SOYATOOLS / GUIDES
How to open Microsoft Works .wps and .wks files
An old .wps file may be a Works word-processing document. A .wks file may be a Works or Lotus-style spreadsheet. The extension alone does not identify every file, so check where it came from.
Start with the right file type
Works .wps documents and .wks spreadsheets need different importers. Do not assume that a file named .wps was created by Microsoft Works, or that an app called WPS Office necessarily supports your old Works file. Renaming it to .docx or .xlsx does not convert it.
Option 1: ask for a modern copy
If the owner still has compatible software that opens the original, ask for a Word-compatible document, an Excel-compatible spreadsheet or a PDF. Review important dates, numbers and formatting after export.
Option 2: try LibreOffice locally
LibreOffice's official format guide lists Works .wps for Writer and Lotus .wks for Calc. Try opening a copy with the appropriate module; support varies by the underlying version. The guide does not promise all Works spreadsheet versions.
- Choose File → Open in Writer for a document, or Calc for a spreadsheet.
- Check the imported content.
- Use Save As to create .docx or .xlsx, or export as PDF. See the official Office-format saving instructions.
Option 3: use WPD File Viewer
Our WPD File Viewer also opens Works .wps documents and Works/Lotus-style .wks spreadsheets on Windows, with free viewing and text copying. Pro adds .docx export for documents, .xlsx export for spreadsheets, PDF export, batch Word/PDF conversion, PNG export and printing. No document upload is required.
Test samples include Works DOS 2.0 through Works 6.0, Works 2000 and Works/Lotus-style .wks files. This is a tested sample range, not a guarantee for every file. Some older Works documents may contain extra text after conversion. Complex tables, footnotes and picture positions may differ; editing and password-protected files are not supported.
Option 4: an online converter
Check that a service supports the specific Works document or spreadsheet format, then read its data-handling terms. Conversion requires an upload. Use a local method for documents you are not allowed to share.
Can Word or Excel open it directly?
Check the file types offered by your installed version rather than assuming it supports old Works formats. If it cannot read the file, convert a copy with a compatible local importer first. You do not need an unofficial legacy converter download for the methods above.
After converting
For spreadsheets, compare values, formulas, totals and dates with a reliable original. For documents, compare page breaks, tables and images. A file opening successfully does not prove that its contents are unchanged.
For WordPerfect documents, see how to open a WPD file.