How to Open an EML File (With or Without Outlook)
An .eml file holds one saved email message. Inside is the sender, the subject, the date, the body text and any attachments, all in a single file.
An .eml file is a single saved email. If you have a mail program such as Outlook, Windows Mail or Thunderbird, double-click it. If you have none, copy the file and change the copy’s ending to .txt to read the message.
Which fix you need depends on one thing: whether a mail program is already installed.
If one is, you are basically done already.
If not, the next two sections cover a free program and a no-install shortcut.
If you already have a mail program
Outlook, Windows Mail, Thunderbird and Apple Mail all open .eml files on their own. Double-click the file, and it opens straight into that program, showing the message exactly as it was sent.
- Find the .eml file. It might be a downloaded attachment or a file someone shared with you directly.
- Double-click it. Your default mail program opens the message automatically.
- Read it as normal, attachments and images included.
If double-clicking opens the wrong program, right-click the file and choose Open With instead. You can pick any other mail program installed on your computer from that list.
If you do not have a mail program yet
Two options solve this, and which one fits depends on how much you need to do with the file.
Get a free mail program
Thunderbird is free and opens .eml files properly, including any attachments.
Download it from thunderbird.net.
It runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. Once it is installed, an .eml file opens the same way it would in Outlook.
This is the better choice if you expect more .eml files later, or if you need to save an attachment back out to your computer.
Read it right now, with nothing installed
A quick text-based trick works when you only need the words. Make a copy of the .eml file first, then follow these steps on the copy, not the original.
- Copy the .eml file. Right-click it, choose Copy, then Paste to make a duplicate in the same folder.
- Check that Windows is showing file extensions. They are hidden by default, so use this guide to show file extensions in Windows before renaming anything.
- Rename the copy’s ending from .eml to .txt, confirming the change if Windows asks.
- Open the renamed copy in Notepad (TextEdit on a Mac). The headers and the message text appear as plain text.
Choose this path to read one message quickly, not to manage email long-term.
Attachments will look like scrambled text, and that is normal. They are encoded inside the file, so this method only shows the words, not the files themselves.
Always work on the copy.
The original .eml still opens normally in a mail program later, once you are done.
Webmail is the common disappointment
Gmail and Outlook.com cannot simply open a .eml file sitting on your desktop. These are webmail services, not desktop programs, so double-clicking does nothing there.
This trips up more people than any other step in opening an .eml file.
You need either a desktop mail program, or that service’s own import feature.
Some webmail services let you upload or import a saved message.
Check that service’s own help pages for the exact steps, since they change from time to time.
Where .eml files come from
Most .eml files show up in one of two ways. Somebody forwarded a message to you as an attachment, or somebody exported it deliberately, often to keep a record or to use as evidence.
An .eml can contain exactly what a normal email contains, attachments included. If you do not recognize the sender, treat the file with the same caution as a suspicious email in your inbox.
Treat unknown senders with caution. Opening an .eml from someone you do not recognize can load remote tracking images. Any attachments inside carry the same risk as normal email attachments.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the most common .eml questions.
What program opens an .eml file?
Outlook, Windows Mail, Thunderbird and Apple Mail all open .eml files by default. Double-clicking the file is usually enough.
How do I open an .eml file without Outlook?
Two options work well: install Thunderbird, or use the rename-to-txt trick. Both are covered in detail above.
Can I open an .eml file in Gmail?
Not directly. Gmail cannot open a .eml file you saved to your computer, so you need a desktop mail program or Gmail’s own import feature.
How do I get the attachments out of an .eml file?
Open the file in a mail program such as Thunderbird, then save the attachments normally. The rename-to-txt trick will not give you usable attachments, only scrambled text.
Is it safe to open an .eml file?
Yes, from a sender you trust; be more careful with anyone else. Treat an unfamiliar .eml exactly like a suspicious email you were not expecting.
