How to Install XPS Viewer in Windows 10 and 11

The XPS Viewer Feature on Demand (FOD) component allows you to read, copy, print, sign, and set permissions for XPS documents. This article explains installing the XPS Viewer in Windows 10 and 11.

Installing the “XPS Document Writer” via the classic Windows Features dialog (i.e., OptionalFeatures.exe) doesn’t install the XPS Viewer. They’re two different components.

How to Install the XPS Viewer

The XPS Viewer FOD component can be installed using different methods. Follow one of the options below.

Method 1: Using Settings

1. Open Settings, and click Apps.
2. Click “Optional features.”
   
3. Click “View features.”
   
4. In the “Add an optional feature” dialog, type xps.
   
5. Select the “XPS Viewer” checkbox, and click Next.
6. On the next screen, click Install.
   

The above steps and screenshots are from Windows 11.

On Windows 10, follow the steps below:

1. Open Settings, Apps & Features.
2. Click “Optional features”. If “XPS Viewer” is not already installed, it won’t appear in the “Installed Features” listing.
3. Click “Add a feature.”
4. Type xps
5. Select the “XPS Viewer” checkbox.
6. Click “Install.”

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Method 2: Using DISM

To install the XPS Viewer using DISM, ensure the system is connected to the internet. And then, run the following commands from the admin Command Prompt:

dism /online /remove-capability /capabilityname:XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0

dism /online /add-capability /capabilityname:XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0

The above commands uninstall XPS Viewer and reinstall XPS Viewer by downloading the source files from Windows Update.

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Method 3: Using DISM (using CAB file) offline

Methods 1 and 2 require internet access to download the FOD packages. To install the XPS Viewer or other FOD packages on a computer that’s offline (i.e., with no internet access), you must use the .cab file. The FOD .cab files will be available in the Windows FOD ISO.

The download links for the Language and Optional Features ISOs are below:

Windows 11, version 22H2 Language and Optional Features ISO (Link Source)
22621.1.220506-1250.ni_release_amd64fre_CLIENT_LOF_PACKAGES_OEM.iso

Windows 10, version 2004 (and later) Features on Demand #1 ISO (Link Source)
19041.1.191206-1406.vb_release_amd64fre_FOD-PACKAGES_OEM_PT1_amd64fre_MULTI.iso

Instructions

1. Download the appropriate FOD ISO and mount the ISO. To mount the ISO, right-click on it and click “Mount”. The cab file name for the XPS Viewer is mentioned below:

   XPS Viewer – FOD Info

   Feature name: XPS Viewer
   Capability name: XPS.Viewer~~~~0.0.1.0
   CAB file name: Microsoft-Windows-Xps-Xps-Viewer-Opt-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~.cab

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   Note

   The above CAB file will be present in the root folder of the Windows 10 FOD ISO. Whereas in the Windows 11 FOD ISO, this file is located under the LanguagesAndOptionalFeatures folder.

2. Suppose the FOD ISO’s mounted drive-letter is H:\. To install the XPS Viewer FOD component, run the following command:
   Windows 11

   dism /online /add-package /packagepath:"H:\LanguagesAndOptionalFeatures\Microsoft-Windows-Xps-Xps-Viewer-Opt-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~.cab"

   Windows 10

   dism /online /add-package /packagepath:"H:\Microsoft-Windows-Xps-Xps-Viewer-Opt-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~.cab"

You’ll see the following output:

Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.19041.844

Image Version: 10.0.19045.3086

Processing 1 of 1 - Adding package Microsoft-Windows-Xps-Xps-Viewer-Opt-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.0.19041.1
[==========================100.0%==========================]
The operation completed successfully.

That’s it!