WPS Files Explained | Convert WPS To Doc For Free
What Does The WPS File Extension Mean?
WPS files are text documents similar to Microsoft Word .DOC files, though the WPS format isn’t as sophisticated and lacks advanced formatting options. Documents with the .wps file type are created by Microsoft Works Word Processor (versions 6.0 – 8.0). Microsoft has recently discontinued the WPS file format in favor of the DOC format that Microsoft Word uses.
I’ve heard some versions of MS Word can open a .wps file right away, but in most cases you’ll need to install an extra file converter to do that. I looked around for free converters and found that most of the links didn’t work anymore because Microsoft had moved the converter to a different page. Never fear, I got the right link(s) in the end, displayed below for your enjoyment.
What’s more, I also found a free online WPS converter that could be very useful for Mac or Linux users who can’t install the MS-provided converter, or people who don’t have MS Word.
How To Convert WPS to DOC
If you don’t have access to MS Works, you will need to convert the .wps file to some other format before you can open it. Microsoft provides several free converters and tools for this purpose (MS Windows required) –
- Microsoft Works 6-9 File Converter – Lets you open and edit .wps files in Word.
- Word Viewer 2007 – a standalone application that can open WPS files (not all versions though).
- All MS Works-related downloads – some other utilities.
Fortunately there is a free online converter that can convert a .wps file to a .doc file (or even a PDF file) – Zamzar.com. It works like this – you choose a WPS file from your computer, choose the file format to convert to, enter your email address and receive the converted file within minutes. I’ve already written about Zamzar previously – it’s a very useful free tool that can convert many different file formats.
Random tidbit of info : This is another post in my unofficial file extension-related tutorial series. Check out the related links below for other posts like this (that is if for some reason you enjoy reading about file formats 
Well, somebody could. Maybe.)
Looks similar to Zamzar, but with a few more features and a cleaner design.
I’d say it’s good
but they dont convert WPS
@killar –
I have discovered a way to convert my old wps files to doc files. It is sort of a round about way but works great. I’ve just uploaded the info hoping to help others with the same dilemma.
http://gayleashbach.com/help/convert.html
Good Luck!
but how can one convert a doc file to txt or wps?
Just open the file in Word and go to File -> Save as…, then select “Plain text (*.txt)” or “Works 2000 (*.wps)” from the filetype dropdown.
This probably won’t work with all versions of Office, but it works in the version I have.
@geemarie –
The background texture on your web page makes it absolutely illegible. Please change?
[...] a situation when you have a bunch of weird files and no easy way of opening them. For example, the WPS file type was pretty popular in the past, but nowadays very few people would know how to deal with those [...]
[...] a situation when you have a bunch of weird files and no easy way of opening them. For example, the WPS file format was fairly well known 10 years ago, but nowadays barely anyone would know how to open the [...]
Thanks for your help. Zamzar is WAY EZ to use. Quick and simple!! Again thanks for you help…Technology is wonderful, isn’t it!
I have Open Office .org and Abiword All the documents I had were with
Microsoft Works as that is what came with my PC at the time. Now I have Vista and all has changed. I cannot by Word so now I have all these file
to be changed so I can even open and read them. What can I do? Please help
Hmm, have you tried the Zamzar.com site that I mentioned in the post? Theoretically they have a free online converter that can handle a lot of document formats.
Went to try zamzar.com but it appears to be a virus propagation site.
http://WWW.youconvertit.com is not currently functional
Why do you think zamzar.com propagates viruses? I didn’t notice anything suspicious myself.
Zamzar works fine, you don’t have to download anything except for the file LINKED TO FROM YOUR email INBOX, I’ve used it for a long time (stupid works came preinstalled on Vista Basic, and took three times longer to open .doc). Haven’t even gotten spam that I could isolate to have come from them. Of course, it’s encrusted with adverts (some rather LOUD and annoying), but no ‘wares. If a virus started showing up, you probably downloaded it before you visited.
Alternatively to using works, you might consider Open Office, which is the open-source answer to the Microsoft Suite, with .doc supported Writer, powerpoint editor, poster maker, spreadsheet, formula creator (I haven’t played with that much) and more. It’s released by Sun Technologies (the same guys who brought us Java). http://www.openoffice.org
thank you for the links i’m also using openoffice and wondered why it doesn’t give you the option for WPS files
Thanks, it worked!
Very helpful: thank you. Just received a wps attachment from a contributor to my blog, couldn’t open it (except with BBEdit, which gave me enough to show me it was worth opening) ran a Google search, found you here, went to zamzar, and it was all done and dusted in about two minutes: excellent.
Thanks so much for posting the Zamzar site. Our volunteers have different programs from which we need to share documents. Finally, no photocopy, scanning needed.
This is great! If you’re ever in the Seattle area, late July, come see us.
Thank you so much. You totally saved my life and my sanity. Zamzar rocked.
How do I convert wps to doc w/o microsoft word? I only have Works Word Processor. Help please!
Zamzar did convert .wps files for me but it was in read only mode so I could not edit any of the files. I’ll try the microsoft links you listed above.
Thank you so much for your post. It helped me and your instructions are so clear.
I troied Zamzar but it is not supported on Firefox.
Tried it but after four hours still havnt received the email ?
Check your spam folder and/or try again.
Well it said it converted the file correctly but it did not – the result was the same jibberish that I get when opening the file in Word 2007. This is a WPS file that Works 7 will open OK – maybe the problem is that it contains some MS Wordart? That’s all I can think of – its a devil of a problem to solve.
Just for interest and for the person who mentioned virus and malware above, my McAfee complained about the Zamzar site and said it had been tested and might be associated with what some people would consider malware etc.
You’re probably safe from that hypothetical malware as long as you’re not downloading executables from the website or using everyone’s favourite insecure web browser (IE).
As for the conversion problems, Zamzar webmaster(s) would probably be much better qualified at answering questions like that.
My comment about McAfee applies regardless of the browser being used – McAfee (who are a reasonably reputable organisation) put out the warning and my comment was really just intended to flesh out the earlier comments with a fact or two rather than a nebulous warning which may or may not have been based on fact. White Shadow was asking why the previous poster thought the site might be propagating viruses etc.
Back to Zamzar – I have since discovered that Microsoft have removed MSWordArt and MS Draw components from Works versions 8.5 and later – I think this is probably why people using these versions are having trouble opening their documents – it is also possible that Zamzar are using similar routines and therefore suffer from the same problem – the above routines were removed because they are 16 bit code and Microsoft did not want to update them. the Quickview application from Avantstar is able to diaplay documents using the above components, but it does not appear to have a capability to convert and save the files in another format – the only exception seems to be when printing them when you can use a printing application like CutePDF to ‘print’ a PDF version of the viewed document – its possible this may suffer from some formatting issues though.
@Gil Higham – I have used zamzar.com multiple times with multiple versions of Firefox. Perhaps you have javascript disabled – are you running an extension called “NoScript”, if so enable javascript temporarily when you visit the zamzar site.
To read works files using Open Office, you will need a version that supports this feature, as the standard version now does not. See this link;
http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Documentation/FAQ/Writer/DocumentManagement/How_can_I_open_Microsoft_Works_wordprocessor_files_%28.wps%29%3F