How to open a ZPL file
A .zpl file is plain text. A text editor such as Notepad, TextEdit, or VS Code shows the ZPL commands, but not the label. To see the label, use the free LabelZoom ZPL viewer. You don’t need a printer or any installed software.
Check the file type
Section titled “Check the file type”Two kinds of files use the .zpl extension:
| File type | How to recognize it | Open it with |
|---|---|---|
| Zebra ZPL label | Plain text that starts with ^XA and ends with ^XZ |
A ZPL viewer |
| Zemax lens design | Unreadable characters and no ^XA |
Zemax OpticStudio |
Shipping platforms and marketplaces also deliver ZPL in .txt files.
View the label
Section titled “View the label”To view the label, follow these steps:
- Open the
.zplor.txtfile in a text editor. - Copy all of the text. The code starts with
^XA. - Paste the text into the ZPL viewer.
- Select your printer’s density. The most common is 8 dpmm (203 dpi); for others, see Printer density.
- Click Quick Preview.
The label appears on screen, and you can download it as a PNG. For a printable document, use ZPL to PDF.