Guide
How to open an .eml file
An .eml file is a single email saved as a file, by Gmail, Thunderbird and many other apps. Here's how to open one on any device.
Updated 2 November 2026 · 2 min read
What an .eml file is
It's the standard format for an email: the sender, recipients, date and subject, the message with its pictures, and every attachment, in one file.
Open it in your browser, on any device
- Open the EML viewer.
- Drop the .eml file into the box, or choose it.
- Read it with its pictures and attachments: free for one email up to 2 MB.
It works the same on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android, and the email is opened in your browser, so we never see it.
In a mail app
- Mac: double-click the file to open it in Apple Mail.
- Windows: Outlook and Thunderbird open .eml files. Double-click the file, or right-click it and choose Open with.
- Phone: the easiest way is your browser, as above.
Save it as a PDF
To keep it or share it, turn it into a PDF with its attachments in the EML to PDF converter.
Got an .eml file?
Open an .eml file