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.)
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Thanks for help with wps files. It work.
No luck with the works to windows converter. Would love another converter that would work. I’m not comfortable w/ sending in a file either. Am surprised so many people are. Wow. Sort of like a scary drink the zamzar koolaid it won’t kill you cult. Thanks though.
I used the first link above for the “Microsoft Works 6-9 File Converter” — we are running Windows XP with service pack 3 — and at first I thought it didn’t work because I got the same error message that I had to choose the program when I tried to open the .WPS file. Anyway, when I selected MS Word from the program list, the converter ran automatically, and I was able to access the text from the old file.
Thank you so much, this was fast, free, and it worked the first time!
Grace
Thank you sooo much for posting how to convert!! I went to open the file in every computer in our office with no luck…. It was starting to stress me out ;)…
I have about 150 short wps files that I need to convert. Is there a batch converter I can use or am I going to have to open each one and save it as a text file?
Yeahhhh! 🙂
thank you for the lead bro – good peeps like you make the good in the world go round! much obliged!
Thank you. Anything truly free is always appreciated. The fact that the conversion is limited to one specific document at a time and is not a utility notwithstanding. Microsoft does offer a free real utility for file conversion but simply for something suddenly needed in a bind this is very thoughtful. even if it serves as sort of an introductory advertisement to Zamzar’s real services, which. naturally, costs money. How unlike all of those FREE DOWNLOADS that promise to analyze your system for inefficiencies or spyware only to be a come-on to purchase a license to get the real results!
I AM DEVASTATED BY THE wps. FILE EWXTENSION.
I SEND WPS.FILES TO OTHERS AND THEY CAN NOT BE READ. i CAN NOT EVEN READ MY OWN PREVIOUS doc. FORMATS. I HAVE DOWNLOADED ALL SORTS BUT, AS YET, I DO NOT HAVE AN AUTOMATIC CONVERTER THAT WORKS.
MICROSOFT HAVE ABANDONNED THOSE WHO WERE SOLD COMPUTERS WITH AN UP TO DATE WORD PROGRAM, EVEN THEY HAVE ABANDONNED wps. AND ALLOWED PAST CUSTOMERS TO FLOUNDER………… KLAUS
This has real helped me so much.
Zamzar.com. is an excellent free tool. I thought it would take hours to e-mail me, it took less than a minute and opened correctly right away. Much quicker than trying to download add on to the word program. Cheers for the link, v. useful.
Thanks for the help but still didn’t work. I downloaded the MS converter and expected to see something in programs saying “converter” and saw nothing. Tried to open in Word 2003 and could not after downloading converter. Tried Zamzar, got a file back in email but was still unreadable. WHY should this be so difficult????
Brian
Have you found a way to convert the WPS file that you receive on your Android Phone attached to an e-mail so you can open the attatchment? Thanks for all your other info and help. If anyone knows how to do this please advise. Thanks.
Les
thank u very much dude for helping me out with the wps an doc stuffs…..keep rocking 😉
Thank you so much for posting this information! It was very helpful and I really appreciate it!
This is yet another example Microsoft’s failure to supply users with what is obviously required. Any operating system suitable for the modern computing environment should include conversion software for all file types and appropriate anti-virus software. It is disgraceful that, having gone through many upgrades to Windows, Microsoft has failed to do this. This is particularly so when it applies to their own file types, (.wps). I only wish that I could get away from all MS software. An Apple computer is the expensive alternative. Can we look to Google to supply an alternative operating system that has the features users so obviously need?
Did not work. Clicked to install. Installation program downloaded. Clicked installation program, which said was installed. Found folder Microsoft Works. NO execution file. NO program file. Only application extention files. This was a waste of time.
Thanks anyway.
I should know by now, not to get involved in this.
trying to open wps files>have only open office ( windows xp) is there any hope?
Try Ubuntu for an alternative to Windows. You can keep windows on your computer and boot to either one. It will even partition your hard drive for both operating systems. Linux based so a trusted option.
MAC – Windows and office are totally out!!!! Just try to convert wps to word or something else microsoft shit! My God – its absolutely stupid!!!!