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PDF to XPS Converter

Switch PDF to XPS fixed-layout format — free online

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Fixed Layout Preserved

Both PDF and XPS are fixed-layout formats. Conversion maintains exact page appearance — fonts, graphics, and positioning stay intact.

Secure Processing

Source PDFs are removed immediately after conversion. XPS output files are automatically deleted within 24 hours.

Cross-Platform Access

Start the conversion from any device with a browser — Windows, macOS, Linux, or mobile. No local software required.

How to convert PDF to XPS

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose xps or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your xps file right afterwards

About formats

PDF (Portable Document Format) was developed by Adobe Systems, co-founded by John Warnock and Charles Geschke, with the first version released on June 15, 1993. Built on a simplified PostScript imaging model, PDF encapsulates complete document descriptions — text with fonts, vector graphics, raster images, and interactive elements — in a self-contained file that renders identically across every platform, device, and printer. The format evolved through multiple versions, culminating in its adoption as international standard ISO 32000-1 in 2008 (PDF 1.7) and ISO 32000-2 in 2017 (PDF 2.0), ensuring long-term vendor independence. PDF supports an extraordinary range of capabilities: digital signatures, form fields, annotations, bookmarks, accessibility tags, encryption, JavaScript, multimedia embedding, 3D content, and archival-specific profiles (PDF/A). One advantage is absolute visual fidelity — a PDF document looks exactly the same whether opened on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, or Android, printed on any printer, or viewed decades after creation. Universal software support is another core strength: PDF viewers are built into every major operating system and web browser, and the format is read by hundreds of applications worldwide. Specialized ISO profiles like PDF/A (archival), PDF/X (print production), and PDF/UA (accessibility) extend the format's reach into regulated industries. PDF has become the global standard for document exchange in business, government, legal, academic, and publishing contexts.
Developer: Adobe Systems
Initial release: June 15, 1993
XPS (XML Paper Specification) is a fixed-layout document format developed by Microsoft, first released with Windows Vista and .NET Framework 3.0 in November 2006. Conceived as Microsoft's alternative to Adobe's PDF, XPS uses XML-based page description markup within a ZIP-based Open Packaging Conventions container. Each page is described as a FixedPage element containing paths (vector shapes with fill and stroke), glyphs (text positioned at precise coordinates), images, and canvas groupings — all specified with exact coordinates for pixel-precise rendering. The format embeds all required resources: fonts are subset and included, images are stored within the package, and the complete rendering specification travels with the document. Windows includes the XPS Document Writer as a virtual printer, allowing any application to generate XPS output through the standard print dialog. One advantage is exact visual fidelity — XPS documents render identically on any compliant viewer because every element is positioned absolutely, with no interpretation variance. Native Windows integration is another strength: XPS viewing, creation, and printing are built into Windows without additional software, and the .NET Framework provides APIs for programmatic XPS generation. While XPS did not achieve the ubiquity of PDF as a universal document format, it remains used in Windows printing infrastructure, enterprise document workflows, and scenarios where the Windows platform provides native end-to-end support.
Developer: Microsoft
Initial release: November 2006

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert PDF to XPS?

XPS is natively supported in Windows and integrates well with Microsoft workflows — handy when your environment is Windows-centric.

How do I open XPS files?

XPS Viewer is built into Windows. On other platforms, use third-party viewers like Okular on Linux or online XPS viewers.

Does XPS preserve the PDF layout?

XPS is a fixed-layout format like PDF, so page structure, fonts, and visual elements are retained faithfully during conversion.

Can I print directly from XPS?

Yes — XPS files are designed for high-fidelity printing and render identically to the original layout on any printer.

Is this conversion free?

Convertio provides free PDF to XPS conversion for everyday use. Premium options are available for higher volumes.

PDF to XPS Quality Rating

4.4 (2,501 votes)
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