An EML file is a file format developed by Microsoft for Outlook and Outlook Express. EML files are archived emails that retain their original HTML formatting and headers. Most email clients support EML files, but if you don't have an email client installed, or are using a mobile device, there are several ways you can open the file.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Windows
Step 1. Open the file in the email client
EML files are basically emails in file form. The easiest way to open it is to use an email client such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Live Mail, or Thunderbird. For most new versions of these programs, the EML file will automatically be listed so you can simply double-click it to open the file.
- When you open an EML file in an e-mail client, you can download the attachments included in the file, and view the exact format and images.
- If you don't have an email client, or can't open the file in an email client, keep reading.
Step 2. Change the extension to see the file in your browser
EML files are very similar to MHTML, and changing the file extension to *.mht will quickly turn them into files that can be opened in Internet Explorer. While other web browsers can open MHT files, Internet Explorer is the only one that will format the file properly. This way you won't be able to download any attachments.
- Unhide file extensions if they are hidden. In Windows 8, you can check the "File name extensions" box on the View tab of the Explorer window. In earlier versions of Windows, open Control Panel and select Folder Options. Click the View tab and uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".
- Right-click the EML file and select "Rename".
- Remove the.eml extension and replace it with.mht. Windows will warn you that this may cause problems with the file. Confirm that you do want to change the extension.
- Open the file in Internet Explorer. This is usually the default program for MHT files. You can right-click the file, select "Open with", then select Internet Explorer from the list. Internet Explorer will display MHT files in a format similar to the EML files displayed in the email client.
Step 3. Download and install FreeViewer EML File Viewer
This program can be obtained for free on the developer's site.
- Now browse to the folder where you saved the EML file.
- Double-click the folder. Now all the EML files will be placed sequentially. At this point you can click on any EML message to view it.
- You can also view the related attachments in the email.
Step 4. View the file as plain-text
If you can't open the file in your email client and can't change the extension to open it in Internet Explorer, you can view the file as plain text. There will be a lot of meaningless characters, but you will still be able to see the body of the message, as well as the link. You will not be able to view images or attachments.
- Right-click your EML file and select "Open with".
- Select Notepad from the list of programs.
- Look for tags and. This marks the beginning of the email message. You can search for the body of an email message in this section, although you may have to search through some HTML code.
- Look for the <a href= tag to search for links. You can copy and paste the URL shown here into your web browser to visit the link included in the EML file.
Solution to problem
Step 1. The EML file cannot be opened in Outlook Express, even though this program is installed on the computer
Usually this is because another program has hijacked the EML extension. You must reset the file associations for Outlook Express.
- Close Outlook Express if it is still open.
- Press Win+R.
- Type msimn /reg and press Enter. This will reset the file associations for Outlook Express. Now the EML file will automatically open in Express if you double click it.
Step 2. Check the extension
Some users reported that backups made with Windows Live Mail had corrupted the EML extension (to *._eml instead of *.eml). If the EML file can't be opened, check if the extension is changed or not.
- See Step 2 above to reveal the file extension if you have hidden it.
- Rename the EML file that has the *._eml extension to remove the _ flag.
Method 2 of 4: Mac
Step 1. Open the EML file in Apple Mail
Apple Mail is installed with OS X, and can properly open and display EML files.
- Right-click (Ctrl-click) the EML file and select "Open With…".
- Select "Mail" from the list of programs. Your EML file will open in the Apple Mail program. You can do this even if you haven't set up an email account with Mail.
Step 2. Use Microsoft Entourage or Outlook for Macintosh
If you have Office 2008 or 2011, you can install a Microsoft email client to open EML files. Office 2008 includes Entourage, while Office 2011 replaces Entourage with Outlook for Macintosh. You may have chosen not to install the email client when installing Office software.
Once installed, right-click (Ctrl-click) your EML file and select "Open With…". Select Entourage or Outlook from the list of available programs
Step 3. Extract the file with StuffIt Expander
This is a free file extracting utility for OS X, and you can use it to extract information from EML files.
- Download and install StuffIt Expander from my.smithmicro.com/stuffit-expander-mac.html or from the Mac App Store.
- Drag the EML file into the StuffIt window. You can extract multiple EML files at once by dragging all of them to the Stuffit window at the same time.
- Open the new folder created for each EML file. You can find attachments and images in separate files, as well as text documents that contain the body of the email message.
Step 4. View the EML file in plain text form
If you don't have an email client and can't install StuffIt Expander, you can open the EML file in TextEdit. This allows you to read the body of the message and find the link that is there. You cannot view images or access attachments.
- Right-click (Ctrl-click) the EML file and select "Open With…".
- Select "TextEdit" from the list of applications. Maybe you should look into it.
- Look for HTML tags. This will help you to find the body of the message. Each link will have an <a href= tag.
Method 3 of 4: iPad
Step 1. Download and install the Klammer app
This application can be obtained from the App Store, at a price of $ 0.99 (approximately Rp. 13 thousand). This program allows you to open and view the contents of EML files. This is the only way to view EML files without converting them to another platform first.
Step 2. Open the Mail app (or whatever app contains the EML file you want to open)
You can use Klammer to open EML files attached to email messages, in Dropbox or your other storage service, or in any program that can handle files.
- If you're using Mail, you'll need to tap on the attachment to start downloading the attachment to iPad. If you use Dropbox or Google Drive, you'll need to download the file to your iPad.
- If the attachment doesn't download, try forwarding the message to yourself and downloading the file again.
Step 3. Tap the file you downloaded
You will be asked to select an application to open the file.
Step 4. Tap "Open in Klammer"
The EML file will load in the Klammer app, and you can view the file in the correct format.
Method 4 of 4: Android
Step 1. Download the EML Reader FREE app
Android basically does not support the EML format. The only way to open an EML file on an Android device is to install an app.
EML Reader FREE is one of those EML reader apps that has a good reputation, although there are several other apps to choose from if you prefer. Do a search with the keyword "eml reader" on the Google Play Store
Step 2. Open the EML file
There are several ways you can choose to open an EML file, depending on how you got it.
- If you received the EML file as an attachment, open the email containing the attachment in the Gmail or Mail app and tap the EML attachment.
- If you downloaded the EML file from a website, use the File Manager app to open your Downloads folder, or open the EML Reader FREE app to browse your files.
Step 3. Select EML Reader FREE from the list of applications
When you try to open the EML file, you will be prompted to select an application. EML Reader Free will appear in the list. Tap "Always" to associate the EML file with your new file reader.
Step 4. Read the entire contents of the EML file
EML Reader FREE will split an EML file into different sections, including From/To, Date, Subject, Text, HTML, and Attachments.
- The "Text" section contains the body of the EML file.
- The "HTML" section will display the message in its original format.
Step 5. Press and hold the attachment to open it
At the bottom of the screen, you will see a list of attachments. It contains all the images used to create the HTML message, as well as any files that are not attached to the message.
