How To Install WPS Office on Debian 13

7 minutes read

WPS Office stands as one of the most compelling alternatives to Microsoft Office for Linux users, offering exceptional compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats while providing a familiar interface that eases the transition from proprietary office suites. This comprehensive office suite includes Writer for document processing, Presentation for slide creation, and Spreadsheets for data analysis—all optimized for Linux environments including Debian 13.

Debian 13 users seeking a robust office solution will find WPS Office particularly attractive due to its lightweight design, extensive format support, and seamless integration with Linux desktop environments. Unlike many open-source alternatives that struggle with complex Microsoft Office documents, WPS Office maintains formatting integrity and provides advanced features that rival commercial office applications.

This detailed guide covers two primary installation methods for WPS Office on Debian 13: the traditional DEB package installation and the modern Snap package approach. You’ll learn essential pre-installation preparations, step-by-step installation procedures, post-installation configuration, and comprehensive troubleshooting solutions. Whether you’re migrating from Microsoft Office or seeking an upgrade from basic office applications, this tutorial ensures successful WPS Office deployment on your Debian 13 system.

Table of Contents

Prerequisites and System Requirements

Debian 13 System Requirements for WPS Office

Before proceeding with WPS Office installation, verify that your Debian 13 system meets the minimum hardware requirements. WPS Office requires at least 2GB of RAM for optimal performance, though 4GB is recommended for handling large documents and multiple applications simultaneously. The application demands approximately 1.7GB of disk space after complete installation, including all components and language packs.

Your system must run on a 64-bit architecture, as WPS Office no longer supports 32-bit systems. Check your architecture by executing uname -m in the terminal—the output should display “x86_64” for compatible systems. Additionally, ensure your Debian 13 installation is up-to-date with the latest security patches and system updates.

Essential Pre-Installation Preparations

Begin by updating your system packages to prevent potential compatibility issues during installation. Open the terminal and execute the following commands:

sudo apt update -y
sudo apt upgrade -y

Install the wget utility if not already present, as it’s essential for downloading WPS Office packages:

sudo apt install wget curl -y

Verify available disk space using the df -h command, ensuring at least 2GB of free space in your root partition. Check your current user’s administrative privileges by running sudo whoami—the output should display “root” if properly configured.

Create a dedicated downloads directory for organizing installation files:

mkdir -p ~/Downloads/wps-office
cd ~/Downloads/wps-office

Method 1: Installing WPS Office Using DEB Package

Step 1: Downloading the Official DEB Package

Navigate to the official WPS Office Linux download page to obtain the latest DEB package specifically designed for Debian systems. The official website provides multiple package variants, including standard and multilingual versions with extended language support.

Download the latest WPS Office DEB package using wget:

wget https://wdl1.pcfg.cache.wpscdn.com/wpsdl/wpsoffice/download/linux/11723/wps-office_11.1.0.11723.XA_amd64.deb

Alternatively, download the package manually through your web browser and move it to your designated directory. Verify the download integrity by checking the file size—the complete package should be approximately 300-400MB depending on the version.

Step 2: Installing Required Dependencies

WPS Office requires specific system libraries and dependencies for proper functionality. Install essential dependencies before proceeding with the main installation:

sudo apt install libglib2.0-bin libqt5core5a libqt5gui5 libqt5widgets5 -y

For enhanced Microsoft Office compatibility, install additional font packages:

sudo apt install ttf-mscorefonts-installer fonts-liberation -y

These font packages ensure proper rendering of Microsoft Office documents and maintain consistent formatting across different systems. The installation process may prompt you to accept licensing agreements for Microsoft fonts—accept these terms to complete the installation.

Step 3: Installing the DEB Package

Install the WPS Office DEB package using the advanced package tool (APT):

sudo apt install ./wps-office_11.1.0.11723.XA_amd64.deb

The APT package manager automatically resolves dependencies and handles the installation process. Monitor the installation progress through the terminal output, which displays package extraction, configuration, and setup procedures.

If you encounter dependency conflicts, use the dpkg command as an alternative:

sudo dpkg -i wps-office_11.1.0.11723.XA_amd64.deb

Step 4: Resolving Installation Issues

Address any unmet dependencies that may arise during installation:

sudo apt-get install -f

This command forces APT to resolve missing dependencies and complete the installation process. For persistent issues, remove the problematic package and reinstall:

sudo apt remove wps-office
sudo apt autoremove
sudo apt install ./wps-office_11.1.0.11723.XA_amd64.deb

Verify successful installation by checking the package status:

dpkg -l | grep wps-office

Method 2: Installing WPS Office Using Snap

Understanding Snap Packages on Debian 13

Snap packages provide containerized applications with built-in dependencies, offering automatic updates and enhanced security through sandboxing. This installation method eliminates dependency conflicts and ensures consistent behavior across different Linux distributions, including Debian 13.

Snap packages update automatically in the background, reducing maintenance overhead while providing access to the latest WPS Office features and security patches. The containerized nature of Snap applications provides additional security layers, isolating applications from the underlying system.

Step 1: Enabling Snap Support on Debian 13

Install the snapd package manager on your Debian 13 system:

sudo apt install snapd -y

Initialize the snap core system:

sudo snap install core

Restart your system or reload the snap environment to ensure proper functionality:

sudo systemctl restart snapd

Verify snap installation by checking the version:

snap version

Step 2: Installing WPS Office via Snap

Install WPS Office using the snap package manager:

sudo snap install wps-office

For multilingual support with additional language packs:

sudo snap install wps-office-multilang

Monitor the installation progress through the terminal output. Snap installations typically complete faster than DEB packages due to optimized compression and delivery methods.

Step 3: Managing Snap-Installed WPS Office

List installed snap packages to confirm successful installation:

snap list

Update WPS Office to the latest version:

sudo snap refresh wps-office

Configure snap permissions if needed:

snap connections wps-office

Remove the snap installation if necessary:

sudo snap remove wps-office

Post-Installation Configuration and Setup

Initial Launch and License Agreement

Launch WPS Office from your desktop environment’s application menu or execute from the terminal:

wps &

The initial startup presents a license agreement dialog. Review the terms carefully and accept to proceed with the application setup. WPS Office may request permission to collect usage statistics and crash reports—configure these settings according to your privacy preferences.

Configuring WPS Office for Optimal Performance

Access the configuration menu through File → Options in any WPS Office application. Configure the following essential settings:

General Settings:

Set default file save locations
Configure auto-save intervals (recommended: 5-10 minutes)
Enable backup file creation
Set interface language preferences

Performance Optimization:

Enable hardware acceleration if available
Adjust memory usage limits for large documents
Configure multi-threading options for faster processing
Optimize rendering settings for your display

Essential Configuration Settings

Customize the interface to match your workflow preferences:

# Create custom template directory
mkdir -p ~/.config/Kingsoft/wps/templates

Configure font rendering for optimal document display:

Font Configuration:

Access Tools → Options → View
Enable font smoothing and anti-aliasing
Configure fallback fonts for unsupported characters
Set default fonts for new documents

File Association Setup:

Register WPS Office as the default application for Microsoft Office files
Configure automatic format detection
Set export preferences for cross-platform compatibility

Font Installation and Microsoft Compatibility

Install additional Microsoft-compatible fonts for enhanced document rendering:

sudo apt install fonts-liberation2 fonts-dejavu -y

Download and install Microsoft core fonts manually if needed:

wget http://ftp.de.debian.org/debian/pool/contrib/m/msttcorefonts/ttf-mscorefonts-installer_3.8+nmu1_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i ttf-mscorefonts-installer_3.8+nmu1_all.deb

First-Time Usage and Interface Overview

Navigating the WPS Office Interface

WPS Office features a ribbon-based interface similar to Microsoft Office 2013 and later versions, facilitating easy transition for users familiar with modern Microsoft Office applications. The interface includes three primary applications: Writer for document processing, Presentation for slide creation, and Spreadsheets for data analysis.

Access each application through the unified WPS Office launcher or launch them individually:

wps      # Unified launcher
et       # Spreadsheets
wpp      # Presentation
wps      # Writer

Creating Your First Documents

Start new documents using built-in templates or blank documents. WPS Office provides extensive template collections for various document types, including business letters, reports, presentations, and spreadsheet models.

Document Creation Workflow:

Launch the desired WPS Office application
Select “New Document” or choose from template gallery
Configure document settings (page size, orientation, margins)
Begin content creation with familiar formatting tools

Microsoft Office Compatibility Features

WPS Office excels in maintaining compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats, including DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX files. The application preserves complex formatting, embedded objects, and advanced features when opening Microsoft Office documents.

Supported File Formats:

Microsoft Word: DOC, DOCX, DOT, DOTX
Microsoft Excel: XLS, XLSX, XLT, XLTX
Microsoft PowerPoint: PPT, PPTX, POT, POTX
Open Document formats: ODT, ODS, ODP
PDF export and limited editing capabilities

Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues

Dependency-Related Problems

Resolve missing library errors by installing comprehensive development packages:

sudo apt install build-essential libc6-dev libstdc++6 -y

Fix broken package dependencies using the package manager repair functions:

sudo apt --fix-broken install
sudo apt autoremove --purge

For persistent dependency issues, manually install specific libraries:

sudo apt install libqt5core5a libqt5gui5 libqt5widgets5 libqt5printsupport5 -y

Installation Failures and Solutions

Address insufficient disk space by cleaning unnecessary packages:

sudo apt autoclean
sudo apt autoremove

Resolve permission-related installation errors:

sudo chown -R $USER:$USER ~/Downloads/wps-office
chmod +x wps-office_*.deb

Fix corrupted downloads by re-downloading the installation package:

rm wps-office_*.deb
wget https://wdl1.cache.wps.com/wps/download/ep/Linux2023/11698/wps-office_11.1.0.11698_amd64.deb

Launch and Runtime Issues

Resolve application startup failures by checking system logs:

journalctl -xe | grep wps

Fix display and rendering problems by configuring graphics drivers:

sudo apt install mesa-utils
glxinfo | grep "direct rendering"

Address font-related display issues:

sudo fc-cache -fv
fc-list | grep -i microsoft

Advanced Troubleshooting Techniques

Create comprehensive system diagnostics for complex issues:

# Generate system information report
inxi -Fxz > system_info.txt

# Check WPS Office process status
ps aux | grep wps

# Monitor system resources during WPS Office execution
top -p $(pgrep wps)

For complete reinstallation, remove all WPS Office components:

sudo apt remove --purge wps-office
rm -rf ~/.config/Kingsoft
sudo apt autoremove

Performance Optimization and Best Practices

Optimizing WPS Office for Debian 13

Configure system-level optimizations to enhance WPS Office performance:

Memory Management:

Increase swap file size for handling large documents
Configure memory overcommit settings
Monitor RAM usage during intensive operations

# Check current swap configuration
swapon --show

# Add additional swap space if needed
sudo fallocate -l 2G /swapfile
sudo chmod 600 /swapfile
sudo mkswap /swapfile
sudo swapon /swapfile

Hardware Acceleration:
Enable graphics acceleration for improved rendering performance:

# Verify graphics driver installation
lspci -k | grep -A 2 -i "VGA"
glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

Security and Privacy Considerations

Configure WPS Office security settings to protect sensitive documents:

Privacy Configuration:

Disable automatic cloud synchronization for confidential documents
Configure local backup locations
Enable password protection for sensitive files
Review and adjust telemetry data collection settings

Document Security:

Implement access controls for shared documents
Configure digital signature capabilities
Enable document encryption for confidential content
Set up automatic document locking mechanisms

Maintenance and Updates

Establish regular maintenance procedures for optimal WPS Office performance:

DEB Package Updates:

# Check for available updates
apt list --upgradable | grep wps

# Update WPS Office
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade wps-office

Snap Package Updates:

# Update WPS Office snap
sudo snap refresh wps-office

# Check update history
snap changes wps-office

Congratulations! You have successfully installed WPS Office. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the latest version of WPS Office on Debian 13 “Trixie”. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official WPS Office website.

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