How to Open a PRN File in Windows 10

A PRN file is a print job saved to a file, usually created when someone chose Print to file in the print dialog. It contains printer instructions, not a normal document, so Windows 10 has no app that opens it directly. To use it, either send it to a compatible printer with a Command Prompt command, or convert or view it with a tool that understands its printer language, most often PostScript or PCL. Open the file in Notepad first to see which type it is.

Here’s how to identify your PRN file and the best way to open, print, or convert each type.

Step 1: Find out what kind of PRN file you have

1. Right-click the PRN file and choose Open with > Notepad.
2. Look at the first line or two.

First line looks like	File type	Best way to open it
%!PS-Adobe	PostScript	Convert to PDF with Ghostscript, or rename to .ps and open in a PostScript viewer
@PJL or lots of symbols starting with Esc codes	PCL (common on HP laser printers)	Send to a PCL printer, or convert with a PCL tool
Readable plain text	Generic / Text Only printer output	Read it in Notepad
Mostly unreadable binary	Printer-specific (inkjet or proprietary)	Send to the same printer model it was made for

Don’t save changes in Notepad. Editing a PRN file can corrupt it.

A note on the name: Excel also uses .prn for “Formatted Text (Space delimited)” exports. If your PRN came from Excel, it’s plain text, and you can open it in Excel with File > Open and choose All files.

Method 1: Print the PRN file to a printer

This works when the file was made for your printer or one using the same language.

1. Share the printer: go to Settings > Devices > Printers & scanners, click the printer, choose Manage > Printer properties > Sharing, check Share this printer, and give it a short share name, like OfficeHP.
2. Open Command Prompt and go to the folder with the file, for example cd Downloads.
3. Run copy /b report.prn \\YOURPC\OfficeHP, replacing YOURPC with your computer’s name (see Settings > System > About) and OfficeHP with your share name.

The /b switch sends the file as raw binary, which is important. If the printer prints pages of strange characters, the PRN file was made for a different printer language. Cancel the job in the print queue.

Method 2: Convert a PostScript PRN to PDF

1. Download and install Ghostscript from ghostscript.com.
2. Open Command Prompt in the folder with your file.
3. Run a command like gswin64c -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -o report.pdf report.prn.
4. Open report.pdf in any PDF viewer.

Some free viewers that use Ghostscript, and many online converters, can also open PostScript files if you rename the file from .prn to .ps. Avoid uploading files with private information to online converters.

Method 3: Convert a PCL PRN

PCL files can be converted with GhostPCL, part of the Ghostscript project, using a command like gpcl6win64 -sDEVICE=pdfwrite -o report.pdf report.prn. Some commercial PCL viewers also exist. Results depend on the printer features the file uses.

Make better files next time

Instead of Print to file, choose Microsoft Print to PDF as the printer. You’ll get a PDF that anyone can open. See how to print to PDF on Windows.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open a PRN file in Word?

Not usefully. Word will show printer code, not the original document. The only exception is plain-text PRN files.

Why did my PC create a PRN file?

Either Print to file was checked in the print dialog, or the printer’s port was set to FILE:. Check the printer’s properties > Ports tab if it keeps happening.

Can I recover the original document from a PRN file?

Not as an editable file. You can get a PDF or printout that looks like the original, but not the original Word or Excel file.

Does this work on Windows 11?

Yes. The same steps work, though the printer settings are under Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Printers & scanners.