Which tool do you need?
| If you… | Use |
|---|---|
| You have an Outlook .msg file | Outlook MSG Viewer |
| You have a .eml file from any other mail program | EML Viewer |
| You want every address out of a message body you have copied | Email & URL Extractor |
Once an attachment is saved, open it with the document tools or the data tools, depending on what it is.
Two formats, one job, very different insides
A .msg and a .eml hold the same thing — one email — in completely different
containers. A .msg is a Compound File, the same binary structure Windows Installer uses, which is why it
looks like gibberish in a text editor and needs a real reader. A .eml is plain RFC 5322 text, readable
in principle but wrapped in encoded-words, MIME boundaries and base64 that make it unreadable in practice.
Each tool handles its own format's quirks so the message comes out the same way: header fields, a readable
body, and attachments saved at full size.
Both tools show the body as text rather than rendering it. A saved email is real correspondence, and rendering a stranger's HTML is how tracking pixels load and spoofed links get clicked — so nothing in the message runs.
Not sure which format you have, or which to keep? The guide EML vs MSG: what is the difference covers how to tell them apart and which program produces which.
Every email files tool
- Outlook MSG Viewer — Open a .msg file without Outlook. Read the sender, recipients, date and body, and save every attachment.
- EML Viewer — Open a .eml email without a mail client. Decoded headers, readable body, and every attachment saved at full size.
- vCard (VCF) Viewer — Open a .vcf contact file. Read every contact with emails, phones and photos, then export the whole lot to CSV.
- Calendar (ICS) Viewer — Open a .ics calendar file. Read every event with its date, time, location and guests, then export the lot to CSV.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between .msg and .eml?
A .msg is one message in Outlook's binary Compound File container. A .eml is one message as plain RFC 5322 text, written by almost every other mail program. Same content, different containers — which is why each has its own tool.
Can I open these without Outlook or a mail account?
Yes, that is the point. Both tools read the file in your browser, so a .msg opens on a Mac, a Chromebook or a phone that has no Outlook and no mail account set up.
Are the messages uploaded?
No. The file is read and parsed on your device. A saved email is somebody's actual correspondence, so nothing about it is transmitted.