Free .MSG file viewer
Open any Outlook .msg file without Outlook — on Mac, Windows, or Linux — and read the message, recipients, and attachments.
- 100% in your browser — never uploaded
- No Outlook required
- Free, no signup
No .msg file handy? Outlook creates them when you drag a message to a folder or your desktop, or use File → Save As inside an open message.
How it works
Your email never leaves your device
01
Drop the file
Drag in any .msg file — saved from Outlook with drag-and-drop or File → Save As, or received from a colleague.
02
Decoded in your browser
JavaScript unpacks Outlook's binary OLE/CFB container locally. No upload, no server, no copy of your email anywhere.
03
Read everything
The rendered message, the plain-text version, downloadable attachments — and a one-click export to the open .eml format.
What's a .msg file?
A .msg file is a single Outlook message stored in Microsoft's proprietary OLE/CFB compound-file format — a binary container that only Outlook (and tools that speak its MAPI property format) can normally read. That's why double-clicking one on a Mac gets you nowhere. The open, portable equivalent is the .eml format, which nearly every mail client understands. Read more: What is a .EML file?
FAQ
What is a .msg file?
A .msg file is a single email (or contact, task, or appointment) saved by Microsoft Outlook for Windows. Unlike open email formats, it's a proprietary binary container — an OLE/CFB "compound file" that stores the message's MAPI properties, bodies, and attachments in an internal mini-filesystem. You get one when you drag a message out of Outlook to your desktop, or use File → Save As inside a message.
How do I open a .msg file without Outlook — including on a Mac?
Drop it on this page. The viewer decodes the .msg container in your browser and shows the message, its recipients, and its attachments — no Outlook, no install, no signup. That makes it the easiest way to open a .msg file on macOS or Linux, since Apple Mail and most other clients can't read the format at all.
Is my email uploaded when I open it here?
No. The file is parsed by JavaScript running locally in your browser and never touches our servers. You can load this page, go offline, and the viewer still works.
What's the difference between .msg and .eml?
.eml is the internet's standard email format (RFC 822/5322) — plain MIME text that virtually every mail client can open. .msg is Outlook's proprietary binary export of the same message. If you want a portable, future-proof copy of an email, .eml is the format to keep. Read the full guide: What is a .EML file?
How do I get attachments out of a .msg file?
Open the file above and every attachment is listed with its name, type, and size, each with a download button. The files are decoded straight from the .msg in your browser — nothing is uploaded anywhere.
Can I convert a .msg file to .eml?
Yes — after opening a file here, click "Download as .eml" to save it in the standard format. To convert several files at once (with a .zip download), use the batch converter: MSG to EML converter
Got standard .eml files instead? Open them in our free EML viewer, or turn a whole batch of Outlook files into .eml with the MSG to EML converter. Saving messages one by one because you're trying to keep your mail safe? There are better ways — see how to back up Outlook emails.