How to Open an MSG File on a Mac (Without Outlook)
A .msg file is a single Outlook message saved as a file. Outlook on Windows creates them when someone drags an email to the desktop or uses File › Save As. Apple Mail reads .eml files, not .msg, so double-clicking one on a Mac usually does nothing useful.
The quickest fix is to open it right here. It works in Safari, Chrome, Firefox and Edge on any Mac.
Step by step
- Find the .msg file in Finder (often in Downloads, or attached to another email you saved).
- Drag it onto the box above, or click Choose file and select it.
- Read the message. Sender, recipients, date and subject are at the top.
- Click Download next to any attachment to save it to your Mac.
- Need to keep or share the email? Click Save as PDF, then use the PDF button at the bottom left of the print window and pick Save as PDF.
Make .msg files open with a double-click
If you get .msg files often, install the viewer as a small app (free, no App Store). This works in Chrome and Edge; Safari doesn't support it yet.
- Open this page in Chrome or Edge.
- Click Install app at the top of the page, or the install icon at the right end of the address bar.
- In Finder, right-click a .msg file › Get Info › Open with › choose OpenWithout › Change All…
From then on, double-clicking a .msg file opens it in the viewer. The app is the same page you see here: files are still read on your Mac and never uploaded.
Move it into Apple Mail
Open the .msg above, then click Save as .eml. Double-click the saved .eml file and it opens in Apple Mail, with its attachments. You can drag it into any mailbox from there.
Other ways, and when they make sense
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| This viewer | A few files, any Mac, no install | One file at a time |
| Outlook on a Windows PC | Double-click opens it in Outlook | Needs Outlook installed on that PC |
| Ask the sender to forward the email normally | Getting a reply thread you can answer | Depends on the sender |
| Online converters that upload the file | Batch conversions | Your email (and its attachments) goes to someone else's server |
Why the file is a .msg in the first place
Outlook stores each saved message in Microsoft's own Outlook Item format, documented in MS-OXMSG. Inside is the message text (as HTML, plain text or compressed RTF), the recipient list and any attachments, all packed into one container file. Other mail apps use the open .eml format instead, so they don't recognise it.
Common questions
Is it safe to open a .msg file? Reading it here is safe: scripts inside the email are blocked and nothing is uploaded. Attachments are a separate matter. Only open attachments you expected, from people you trust.
The email shows boxes or odd characters. Some very old messages use a regional character set. Tell us through the contact page and include which language the email is in.
There's an email attached inside the email. Click Open next to it. Use Back to return.