An eml file extension is used by variety e-mail clients, such as Outlook Express, Windows Mail, Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird etc. An eml file contains saved email message either meant as backup or for sharing.

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Software that open eml file

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EML file extension - Email message

What is eml file? How to open eml files?

File type specification:

Email related data file type icon Email related data file type

Internet related file type icon Internet related file type

eml file icon: eml filetype icon

The eml file extension is used for Email message. EML, which is an acronym for E-mail, is the file extension of the Outlook Express Saved Mail Messages files. It belongs to the Microsoft's family of e-mail clients and it is used for e-mails saving and forwarding purposes. The successor of Outlook Express is free Windows Live Mail.

Since the purpose of an EML file is to store e-mail messages, it is a plain text file, and as a result, has a standard file structure. It usually consists of a short header and the main body. The header contains the e-mail addresses of the sender and the recipient, the subject, and the time and date of the message. The main message of the e-mail is in the body of the file. EML files can also contain hyperlinks and other attachments.

Since EML files are created to comply with the industry RFC 822 standard, they can be used with most e-mail clients, servers and applications. Besides the Microsoft Outlook Express, EML files can be opened using most e-mail clients, such as Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Entourage, Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or IncrediMail.

Since EML files are plain text and formatted much like MHT (MIME HTML) files, they can also be opened directly in the Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Opera, by first changing the file extension from .eml to .mht. It is also possible to view EML files using notepad or any other text editor.

The eml files are usually simple text files and can be opened in Notepad or a web browser, either by changing the extension from eml to txt or HTML, or by changing the file association to Notepad.

MIME types:
message/rfc822

Updated: July 22, 2022

The default software associated to open eml file:

Microsoft Outlook icon

Microsoft Corporation logoMicrosoft Outlook  Microsoft Windows software

Company or developer:
Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft Outlook is e-mail management tool and personal information manager distributed with Microsoft Office suite. Outlook integrates e-mail application, calendar, task manager, contact manager, note taking in to one application.

Microsoft Outlook is used as a stand-alone application and also can work with Microsoft Exchange Server and SharePoint Server.

The predecessor of Outlook was called Schedule+. The newest version is called Outlook 2016.

Microsoft Outlook for Mac icon

Microsoft Corporation logoMicrosoft Outlook for Mac  Apple macOS / Mac OS X software

Company or developer:
Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft Outlook for Mac is e-mail client and personal information manager distributed with Microsoft Office for Mac. Outlook for Mac contains email, calendar, address book, task list, note list managers in one application. Microsoft Outlook for Mac is a successor of Microsoft Entourage for Mac.

Help how to open:

The EML Email message file is common file format, that can be opened by various e-mail clients, such as Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Windows Live Mail. Because EML file is in simple text format can be opened and edited in the text editor such as Notepad, Notepad++, TextEdit, gedit.

How to convert:

You can use any e-mail client, that can open the EML Email message file, to save the EML file in to other file format (TXT text file or HTML file).

Specialised utility Aid4Mail can open and convert EML files and it is useful for migration between e-mail clients.

Find conversions from eml file:

eml to chtml

eml to doc

eml to jpeg

eml to jpg

eml to pdf

eml to pst

eml to txt

Find converter to eml file type:

doc to eml

oft to eml

pdf to eml

rpmsg to eml

rtf to eml

txt to eml

_eml to eml

List of software applications associated to the .eml file extension

Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open eml file, edit eml file, convert eml file, view eml file, play eml file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).

Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting eml files.

Software that open eml file - Email message

Programs supporting the exension eml on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for open eml file action.

Microsoft Windows:

Main software associated with eml file by default:
Microsoft Outlook small icon Microsoft Outlook
Other suggested software:
Mozilla Thunderbird small icon Mozilla Thunderbird
Windows Live Mail small icon Windows Live Mail
PstViewer Pro (EML Viewer Pro)
Windows Mail small icon Windows Mail
Microsoft Outlook Express small icon Microsoft Outlook Express

Apple macOS / Mac OS X:

Main software associated with eml file by default:
Microsoft Outlook for Mac small icon Microsoft Outlook for Mac
Other suggested software:
Apple Mail small icon Apple Mail
Mozilla Thunderbird for Mac small icon Mozilla Thunderbird for Mac

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