Guide
How to open a .msg file without Outlook
A .msg file is an email saved by Outlook. Without Outlook, your computer doesn't know how to open it. Here's how to read it anyway, on any device.
Updated 2 November 2026 · 2 min read
Why a .msg file won't open
.msg is Outlook's own format for a saved email. Windows only opens it when Outlook is installed, and Macs, phones and webmail can't open it at all.
People usually send one by dragging an email out of Outlook and attaching it to a new message. The file holds the whole email: the sender, the date, the message and its attachments.
Option 1: Open it in your browser
- Open the MSG viewer in Edge, Chrome, Safari or Firefox.
- Drop the .msg file into the box, or choose it from your folders.
- Read the email with its pictures and attachments: free for one email up to 2 MB. Bigger emails show a free preview first.
From there you can save the email as a PDF, print it or download its attachments. Nothing needs installing, and the email is opened in your browser, so we never see it.
Option 2: Ask the sender
If it isn't urgent, ask the sender to forward the email itself instead of attaching it, or to save it as a PDF first.
Option 3: Use Outlook on another computer
Outlook for Windows opens .msg files with a double-click. If a colleague has it, they can open the file and forward the email to you.