EML Tools

Open an MSG file online

This online MSG viewer reads Outlook .msg files like a normal email, with formatting, inline images and attachments. No Outlook needed, on Windows, Mac or your phone.

Runs in your browser. Your files never leave your device.

How to use it

  1. Choose your .msg file or drag it onto the box.
  2. Read the message. Outlook's formatting and inline images are kept; remote images stay blocked until you load them.
  3. Download attachments, or save the email as a PDF or as an .eml file for other mail apps.

What is a .msg file?

A .msg file is a single Outlook item saved to disk. Classic Outlook for Windows creates one when you drag an email out to a folder or use File > Save As. Inside is Microsoft's binary Compound File format, which stores the message as a set of Outlook properties: sender, recipients, subject, body and each attachment.

Because the format belongs to Outlook, most other mail apps can't open it. Apple Mail, Thunderbird and phone mail apps usually treat it as an unknown file. This MSG file viewer reads the format directly in your browser instead.

EML vs MSG: what's the difference?

Both hold one email. EML is the internet standard: plain text with the headers at the top and attachments encoded below, so almost any mail app, and even a text editor, can open it. MSG is Outlook's own binary format, and it also stores Outlook extras such as flags, categories and the rich text version of the body.

To share an Outlook email with someone who doesn't use Outlook, open the .msg file here and press “Save as .eml”. The attachments go into the .eml file too.

FAQ

Is my .msg file uploaded?

No. The file is read by JavaScript in this page and never sent to a server. That matters for .msg files, which usually come out of work mailboxes.

How do I open a .msg file without Outlook?

Drop it on the box above. The viewer reads Outlook's format itself, so it works on a PC without Office, on a Mac and on a phone.

Do I need to install an MSG reader?

No. The viewer runs in your browser, so there's nothing to download, and it's free with no sign-up.

How do I open a .msg file on a Mac?

Open this page in Safari or Chrome and drop the file on the box. Apple Mail can't read .msg files, but you don't need Outlook to view one here.

Can I convert MSG to PDF or EML?

Yes. After opening the file, “Save as PDF” prints the message to a PDF, and “Save as .eml” writes a standard email file with the attachments included. To convert many files at once, use MSG to PDF or MSG to EML.

Why does the email look slightly different from Outlook?

Outlook often stores the message as rich text wrapped around the original HTML. The viewer unwraps it and shows the HTML, so fonts and spacing can differ a little from Outlook's own rendering.

Can it open meeting invites or contacts saved as .msg?

It shows their subject, text and attachments. Fields only Outlook understands, such as meeting times or a contact's phone numbers, aren't laid out the way Outlook shows them.

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