Mac users get .msg files all the time: an Outlook user forwards an email as an attachment, a lawyer sends over exhibits, an employer shares a folder of messages. macOS doesn't know what to do with them. Apple Mail won't open them, Quick Look shows a blank icon, and for years even Outlook for Mac couldn't help. Here are the four methods that work in 2026, from quickest to most involved.
Why MSG files don't open on a Mac
MSG is the format Outlook for Windows uses to save a single email, meeting request or contact. It isn't a normal email file. It's a binary Microsoft "compound file" holding Outlook's internal properties, often with the text stored as compressed rich text. Apple's apps only understand standard internet email (EML) and Apple Mail's own EMLX, so they can't read it.
Method 1: open the MSG in your browser (no install)
The quickest way is a browser-based MSG viewer. It runs in Safari, Chrome or Firefox and reads the file on your Mac, so nothing is uploaded.
You'll see the header block (From, To, Cc, Sent, Subject), the formatted body, the list of attachments with previews for images and PDFs, and any emails embedded inside the message. Meeting requests show the date, time and location with a button to download an .ics file for Calendar.
This is the best option when you just need to read a message or save its attachments. It also works on Macs with Apple silicon and Intel processors, and on any version of macOS that runs a current browser.
Method 2: Outlook for Mac, version 16.108 or later
If you already have Microsoft Outlook for Mac, check its version. Microsoft added the ability to open and import .msg files in version 16.108, released in April 2026. Older versions can't.
- Open Outlook and choose Outlook → About Outlook to see the version.
- If it's older than 16.108, choose Help → Check for Updates and install the update with Microsoft AutoUpdate.
- In Finder, Control-click the .msg file, choose Open With, then Microsoft Outlook.
To make Outlook the default for .msg files, select one in Finder, press Command-I, choose Microsoft Outlook under Open with, and click Change All.
Outlook for Mac needs a Microsoft 365 subscription or an Office licence, so this method suits people who already use it.
Method 3: convert to EML and open in Apple Mail
If you want the message in Apple Mail, for example to keep it with related mail, convert it to the standard EML format first:
- Open the MSG to EML converter and drop the .msg file.
- Choose Export → EML. The file is saved to Downloads.
- Double-click the .eml file. It opens in Apple Mail.
- To file it in a mailbox, drag the open message, or the .eml file, into a mailbox in Mail's sidebar.
If double-clicking opens a different app, select the .eml file, choose File → Get Info, set Open with to Mail and click Change All.
For a folder of MSG files, select them all in the viewer and export a ZIP of EML files (InboxVue Pro), then drag the extracted EML files into a mailbox in Mail.
Method 4: convert to PDF
When you need to keep or forward the email as a document, for a client file, an insurance claim or a court bundle, convert it with MSG to PDF. The PDF includes the header block, the body and an attachments list, and opens in Preview on any Mac. With InboxVue Pro, the attachments can be embedded in the PDF as well.
Other options
Mac App Store apps. Several third-party MSG viewers are sold in the Mac App Store. They work offline, but most charge a fee, and quality varies with complex messages. Check recent reviews before buying.
Ask the sender. An Outlook user can forward the message normally instead of attaching it, or save it as EML or PDF. In new Outlook for Windows, they can use More actions → Save as → Save as EML.
Use a Windows computer. Classic Outlook for Windows opens MSG files, and so does new Outlook with a qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription. See open a MSG file without Outlook for the Windows side.
Comparing the methods
| Method | Cost | Install | Keeps formatting | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browser MSG viewer | Free | None | Yes | Reading and saving attachments |
| Outlook for Mac 16.108+ | Microsoft 365 or Office | Outlook | Yes | People who already use Outlook |
| Convert to EML for Apple Mail | Free for one file | None | Yes | Keeping the message in Mail |
| Convert to PDF | Free for one file | None | Yes | Sharing and records |
| App Store viewer | Usually paid | Yes | Varies | Frequent offline use |
Troubleshooting on macOS
"The application can't be opened" or the file opens in TextEdit. macOS has no app registered for .msg. Use a viewer, or set Outlook 16.108+ as the default as described above.
The attachment is called winmail.dat, not .msg. That's a different Outlook container, sent when the sender uses Rich Text Format. Use the winmail.dat opener to extract the real files.
The body is blank. The message may be encrypted with S/MIME or protected by Microsoft Purview rights management. Only Outlook signed in with the intended recipient's account can open those.
Text looks garbled in old messages. Older MSG files are tied to a Windows code page. Use ⋯ → Text encoding in the viewer to choose the right one, such as Windows-1252 for Western European languages.
You have a whole Outlook archive. A .pst file is a full Outlook mailbox, not a single message. PST support in InboxVue is coming soon. If you have an MBOX archive instead, use the MBOX viewer for Mac.
Summary
For a one-off message, open it in the browser. If you use Outlook for Mac, update to 16.108 or later and it'll open MSG files directly. To keep the email in Apple Mail, convert it to EML first, and when you need a document, convert it to PDF.