Open an Outlook .msg file without Outlook
Someone forwarded an email as a .msg file, and your computer has no idea what it is. Here is how to read it, keep it and get the attachments out.
Why .msg files are awkward
A .msg file is an email saved by Microsoft Outlook on Windows, in Outlook's own format. Apple Mail, Gmail, phones and Chromebooks can't open it, and Outlook for Mac often can't either.
Emails often hold contracts, invoices and personal details, so pasting them into an online converter is risky. Think CONVERT reads them inside your browser instead.
When you might need this
- Forwarded as an attachmentA colleague dragged an email out of Outlook and sent it to you.
- Evidence and recordsKeep an email as a web page or Word document for a file, a claim or a complaint.
- Moving to another email appTurn .msg files into .eml so Apple Mail or Thunderbird can open them.
Key benefits
- The whole messageSender, recipients, date, the formatted message and its pictures.
- Attachments outSave the files attached to the email, one by one or as a ZIP.
- PrivateThe email never leaves your device.
How to open a .msg file
- Open Convert email files here and choose your .msg file.
- Choose Web page to read it with its pictures, Word to edit it, EML for another email app, or Attachments.
- Press Convert. The email shows on screen; save it to keep it.
Tips
- Need a PDF? Save it as a web page, then print it to PDF from your browser or use Think PAGES.
- A .eml file opens in Apple Mail and Thunderbird with a double-click.
- Outlook data files (.pst) are whole mailboxes and are too big for a browser. Drag the emails you need out of Outlook to save them as .msg first.
Questions
Is this safe for confidential emails?
Yes. The file is read by code running in your browser and is never uploaded.
Some messages look plain.
Outlook sometimes saves messages as rich text (RTF) rather than HTML. Those are converted to simple formatting: the words, paragraphs and lists are all kept.
Can it open emails inside emails?
An email attached to another one is saved as its own .msg file in Attachments; open that here too.
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