What is a WPS file?
Explore how to open and convert legacy WPS files for everyday use in current software applications.
A WPS file is an obsolete extension from early versions of word processing software. The WPS acronym stands for Writer, Presentation, Spreadsheets. The .WPS file extension is still used in niche applications and can be opened by most document editing software. Let’s better understand exactly “What is a WPS file?” and how to open or edit one.
What is the format of a WPS file?
The Microsoft Works software suite, for which .WPS files are the native file format, was an early form of Microsoft’s popular Office Suite used today.
Microsoft Office launched in 2006, replacing Works as the default software for Windows operating systems. With the arrival of Office, the various creation tools were broken up into individual software programs, like Excel and PowerPoint, each with its file format. Microsoft Word became the industry-standard file type for text documents with its .DOC and .DOCX extensions commonly seen today.
As .WPS files are the precursor to Word files, you may still find them used in legacy projects. Much of the Office suite can still open WPS files, though some of the original document’s formatting may be lost.
How do I open a WPS file?
WPS file types can be opened using most word processing software, even though Microsoft Works software has been discontinued.
Double-click the file to open it in your default word-processing application. If your software prompts you to select a file type upon opening the document, select Works. Alternatively, right-click on the file > Open with > Microsoft Word (or your default word processing software.)
How do I change a WPS file to Word?
When you open the .WPS file in Microsoft Word, click File > Save As, and the software will walk you through saving your file in various formats, including .DOC or .DOCX.
If you encounter difficulty changing the file format, use an online file converter to convert your file to .DOC or .DOCX. Once you’re finished editing, convert to PDF to ensure your file is ready to share and present.
How do I open a WPS file in Open Office?
You can open a WPS file in Open Office (or LibreOffice) the same way as opening the file in any word processing software. You can also save the file in a different format by clicking File > Save As.
What should I use instead of a WPS file?
The correct file type in any situation largely depends on the use of the file (by whom and in what context) and what it contains. Since WPS files used to be a universal format for documents, presentations, and spreadsheets, the file may contain text, images, tables, or other media types that don’t neatly translate into a simple conversion from .WPS to .DOCX.
Use these best practices for deciding which file formats to use for your .WPS content.
Presentations
For presentations or image-heavy documents, you can use presentation creation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Apple Keynote, Google Slides, or Adobe Express to lay out content, add transitions, and otherwise design your presentation.
Spreadsheets
Dedicated spreadsheet applications, such as Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers, or Google Sheets, can be used for text-heavy tables and complex spreadsheets.
Documents
For files that primarily contain text or a combination of long-form text and images, you can use word processing software like Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, or Google Docs.
Maximum flexibility and portability
When in doubt, save content as a PDF to make it accessible to the most people. Saving content as a PDF file will allow anyone with a PDF reader to view the content. Since PDF readers are built into most internet browsers and operating systems, PDF files are accessible for easy document access and long-term compatibility across users, browsers, and operating systems.
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