How to Open EML File in Outlook (Even If You’re a Beginner)

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  • Updated on October 15th, 2025

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Are you looking for an effective solution to open EML file in Outlook? If you are one of them, then you have landed on the right page. In this tutorial, you will learn different methods for the same using the free manual and the automated approach. To continue reading this post, and know the detailed procedure of both.

EML is an acronym for ‘Email Message.’ It is developed by the company Microsoft Corporation. By default, EML files can be opened in Outlook Express (which was included with Windows XP OS). The EML file format follows a specific structure; it contains a header and the message body. When dealing with email standards, EML files are often used with several other applications, servers, and ISP email clients such as Apple Mail and Thunderbird.

However, these files can be opened in Outlook by default if you’ve installed Outlook 2010 or later versions on your machine. If you are unable to open them, you can make them open in Outlook by updating the settings so that your programs will see mails from EML extensions as their own. Therefore, if you’re using Outlook 2003 or 2007 instead, you will have to change the registry settings to make EML files open in Outlook.

Related Post: Open EML File on Mac OS

Reasons to Open EML File with Outlook

If you use any other Program to Open EML Files, the contents of the file may not load correctly. EML files are generally easier to open in Outlook and email programs that have been specifically made to work with .eml files.

There are several reasons to open an EML file with Outlook. For example, you may receive an email with an EML file attached to it. If you want to view the file, you must open it with Microsoft Outlook. Another reason might be that you are a Microsoft Outlook user, and you need to open an EML file so you can edit it. In this case, you will need to download Microsoft Outlook EML File Viewer.

If you are unsure of how to open an EML file with Outlook, there is a guide online that can help. Opening an EML file with Outlook is as easy as opening any other type of file!

Simple Techniques to Open EML File With Outlook

Several techniques are used to open EML files in the Outlook application. In this section, we have discussed some of the techniques that are reliable for this. For this, you need to follow the step-by-step process in a proper sequence.

Method 1: Set Outlook as your Default Program

  • Firstly, move to the drive that contains the EML files.
  • Now, right-click on the files and select Open With from the menu.
  • After that, choose Outlook as an option for opening EML files in Outlook.

Method 2: Launch Windows Live Mail and MS Outlook

  • Firstly, open the Windows Live Mail and Outlook application simultaneously.
  • Now, navigate to the File menu in Windows Live Mail.
  • After that, click on the Export Email tab and choose the Email messages option.
  • Choose the Microsoft Exchange as the export option and press the Next button. Then, you will see a dialog box pop up. Click Ok.
  • In the next step, you can either migrate all folders at once or some specific folders only.
  • Here you will be prompt with a successful message. Now, hit the Finish button.
  • In the end, open Outlook and view your emails.

Method 3: Drag & drop EML Files into MS Outlook Directly

This is without a doubt, the most convenient and simple way to export EML files to Outlook. As long as you have access to the EML files, you can drag and drop them onto Outlook.

Method 4: Best Technique to Open EML Files in Outlook

If you’ve ever received EML files and couldn’t open them directly in Outlook, you’re not alone. EML files are used by many email clients like Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird, and Outlook Express, but Outlook doesn’t open them by default.

Cigati EML File Viewer is a free and secure solution that lets you open, read, and preview EML files without needing any email client. The tool provides a simple way to view emails, attachments, and metadata, making it ideal for users who need to access or analyze old EML files before importing them to Outlook.

Steps to Open EML Files in MS Outlook

  • Download and install the Cigati EML File Viewer tool on your system.
  • Launch the software and click on Add File(s) or Add Folder to load your EML files.
  • The tool will scan and display all EML emails with attachments in the preview pane.
  • You can now open, read, and analyze any EML file.
  • Click on the Save As or Export button from the navigation panel.
  • From the list of saving formats, select PST (Outlook Data File).
  • Click the Convert button to begin the process.
  • Once completed, the tool will generate a PST file that can be directly imported into Microsoft Outlook.

Take Away

On the whole, we can conclude this by saying that EML files are the most popular file format that’s used to store emails, contacts, calendar entries, and other items from Microsoft Outlook. Therefore, in the above post, we have discussed both the manual and the professional approach to open EML file in Outlook. The manual approach is lengthy and complex. Thus, we recommend you opt for the professional approach that gives error-free results. Hope this article will help you! Thank You for reading this post!

You May Also Read: Extract Attachments from EML Files

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can Outlook open .eml files natively?

Ans: Yes. in the “New Outlook for Windows,” you can double-click, right-click → Open with → Outlook (new), or drag & drop .eml / .msg / .oft files into the reading pane to open them.

Q: Can I open .eml files in older Outlook (2010, 2013, 2016)?

Ans: Yes. You can drag & drop .eml files into Outlook folders, or use intermediate apps like Windows Live Mail to import .eml into Outlook.

Q: How do I set Outlook as the default program for opening .eml files?

Ans: In Windows File Explorer, right-click the .eml file → “Open with” → “Choose another app” → pick Outlook and check “Always use this app for .eml files.

Q: Why doesn’t the new Outlook (for Windows) open my .eml file?

Ans: It might not be set as the default handler for .eml, or the feature may be disabled in your build. Also, older “classic” Outlook support may be required temporarily.

About The Author:

Rohit Singh is a technology professional with 7+ years of experience specializing in email systems, Exchange Server, Office 365, MS Outlook, and data migration solutions. He creates clear, practical, and solution-oriented content to help users and IT professionals resolve complex technical challenges efficiently.

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