How to Add or Remove XPS Viewer App in Windows 11

Microsoft removed XPS Viewer as a default component starting with the Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803). You will need to manually add XPS Viewer as an optional feature during your installation of Windows 11.

But what is Windows XPS Viewer? It’s a built-in Windows tool for viewing and managing XPS files, similar to a PDF reader. XPS files have largely been replaced by PDF files, but IT professionals may require the Windows 11 XPS Viewer for print workflows, legacy applications, and Microsoft’s XPS Document Writer virtual printer.

Below, you can learn the step-by-step process of managing XPS Viewer in Windows 11.

💡 If you learn better by watching, this video’s for you: How to Add or Remove XPS Viewer App in Windows 11

How to add XPS Viewer in Windows 11 (a step-by-step guide)

NOTE: You must be signed in as an Administrator to add XPS Viewer in Windows 11.

Method 1: Using Settings to add XPS Viewer in Windows 11

1. Open Settings using the Windows search bar, then click Apps.
2. Click System > Optional features.
3. Click View features next to “Add an optional feature.”
4. Scroll down and search for XPS Viewer.
5. Check the box next to XPS Viewer, then click Next > Add.
6. After completing the process, restart your computer if necessary

Method 2: Using PowerShell to add XPS Viewer in Windows 11

1. Right-click on the Windows icon or the Start menu.
2. Click Windows Terminal (Admin).
   Now, PowerShell will require a command. What is the command for XPS Viewer?
3. In the PowerShell console, copy and paste or type in the following command:
   DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0
4. Hit Enter, then wait for the process to be completed.
5. Restart your computer if prompted.
6. Open XPS Viewer by clicking the Windows icon or Start menu.
7. Type XPS Viewer in the search bar, then hit Enter once found.

Method 3: Using DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) to add XPS Viewer in Windows 11

1. Click Command Prompt (Admin)
2. Copy and paste or type in the following command:

DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0

3. Hit Enter, then wait for the process to be completed.
4. Restart your computer if prompted.
5. Access XPS Viewer by clicking the Windows icon or Start menu.
6. Type XPS Viewer in the search bar, then hit Enter once found.

How to remove XPS Viewer in Windows 11 (a step-by-step guide)

NOTE: You must be signed as an Administrator to remove XPS Viewer in Windows 11.

Method 1: Using Settings to remove XPS Viewer in Windows 11

1. Open Settings using the Windows search bar, then click System on the left pane.
2. On the right pane, select Optional features.
3. Scroll down and search for XPS Viewer.
4. Select XPS Viewer, then hit the Uninstall button.

Method 2: Using PowerShell to remove XPS Viewer in Windows 11

1. Right-click on the Windows icon or Start menu.
2. Open Powershell as an administrator. Click Windows Powershell (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin).
3. Copy and paste or type the following command: DISM /Online /Remove-Capability /CapabilityName:XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0
4. Hit Enter, then wait for the process to be completed.

Method 3: Using DISM to remove XPS Viewer in Windows 11

1. Right-click on the Windows icon or Start menu.
2. Click Command Prompt (Admin).
3. Copy and paste or type in the following command: DISM /Online /Remove-Capability /CapabilityName:XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0
4. Hit Enter, then wait for the process to be completed.

Checking if XPS Viewer is installed

• Option 1: Open XPS Viewer using Windows search bar.
• Option 2: Using PowerShell or Command Prompt:
  • Right-click the Windows Start menu. Select PowerShell (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
  • Type in the following command: DISM /Online /Get-Capabilities /Format:Table
  • Alternatively, you can enter this code into PowerShell: Get-WindowsCapability -Online | Where-Object {$_.Name -like “*XPS*”}
  • This will display a list of optional features and their status.
  • Find XPS Viewer in the list and check its status:
    • Installed → XPS Viewer is available.
    • Not Present → XPS Viewer is not installed.

Troubleshooting XPS Viewer installation/removal issues

XPS Viewer missing from Optional Features

If XPS Viewer isn’t available as an optional feature, you can install it manually using PowerShell or DISM.

1. Open PowerShell or Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Run the following command:

DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0

XPS Viewer installation fails with error messages

Since XPS Viewer isn’t included by default in newer Windows 11 versions, checking for updates under Windows Update settings will ensure that your system supports XPS Viewer and can install it. You may also confirm if XPS Viewer is installable on your Windows by checking its availability under Optional Features.

XPS files not opening after installation

If XPS files aren’t opening after installing XPS Viewer, you can confirm if it’s installed correctly under Optional Features in settings.

Another solution on how to view XPS documents is by setting XPS Viewer as the default by right-clicking any XPS file, then clicking Open with > Choose another app > XPS Viewer and checking the Always use this app to open .xps files button.

XPS Viewer Uninstall option is greyed out

If the XPS Viewer Uninstall option is greyed out in Settings, Windows could be blocking the action. You may take ownership of that uninstaller file by opening Command Prompt as an Administrator and assign permissions using the command line:

• takeown /f C:\Windows\System32\XPSViewer.exe

This will give file ownership to the current user. To grant full permissions to Administrators, run the following command:

• icacls C:\Windows\System32\XPSViewer.exe /grant administrators:F

After taking full ownership and setting permissions, you may uninstall XPS Viewer via PowerShell or DISM as instructed above.

XPS Viewer not appearing in Windows 11 Optional features

Windows 11 XPS Viewer may not appear in Optional features at all because the device is running Windows 11 in S Mode, which restricts feature installation. You can verify whether S Mode is active or not. Start by navigating to Settings > System > Activation. If S Mode is listed, switch out of it before installing optional features, such as XPS Viewer.

Best practices for managing Windows Optional Features

Only install XPS Viewer when required to avoid unnecessary bloat

Since XPS Viewer is no longer pre-installed in Windows 11, you can simply choose not to install it if your workflow does not require it. Avoiding unnecessary installation can keep your Windows system lightweight and free up system resources for other tasks.

Use Powershell/DISM for quicker XPS Viewer management

For faster management of Windows Optional Features like XPS Viewer, maximize PowerShell or DISM. These commands will ensure a more efficient installation and removal of XPS Viewer.

Consider using third-party PDF viewers

There are many modern third-party PDF viewers that you can use to view and manage XPS files. Exploring these options will remove the need to manually install Windows XPS Viewer, which can result in reduced system load.

Managing Microsoft XPS Viewer in Windows 11

Easily manage XPS Viewer through Settings via Optional Features. If that doesn’t work, PowerShell or DISM offer efficient alternatives by running commands. While XPS Viewer is now optional in Windows 11, some users may still prefer it for XPS-specific features. Before installing, consider whether XPS Viewer is essential for your workflow or if a more versatile solution would better suit your needs.