prompt as Administrator and type dism /Online /Remove-Capability /CapabilityName:XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0
This will remove XPS Viewer from Windows 10.
That's it.
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