The Portable Document Format, commonly known as PDF, is widely used to share documents because it preserves the layout, formatting, and fonts.
Although PDF is popular, many users prefer the lesser-known XPS format (XML Paper Specification) for various reasons.
Although earlier versions of the Windows operating system offered and enabled the XPS printer by default (just like Microsoft Print to PDF), the XPS printer driver is not enabled by default in Windows 11. So, how do we save a document as an XPS file on a Windows 11 computer?
Luckily, although the XPS printer is not enabled by default, it can be added as an additional feature. On a Windows 11 PC, the XPS printer can be installed/enabled by enabling the built-in Microsoft XPS Document Writer feature.
Complete the directions below to install the Microsoft XPS Document Writer, which is essentially the XPS printer driver for Windows 11 PCs.
NOTE: Note that installing XPS Document Writer adds only the XPS printer (just like the PDF printer) and does not automatically install the XPS Viewer software. If you need the XPS Viewer as well, you need to install the XPS Viewer app separately by following our how to install the XPS Viewer in Windows 11 guide to install it as an optional feature.
Install Microsoft XPS printer driver in Windows 11
Step 1: Use the search to open the Control Panel.
Step 2: Once the Control Panel window is launched, click Programs.
Step 3: Here, click the Turn Windows features on or off link to open the Windows Features dialog.
Step 4: Scroll down the features list to see the Microsoft XPS Document Writer entry. As said earlier, the XPS Document Writer installs the XPS printer driver. Select the checkbox next to it and then click the OK button.
Step 5: Windows 11 will now start installing the XPS Document Writer/Printer, and should not take more than a minute to finish installing it.
Step 6: Once XPS Writer/Printer is installed, you will see the following screen with the “Windows completed the requested changes” message.
Step 7: The Microsoft XPS Writer entry should now appear in the printer list when you open the Print dialog from any app. Select the XPS Writer entry from the printer drop-down menu, click the Print button, select a location to save the XPS file, and then click the Save button to save it as a XPS file.
If the XPS Writer option does not show up even after installing, please reboot your PC once and try if the XPS Writer is available in any other apps.
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