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Convert MSG to EML

Turn Outlook-only .msg files into standard .eml emails that almost every mail app can open, with attachments and formatting kept.

Drop an .eml, .msg, or .mbox file here, or use Open a file above.

Free for one file · Batch convert folders with InboxVue Pro · Nothing is uploaded

MSG files, unlocked for every mail app

Outlook for Windows saves emails as .msg files, a Microsoft-specific binary format. They're common in legal files, HR records, shared drives and email attachments forwarded between offices. Outside Outlook they're awkward. Apple Mail can't open them, Thunderbird can't import them without extra tools, and the new Outlook for Windows only opens them with a qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription.

EML is the standard, plain-text format defined by the internet email specifications. Converting MSG to EML makes the message portable. InboxVue does it locally, so the email stays on your device.

How the conversion works

An MSG file stores an email as a set of Outlook properties rather than as a normal email. InboxVue reads those properties and rebuilds a standards-compliant message:

Troubleshooting

The EML opens in a text editor. Your computer has no default mail app set for .eml files. On a Mac, select the file, choose File → Get Info, pick Mail under Open with and press Change All. On Windows, right-click, choose Open with and pick your mail app.

The message was encrypted. Encrypted or rights-protected Outlook messages can only be decrypted by Outlook with the right account. The EML will contain the encrypted content and a note.

A calendar invite converted strangely. Meeting requests are converted to an email with an .ics attachment, which calendar apps can import.

Names look garbled in an old message. Set the right encoding under ⋯ → Text encoding before exporting.

MSG to EML options compared

Method Needs Outlook Batch Keeps attachments Uploads file
InboxVue No Yes (paid) Yes No
Forwarding from Outlook as an attachment Yes No Yes Sends through your mail server
Upload converter sites No Some Usually Yes
Desktop converter software No Yes Yes No, but needs install

To read the email without converting, use the MSG viewer. For documents, use MSG to PDF. Mac users can find every option in how to open a MSG file on Mac, and Windows users without Outlook in open MSG files without Outlook. Already have EML files? Open them in the EML viewer.

FAQ

Why convert MSG to EML?
MSG is a Microsoft Outlook format that most other apps can't read. EML is the internet standard for a single email, so it opens in Apple Mail, Thunderbird, many Windows mail apps and email tools, and it's easier to archive or import.
Are attachments and formatting kept?
Yes. The HTML body, inline images and every attachment are written into the EML as standard MIME parts. Embedded Outlook emails become attached messages that other mail apps can open.
Are the original email headers kept?
When the MSG contains the transport headers Outlook recorded on receipt, InboxVue writes them back into the EML, so the received chain is preserved. Messages that were never sent, such as drafts, have no transport headers to keep.
Can I convert a whole folder of MSG files?
Yes, with InboxVue Pro. Drop the folder, select all the messages and choose ZIP of EML. Each output file is named with the date, sender and subject so they stay in order.
Does it work on a Mac?
Yes. Converting to EML is one of the easiest ways to get Outlook emails into Apple Mail. Convert here, then double-click the EML files or drag them into a mailbox in Mail.