How to open, view and edit an .MSG file
Depending on your line of work, you might spend large parts of your week sending and receiving emails. With an average of 120 emails landing in our inboxes a day, how often have you stopped to wonder how email works so efficiently?
If you use Microsoft Outlook, the file type .MSG has a large role to play. Here, we explain what the format is - and how to utilise it.
What is a .MSG file?
While the actual text of emails you send and receive forms a big part of Outlook as a system, Microsoft also uses .MSG as a format to save extra information too. This can include:
- Messages
- Appointments
- Meetings
- Contacts
- Tasks
The main function of any and all .MSG files is to help share information among users of Microsoft Outlook. Programmes that use MAPI, (Microsoft’s Messaging Applications Programming Interface) also support MSG.
What does .MSG stand for?
.MSG is an abbreviation of the word ‘Message’. This can be confusing when you use .MSG files to share tasks and contact details too - but all of these things are covered under the MSG banner.
Manage your documents effectively
By using Adobe's collection of free online tools.
History of the .MSG file.
.MSG files first appeared with the introduction of Microsoft Office 2003. While later versions of Office were introduced, the MSG file has remained integral to the Outlook system ever since.
.MSG is now the default for everyone using Outlook and, more specifically, can be found when messages are forwarded as attachments or saved to a computer. Since its introduction, Microsoft have released over 10 different versions of the .MSG file.
Prior to Outlook 2003, this email software used the file type .PST (or Personal Store) to save information.
What are .MSG files used for?
.MSG files have a range of uses within the Microsoft Outlook system. While their primary function is to send information between users, the types of information they send varies.
- Email - most likely your main reason for using Microsoft Outlook, the .MSG file of an email allows you to share several email fields at once. These include, the date, recipient and sender, as well as the subject and message plus any attachments.
- Appointments and Meetings - these MSG files will share the details of a meeting or appointment, including time, location and, if desired, the message itself.
- Contact - these .MSG files are used to send across the details of your chosen contact. This includes the full name, email address and phone number.
- Task - if you’re sending an .MSG file that contains task info, you’ll be sending the essential dates of the task, the message and the priority level.
Discover more document files and types of text file, today.
Pros and cons of .MSG files.
Like any technology, there are pros and cons to consider with the .MSG file format.
Pros.
- Multiple uses.
.MSG files are multipurpose. They’re just as capable of sharing the location of a meeting as they are for sending a PDF via email. Their versatility means busy workers or members of the public don’t need to worry about sending the right file type and can update, inform and invite, all at the click of a button. - Small file size.
When compared to similar file types such as .EML, .MSG is a relatively small file type. If you receive a large number of emails a day, anything large would quickly fill up your hard drive. With .MSG you don’t have to worry about file types taking up too much space.
Cons.
- Not supported on older versions of Microsoft Outlook.
While users of pre-2003 Outlook may be rare, they still wouldn’t be able to open an .MSG file. If you’re contacting someone using an older version of Outlook, you may be forced to find another way to arrange meetings or share files. - Supported only by Outlook.
Similarly to. MSG’s lack of pre-2003 compatibility, the file type can’t be used by other programmes. .MSG files sometimes contain Outlook specific data that can’t be opened anywhere else. This is more limited in comparison to file types such as .EML, which can be opened universally by almost any email programme.
How to open a .MSG file.
Opening an .MSG file is incredibly easy if you have Microsoft Outlook install. If so, you can simply double click the file and it should open. If Outlook isn’t the default application for .MSG files, the following should fix that.
- Right click the .MSG file you want to open and find ‘Open with…’.
- Find the Microsoft Outlook in the list of apps.
- Select Outlook and select ‘OK’.
How to create a .MSG file.
Creating an .MSG file is as simple as dragging an item in Microsoft Outlook to an open folder or onto your desktop. From there, Outlook will save the email, task, appointment or contact as an .MSG at your chosen location. Your filename will be taken from the subject line of your item - though you can choose to amend this.
You can also save your chosen item in Outlook by heading to ‘File’, followed by ‘Save As’ and choosing your preferred file location.
How to convert an .MSG file to a .PDF.
Converting a .MSG file to a PDF is very simple.
- Adobe’s online PDF converter tool is easy to use and is compatible with many types of text-based file. Simply drag and drop or upload from your computer.
- Alternatively, right-click your .MSG file to open it and then choose ‘File’ followed by ‘save as’ - choosing the option to save it as an HTML document. You can then re-save the HTML file as a Word document (DOCX) - and use Adobe’s free online Word to PDF converter.
Learn more about similar files.
These are a great way to save large numbers of emails, without losing any important data.
Simple plain text files are incredibly common. Find out more about their uses and how to get the most from them.
Housing the basic information of many webpages, HTMLs are an essential part of the Internet’s building blocks. Discover more about this influential file format.
Released as part of 2007’s Microsoft Office update, learn more about Word’s iconic standard.
Looking to edit, convert or share your DOCX?
Adobe Acrobat Online has all the tools you need to do more with your documents.
.MSG FAQs.
What programme will open a .MSG file?
Microsoft Outlook is the primary programme designed to open .MSG files. However, there are a number of third-party applications that can also recognise and open .MSG files. You can find these by searching for them online.
How do I open a .MSG file in Chrome?
If you want to open a .MSG file in your Google Chrome browser, then you’ll need to change it to .HTML first. To do this, go to File, Save As and select your chosen file path. Before you press save, select the HTML format. Your email file should then be able to open in Chrome.
Can Gmail open .MSG files?
Unfortunately, Gmail can’t open .MSG files. There’s no obvious or easy way to directly import your .MSG files either. As MSG files are designed to work specifically with Microsoft Outlook, you may have to find a file converter that can convert .MSG files to a Gmail compatible file type.
How do I import a .MSG file into Outlook?
.MSG files open automatically in Outlook and won’t need to be imported in. You should find that if you already own Microsoft Outlook, .MSG files will naturally open in the programme without any trouble.
How do I open a .MSG File in Outlook for Mac?
If you own Outlook on a Mac, you may have noticed that the app doesn’t automatically open .MSG files. However, the web version of Outlook does let you open them. To get your .MSG files onto Outlook.com, simply email the files as an attachment to your Outlook account and open the attachments online.