Open EML files

  • Full name
    Email Message Format
  • Developer
    Microsoft
  • Popularity
Have you encountered a problem with a EML file? Don’t you know which program opens a file with this extension? You will find all the information you need about working with a EML file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your EML file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is EML file?

Files with the extension EML are plain text files which additionally contain the header information and / or attachments and hyperlinks of emails. They are formatted in a proprietary format by Microsoft. This standard is used by eg Microsoft Outlook and many other email programs.

More info

The files contain emails that have been saved for forwarding or backup. The formatting is similar to mht, the storage format for Microsoft Internet Explorer web pages. Therefore, Internet Explorer can display EML files.

Thanks to emlBridge almost any email program can import EML files.

Some malware generates EML files, so it's a good idea to check EML files attached to an email with an antivirus program.

Since the text of the email is stored as simple text, an EML file can also be opened and read with a text editor.

Programs which can open a EML file

How to open file with EML extension?

In order to open a file with EML extension one of the following programs must be installed on user’s system. If a problem with opening EML file occurred, it is highly possible that none of the listed programs is present on user’s system. Even if one or more said programs are installed, there may be issues related with given programs. In order to solve a problem with EML files, follow the instructions below.
1
Install Outlook or other program from the list

Most often resolving problems with opening EML files is very simple. Just install an appropriate program that supports such files. All of the listed programs support EML files, but may vary in offered function and purpose. Some programs may be capable only of viewing contents of EML files or offer file conversion options, but may not be capable of editing such files.

Set Outlook as the default program for opening EML files

It is possible that although a compatible program has been installed on user’s system, it is not used by the system to open it. This may happen because no default application was associated with this type of files. To associate EML files with given application, select "Open with" from drop-down menu (accessed by right-clicking on the file). Then select from the list the program or application you want to be used to open this type of file. If the Outlook applications is not on the list, select "Browse" option in order to manually locate the directory where Outlook has been installed.

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Check the section that lists most common problems with EML files

Sometimes problems with opening EML files may not lie with the application itself, but can arise due to other causes, such as:

  • File data is corrupted
  • EML files has been not been completely download from the internet (only a part of the data has been downloaded)
  • Currently used user account hasn’t been granted necessary privileges to open EML files (should that be the case, please contact your system administrator or IT specialist)
  • EML file was being copied from a corrupted storage device and is incomplete or data is corrupted. (Copying files from unknown or untrusted sources should be conducted with great care as such files may contain malicious software, which can damage your system)

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