How to Convert EML to PDF
In short: To convert EML to PDF, open the .eml file in an email client like Thunderbird or Windows Mail, then choose Print and pick Microsoft Print to PDF. On a Mac, use the PDF option in the print box. That handles one file at a time but drops attachments. For a whole folder or to keep attachments, a converter does the job in one pass.
Why EML files are hard to open
An EML file is a single email saved to disk, with the body, header, sender, date and any attachments inside. The catch is that it needs an email program to open. Double-click one without Thunderbird, Windows Mail or Outlook installed and either nothing happens or Windows asks which app to use. That is why people convert these files: a PDF opens on any device, prints cleanly and is easy to share or archive. Two things trip people up along the way. Printing an EML to PDF saves the message body only, so attachments are left behind. No email client can turn a whole folder of EML files into PDFs on its own. Both have answers below.
Technical Executive and Staff Writer, Corbett Software
“An EML file is just one email saved to disk, but without a mail client it will not open, which is exactly why people convert them. For one or two, printing to PDF from Thunderbird takes seconds. For a folder full or when attachments matter, that is where a converter earns its place.”
Convert EML to PDF on Windows
If a mail app is installed, Windows does this without extra software.
- Double-click the .eml file so it opens in your default mail app, usually Windows Mail or Outlook. If nothing opens, right-click the file, choose Open with and pick a mail app.
- With the message open, press Ctrl+P or choose File then Print.
- Under Printer, select Microsoft Print to PDF.
- Click Print, name the file, choose a folder and Save.
This is the quickest route for one or two files. Remember it saves the body only, so handle attachments separately if they matter.
Convert EML to PDF in Thunderbird
Thunderbird is free and opens EML files cleanly, which makes it a reliable option.
- Open Thunderbird, then drag the .eml file straight into the message list. You can also use File then Open then Saved Message.
- With the message showing, press Ctrl+P or right-click and choose Print.
- Select Microsoft Print to PDF on Windows or Save as PDF on a Mac, then Save.
Convert EML to PDF on a Mac
On a Mac, Apple Mail opens EML files and exports them directly.
- Double-click the .eml file to open it in Mail.
- Choose File then Export as PDF. Otherwise choose File then Print and open the PDF dropdown at the bottom of the print box.
- Pick Save as PDF, name the file and Save.
No email client? Open it another way
If you have no mail app at all, you have two choices. You can open the EML in a browser to read it, then print it to PDF, which is covered in our guide on how to open EML files in Google Chrome. Or you can use a converter that reads .eml files directly, with no email client needed, which is also the answer for a large batch.
Convert multiple EML files to PDF at once
The manual methods all share one limit: they do one email at a time. No email client can point at a folder and turn every EML into a PDF. For a handful that is fine. For dozens or hundreds, a dedicated converter is the practical route.
The Corbett EML to PDF Converter reads a single file or a whole folder of EML files and saves each one as a PDF, with attachments and the full header kept. It previews the mail first, filters by date, sender or subject so you convert only what you need. A free demo edition runs on every edition of Windows.
- Install and open the tool, then click Open and choose Email Data Files then EML Files.
- Select a single file or a folder, then the tool loads every message into the preview panel.
- Click Export, pick PDF, apply any date or sender filter, then Save.
Keep the attachments too
This is the trap the print method hides. A printed EML keeps the message body and lists the attachment names, but the files themselves are not in the PDF. If the attachments matter, either save them by hand first, shown in our guide on how to extract attachments from EML files. Or use a converter that keeps each email as a PDF with its attachments included.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert an EML file to PDF for free?
Open the .eml file in Thunderbird, Windows Mail or Outlook, then Print and choose Microsoft Print to PDF. On a Mac, use Save as PDF. It is free and works for one file at a time.
How do I convert EML to PDF without Outlook?
Use Thunderbird, which is free and opens EML files, then print to PDF. On a Mac, Apple Mail exports to PDF. To skip email clients entirely, a converter reads the .eml directly.
Can I convert multiple EML files to PDF at once?
Not with an email client, which prints one at a time. Point a converter at the folder and it saves every EML as a PDF in one pass, which is the fast route for a large batch.
Does converting EML to PDF keep the attachments?
The print method does not. It saves the body and lists attachment names, but not the files. Save the attachments separately. You can also use a converter that keeps them with each PDF.
How do I open an EML file without any email program?
Open it in a web browser to read it, then print it to PDF. You can also use a converter that opens EML files directly. Both avoid installing a mail client.
Will the PDF open on a phone or Mac?
Yes. A PDF follows the open standard, so it opens on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android with no extra software.