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Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about WPS Office; open a topic page for more depth.
Does WPS save in wps or docx by default?
Newer versions of WPS Writer save mostly to Microsoft .docx by default and rarely use the old proprietary .wps format. To be safe, confirm under File > Save As > Save as type that docx/xlsx/pptx is selected, so the file opens cleanly for anyone using Microsoft Office. Only choose .wps if you need WPS-only features, but convert it to docx before sharing.
What if a .wps file saved by WPS will not open in Microsoft Word?
.wps is the old proprietary WPS format, and newer Microsoft Word may not recognize it directly. The most reliable fix is to open the file back in WPS, use File > Save As and choose Microsoft Word file (*.docx), then open that docx in Word. For future exchanges, always save as docx to avoid creating more .wps files.
How do I use functions in WPS Spreadsheets? Are there tutorials?
Functions in WPS Spreadsheets work like any spreadsheet: type = in a cell, followed by the function name and arguments in parentheses, for example =SUM(A1:A10) to add up values. The official WPS Academy has full text and video tutorials, from basic SUM and AVERAGE to advanced lookups. You can also click Insert Function on the Formulas tab in the toolbar for a dialog that guides you through the arguments, which is great for beginners.
How does the VLOOKUP tutorial work in WPS Spreadsheets?
VLOOKUP looks up a value in the first column of a range and returns data from a specified column in the same row: =VLOOKUP(lookup value, data range, column number to return, FALSE). Using FALSE (exact match) at the end is the most common choice, for example =VLOOKUP(A2,$D$2:$F$100,3,FALSE). Press F4 to add $ and lock the data range. The official WPS Academy has a step-by-step illustrated tutorial for reference.
Are functions in WPS Spreadsheets written the same way as in Excel?
Almost all of them are. Common functions in WPS Spreadsheets (SUM, IF, VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH and so on) match Excel in name and syntax, formulas are interchangeable, and an xlsx file usually keeps formulas working when opened on either side. A very few brand-new or obscure functions may not be supported on one side; when that happens, just use an equivalent formula. For everyday work you will barely notice any difference.
How do I convert Simplified Chinese to Traditional Chinese in WPS?
In WPS Writer, select the text to convert (or select nothing to convert the whole document), go to the Review tab in the toolbar and click the Simplified to Traditional button to convert in one step; a Traditional to Simplified option is also available. On mobile, do it under Proofing / Chinese Conversion in the editing toolbar. Give the result a quick check afterward, as a few word choices may need manual tweaking.
How do I repair a WPS file that will not open and shows as damaged?
Try a few things first. (1) If WPS shows a Repair prompt when opening the file, click it to repair and open. (2) Look in the Backup Center / Version History for an older auto-backup in the cloud or on your device. (3) Confirm the file extension is correct (for example, restore a wrongly changed .doc to its real format). (4) Open it again on another device or on mobile to rule out a local issue. If it still will not open, it may have been corrupted in transit, so ask the sender to resend it.
What do I do when WPS says the file format is unsupported and will not open?
First confirm the extension is correct and the file downloaded completely (an incomplete download triggers this error too). For an unusual or very new format, ask the sender to use the source software to save it as a standard docx/xlsx/pptx or PDF and resend it. It also helps to update WPS to the latest version, which supports more formats. If it still fails, open the file in its native application and re-save it to a universal format.
Will WPS have compatibility issues opening old .doc files?
Generally no. WPS has good compatibility with Microsoft legacy .doc (97-2003) files and can usually open and edit them normally. A few very old or heavily formatted documents may show font substitutions or slight layout shifts, so review the file after opening and, if needed, save it as a newer docx before continuing to edit for steadier compatibility.
In Hong Kong, will a company Word document break its formatting when opened in WPS?
In most cases it will not. WPS is highly compatible with .docx, and typical documents open normally. The most likely culprits for layout shifts are company-specific fonts, complex tables or header and footer templates: when the sender system has a font your computer lacks, it is substituted automatically and shifts the layout. Use common fonts the recipient also has, save the finished file as docx, and preview important documents in Word or as PDF before sending.
In Taiwan, can WPS open government ODF files?
WPS supports ODF (.odt/.ods/.odp, the open document format promoted by the government) and can usually open and edit them, though heavily formatted ODF files may occasionally have layout or style differences. If you need to return a file to a government office that requires ODF, remember to choose the matching ODF type under Save As. For important documents, review the layout after opening and keep a PDF copy if needed.
In Singapore, will an xlsx file from a colleague show garbled text when opened in WPS?
Normally it will not. WPS is highly compatible with .xlsx, and formulas, numbers and formatting usually display correctly. Garbled text usually comes from a missing font, or from a CSV file being treated as xlsx, and is not related to xlsx itself. If cell text looks wrong, first confirm your computer has the matching Chinese fonts; if formula results are off, check for a few minor function differences. For everyday collaboration you will hardly notice anything.
In Malaysia, can I edit a PDF quotation directly in WPS?
The free version of WPS can open, read and add basic annotations (highlights, notes); but advanced PDF editing such as changing the actual text inside a PDF or converting it to Word for editing is mostly a paid (Pro/Premium) feature. For a quick few-word change, use the free annotation or form-filling tools; to substantially edit a quotation, upgrade to the paid version or ask the sender for an editable Word/Excel original.
On an Android phone, how do I open an Excel file in WPS without garbled text?
First install the genuine WPS Office from Google Play (the international suite, id cn.wps.moffice_eng), then tap the .xlsx file to open it in WPS; it usually shows no garbled text. If Chinese appears as boxes or garbled characters, it is usually a font issue: confirm the file downloaded completely, use the latest version of WPS, and if needed switch to a font that includes Chinese characters. Garbled CSV is an encoding issue, so open it as UTF-8 instead.
Can the iPad version of WPS edit PPT slides?
Yes. WPS Office has an iOS/iPadOS version. After installing it from the App Store, the four core modules (including slides) are free forever, so you can open and edit .pptx slides, change text, swap layouts and present. Some advanced features or removing ads require payment, but basic editing is free. Sign in to use cloud sync, so you can finish on iPad and pick up on a computer.
How is the compatibility of the Mac version of WPS with Office files?
Compatibility is good. WPS has a macOS version (supporting Apple Silicon M1 to M4 and Intel) that is highly compatible with .docx/.xlsx/.pptx, and most Office files open and edit normally on a Mac. As on other platforms, complex layouts or missing fonts may cause slight shifts, so review the file before finalizing. The four core modules are free on Mac as well.
On mobile, how do I turn photos into a PDF in WPS?
Open the mobile version of WPS, find Picture to PDF or the PDF Tools category in the home toolbar, select one or more photos, adjust the order and export to create a PDF. You can also use the built-in Scan feature to photograph a document and have it auto-cropped and exported as a PDF. The finished PDF is saved on your device or in the cloud, ready to share directly.
Can WPS merge several images into one PDF?
WPS can merge several images into one PDF. Both the desktop and mobile versions have a Picture to PDF feature that lets you select multiple images at once, arrange the order and merge them into a single PDF. On mobile, use Picture to PDF in the toolbar; on desktop, choose to import multiple images under PDF Tools or when creating a new PDF. The free version handles basic merging, while a few advanced PDF tasks may require payment.
Will PPT animation effects disappear when opened in WPS?
Basic animations (entrance, emphasis, transitions) are mostly preserved, as WPS has solid compatibility with .pptx. However, if the slides use very new or unusual animation/transition effects from Microsoft PowerPoint, they may be simplified or not shown when opened in WPS. For slides you will present officially, do a test run in the software you will actually present with; when sharing across software, stick to common basic animations to be safe.
What do I do when fonts turn into boxes after opening a PPT in WPS?
Boxes when opening a PPT in WPS usually mean your computer is missing the fonts the slides use, so the system falls back to boxes or substitute fonts. Fixes: (1) install the fonts the slides use on your computer; (2) ask the creator to embed the fonts in the file before sending; (3) reset the text using common fonts you already have. If you only need to read the content, you can also ask the sender for a PDF, which fixes the fonts so nothing shifts.
