Do you have a WPS file on your computer and don’t know how to open it? A quick Google search will show you that the WPS file extension belongs to the software Microsoft Works, which was discontinued many years ago.
However, there are still quite a few people who use Microsoft Works, and you can still purchase it from Amazon.com! It is actually the # 1 bestseller in the spreadsheet category on Amazon, beating Excel 2013! So yes, you might get a WPS file from someone in the distant future.
Besides MS Works, a WPS file can also be a Kingsoft Writer document. I would suggest you try opening your WPS file, assuming it’s an MS Works file, and if that doesn’t work, you can try using the Kingsoft Writer software that is free.
So how do we open a WPS file? Depends. Obviously, you’re reading this because you don’t have Works installed on your system, so unless you buy the program from Amazon, we’ll need another way to open it.
Open WPS with Word
If you have Office installed on your system, opening the WPS file is quite simple. The first thing you need to do is install software from Microsoft that will help Word convert the file to DOC or DOCX format.
If you try to open a WPS file in Word without installing the converters first, it will most likely not work. However, some versions of Word will prompt you to download converters. There are two converters anyway, but you don’t have to install both.
Works 6-9 File Converter – http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/ details.aspx? id = 12
First download 6-9, install it, then open Word and go to File – Open. In the Open dialog box, be sure to select All Files from the Save as type drop-down list.
If Word cannot open the file, it might be a Works file from an even older version of Works, such as version 4.
Works 4, 4.5 File Converter – http://www.microsoft.com/ en-us / download / details.aspx? id = 7264
Download and install Converter 4, 4.5, try opening the file and it should work if in fact it’s a MS Works file. If you still can’t open it or you don’t have Office installed, continue reading below.
Open WPS with Word Viewer
If you don’t have Office installed, you can try Microsoft’s free Word Viewer. In addition to being able to open Word documents, it allows you to open Works 6 and Works 7 files.
In particular, it does not mention old versions of Works or newer versions such as 8.0 or 9.0. If that doesn’t work, you can also try installing the Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack and see if that allows you to open the WPS file.
The compatibility pack includes the new Office formats and can open WPS files created in version 8 or 9.
Other programs
In addition to Word and Word Viewer, there are a couple of other programs that can open WPS files. Here I have broken them down by operating system:
Windows – Microsoft Publisher, LibreOffice, OpenOffice Writer and NCH Doxillion Mac – LibreOffice, OpenOffice Writer, NeoOffice Linux – LibreOffice, OpenOffice Writer, OxygenOffice Pro
If you are using Mac or Linux, you can still open WPS files using the programs mentioned above.
Convert WPS files
Finally, you can try converting the WPS file using third party tools, but you’re in luck. Since it is a proprietary Microsoft format, Microsoft tools are best, but if nothing has worked for you so far, you can always try.
One of the tools I wrote about earlier is ZamZar, an online service that lets you convert between hundreds of different formats. Sometimes the results are excellent and sometimes not, but a lot depends on the format and complexity of the document.
If you absolutely need to open a WPS file and are not getting a properly formatted document using any of the above methods, I suggest you purchase Works from Amazon and open the file in its own program. They have versions 4.5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 that you can purchase. I would suggest using 9 just in case.
If you have any problems opening the WPS file, feel free to leave comments and I will try to help. Enjoy!
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