The EML file format was developed by Microsoft for their own email clients: Outlook and Outlook Express. An e-mail message is stored inside an EML file, preserving its original HTML formatting and its header. Most email clients support this format, but if you don't have an email manager installed on your computer or if you're using a mobile device, there are several ways to still be able to view the contents of an EML file.
Steps
Troubleshooting
Step 1. EML files do not open within Outlook Express (even if the program is correctly installed on the system)
This problem can be caused by having another program set as the default software for managing EML files. To restore normal Outlook Express operation, you need to re-register the file extensions associated with Outlook Express.
- Close the email client if it is open.
- Press the hotkey combination ⊞ Win + R.
- Inside the "Open" field, type the command msimn / reg and press the Enter key. This will re-register the file types that Outlook Express can handle. Now, when double-clicked, the EML files should automatically open in Outlook Express.
Step 2. Check the extension
Some users have reported that backups made with Windows Live Mail change the extension of EML files from *.eml to *._ eml. If the EML file in question doesn't open, check the extension to make sure it's the correct one.
- Please refer to step number 2 of the section on Windows systems to enable the display of extensions of known file types.
- If any of the EML files have the extension *._ eml, rename it by removing the _ symbol.
Method 1 of 4: Windows
Step 1. Open the file with an email client
Basically, EML files are nothing more than email in file format. The easiest way to open them is to use an email client, such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Live Mail, or Thunderbird. The most modern versions of these programs are automatically associated by the operating system with this file format, so to open an EML file, simply select it with a double click of the mouse.
- When you open an EML file within an email client, you are able to download any attachments included in the email message within the file. Likewise you are able to view the original text formatting and images included in the message body.
- If you don't have an email client installed or if you are unable to open the EML file using your own program, read on.
Step 2. Change the file extension to be able to open it in an internet browser
EML files are very similar to the MHTML format, therefore changing their extension to *.mht will allow you to quickly convert them to this format and to be able to view their content using a common browser such as Internet Explorer. Although other web browsers are able to open files in MHTML format, Internet Explorer is the only one that can display them correctly while keeping their formatting unchanged. However, this procedure does not allow you to download any attachments present in the e-mail message.
- Enable the display of file extensions in case they are automatically hidden. If you are using Windows 8, select the "File Name Extensions" checkbox located in the "View" menu tab available in all "File Explorer" windows. In older versions of Windows, you will need to go to the "Control Panel" and select the "Folder Options" icon. Open the "View" tab in the window that appeared, then deselect the check button "Hide extensions for known file types".
- Click on the EML file with the right mouse button, then choose the "Rename" option from the context menu that appeared.
- Delete the current.eml extension and replace it with.mht. Through a message on the screen, the Windows operating system will warn you that the operation could cause problems in the use of the file. Confirm your action by pressing the "Yes" button.
- Open the file using Internet Explorer. It is usually the default program for opening MHT files. To proceed, select the file in question with the right mouse button and choose "Open with" from the context menu that appeared, then click on the "Internet Explorer" option from the list of available programs. A new Internet Explorer window will open, inside which you will find the contents of the MHT file, displayed almost identical to how a mail client displays files in EML format.
Step 3. Download and install the "Free Viewer EML" program
It is a free application available directly on the official website that you find at the following URL:
- Navigate to the folder where the EML file you want to open is stored.
- Double-click the folder. All EML files present inside will be displayed in order. At this point, all you have to do is select the EML messages you want to view.
- In this case, you will also be able to access any file attached to the email viewed.
Step 4. View the file as plain text
If you cannot open the item in question using an email client and you are unable to convert it to be able to view it through Internet Explorer, you can open it as if it were a simple text file. You will see a lot of nonsense characters related to the formatting of the text, but you will still be able to see the body of the message as well as any links present. Using this method, however, you will not be able to view images and attachments.
- Click on the EML file with the right mouse button, then choose the "Open with" option from the context menu that appeared.
- Choose the "Notepad" program from the list of those available.
- Locate the tags and within the appeared text. These are the tags that indicate the beginning of the body of the e-mail message. Within the section delimited by the tags in question, you will find the body of the email. In the case of very long messages, you may need to check a significant amount of HTML code.
- To locate hyperlinks you need to search for the <a href = tag. To access the link in question, copy its URL and paste it into the address bar of your internet browser.
Method 2 of 4: Mac
Step 1. Open EML files using Apple's Mail application
This is the default mail client integrated into OS X systems. This program fully supports the EML file format allowing you to view its contents.
- Click on the EML file in question with the right mouse button, then choose the option "Open with …"
- Choose the "Mail" program from the list that appears. The selected EML file will be opened using the Mail application. You can use this procedure for viewing EML files even if you haven't set up Mail to sync your email accounts.
Step 2. Use Microsoft Entourage or the Mac version of Outlook
If you have the 2008 or 2011 version of Office you have the option of installing one of Microsoft's email clients as well. The Entourage program is included in Office 2008, while the Outlook for Mac version is included in the Office 2011 package. do not include its mail client as well.
At the end of the installation, select the EML file in question with the right mouse button and choose the option "Open with …" from the context menu that appeared. Choose "Entourage" or "Outlook" from the list of available programs
Step 3. Extract the file using the "StuffIt Expander" program
This is a free tool available for OS X systems that you can use to extract the information contained in EML files.
- Download the "StuffIt expander" program from the following URL my.smithmicro.com/stuffit-expander-mac.html or directly from the Mac App Store and then proceed with the installation.
- Drag the EML file icon into the "StuffIt Expander" window. If you wish, you can also process multiple files at the same time by making a multiple selection and dragging all items within the program window.
- Access each of the folders created for each single EML file processed by the program. Inside them will be available the attachments and images of the E-Mail stored in individual files, as well as a text document containing the body of the e-mail.
Step 4. View EML files as plain text
If you don't have an email client installed and you can't install "StuffIt Expander", you can still view an EML file using the "TextEdit" program. In this way you can both read the body of the message and locate all the hyperlinks present. However, you will not be able to view images and have access to attachments.
- Click on the EML file in question with the right mouse button (hold down the Ctrl key while pressing the mouse button) and choose the option "Open with …" from the context menu that appeared.
- Choose the "TextEdit" item from the list of available programs. In order to find the application to select, you may have to browse the list that appears.
- Look at the HTML code to locate the tags. Within this section, you will find the body of the email message, while hyperlinks are identified by the <a href = tag.
Method 3 of 4: iPad
Step 1. Download and install the "Klammer" application
This is an app available directly on the App Store at a cost of € 0.99. This program allows you to open and view the contents of EML files. Currently this is the only method available to be able to view the contents of an EML file without first converting it to another format.
Step 2. Launch the "Mail" application (or any other program containing the EML file you wish to open)
You can use "Klammer" to open an EML file received as an attachment to an e-mail message in your "Dropbox" account, in a different cloud service, or in another file management program.
- If you are using "Mail", you must first select the attachment icon to download it to your device. If you are using "Dropbox" or "Google Drive" instead, you need to save the file locally on the device.
- If the attachment does not download, try forwarding the entire email to yourself to be able to download again.
Step 3. Select the file you just downloaded
You will be prompted to choose which application you want to use to open it.
Step 4. Tap on "Open with Klammer"
The EML file in question will be loaded into the "Klammer" application and you will be able to view its correctly formatted content.
Method 4 of 4: Android
Step 1. Download the "EML Reader FREE" application
Android devices do not natively support the EML file format. The only way to be able to access the content of an EML file from your Android smartphone or tablet is to use this application.
Among the various programs available, the "EML Reader FREE" application is one of the most popular with users, but there are others to choose from if you wish. Simply search the Google Play Store by typing "eml reader"
Step 2. Open an EML file
Depending on your needs, there are several ways to open an EML file.
- If you received an EML file as an attachment to an E-Mail, launch the "Email" or "Gmail" application, then tap the attached EML file icon.
- If you downloaded the EML file from the web, use the "Archive" application to access the "Downloads" folder. Alternatively, use the "EML Reader FREE" program directly to access the folder that contains the file to open.
Step 3. Choose "EML Reader FREE" from the list of available applications
If you try to open an EML file directly, you will be prompted to choose which application to use. The "EML Reader FREE" app should appear in the list of available applications. To associate the EML extension with the "EML Reader FREE" application, press the "Always" button.
Step 4. Read the contents of the EML file
The "EML Reader FREE" application displays the content of the EML file by separating it into the different sections that compose it: sender, recipient, date of sending, subject, message text, HTML and attachments.
- The message text section contains the body of the EML file.
- The "HTML" section displays the message in its original format.
Step 5. To open an attachment, press and hold it
The list of attachments will be displayed at the bottom of the screen. In this section you will find all the images used to create the HTML message, including each of the elements that have been attached.
