Outlook .msg Viewer
Open a message that was saved from Outlook, on a computer that does not have Outlook. Read it, save the attachments, or save the whole thing as a standard .eml.
How to open an MSG file without Outlook
- Drop the
.msgfile onto the box above, or click to choose it. - The message opens with its sender, recipients, date and body.
- Download the attachments one by one or as a
.zip, or use “Save message as .eml” to get a copy that any mail program can open.
What an MSG file is
When you drag a message out of Outlook for Windows, or use File > Save As, Outlook writes a .msg file. Inside, it is not text like an ordinary email. It is a small structured-storage container (the same kind old .doc and .xls files use) holding the message as a set of Outlook properties. That is why Mac Mail, Gmail, Thunderbird and phones cannot open one, and why colleagues on other systems keep asking you to resend it.
What it handles
- The body in whichever form Outlook stored it. Many
.msgfiles have no HTML at all, only a compressed rich-text body with the HTML wrapped inside it. The viewer decompresses it and recovers the original HTML, including embedded images. - A message with real rich-text formatting (no HTML inside) is shown as plain text, and the original
.rtfbody can be downloaded. - Attachments, including a message attached to a message. Embedded messages open in place and can be downloaded as
.msgfiles of their own. - Older non-Unicode messages. A Japanese message saved in code page 932 was tested and decodes correctly.
- Saved appointments and contacts open too, but only their title and notes are shown.
Saving an MSG as EML
“Save message as .eml” builds a standard message from what the .msg contains: sender, recipients, subject, date, the plain-text and HTML bodies, inline images and every attachment, byte for byte. The result is a standard MIME message, the format that mail programs such as Thunderbird and Apple Mail read. It is a rebuilt message, not the original as it crossed the internet, so server-added headers such as the delivery trail are not carried over.
Privacy
Saved Outlook messages are usually work mail: contracts, HR letters, customer details. The file is opened by your browser on your device and is never uploaded. Remote images in the message are blocked, so opening it does not notify the sender.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a .msg file on a Mac?
Drop it on this page in any current browser. Apple Mail cannot read Outlook’s .msg format, but the viewer decodes it and shows the message and attachments. You can then save it as .eml, the standard format Apple Mail uses.
Can I convert MSG to EML?
Yes. Open the file and choose “Save message as .eml”. The sender, recipients, subject, date, body, inline images and attachments are written into a standard message file.
Why is the body of my MSG file blank in other viewers?
Outlook often stores the body only as compressed rich text with the HTML wrapped inside. Viewers that look only for a plain HTML or text property show nothing. This viewer decompresses the rich text and recovers the HTML.
Can I extract attachments from an MSG file?
Yes. Each attachment has a download button, and several attachments can be saved together as one .zip file. Messages attached inside the message can be opened or downloaded as well.
Is my Outlook message uploaded?
No. The file is read in your browser and stays on your device. Nothing is sent to a server.