How to Convert MSG Files to PDF
In short: To convert MSG files to PDF, open the .msg in Outlook, choose File then Print and pick Microsoft Print to PDF. No Outlook, a Mac or a whole folder? A converter turns MSG files into PDF directly, in bulk and with attachments kept, no Outlook needed.
Why MSG files need converting to PDF
An MSG file is a single Outlook email saved to disk that opens only in Outlook. A PDF, by contrast, opens on any device, prints cleanly and is easy to share, store or file for a record. That is why people turn MSG into PDF. Two things trip them up on the way. The usual print method needs Outlook installed, so it does not help anyone without it or on a Mac. And printing an MSG to PDF keeps the message body but leaves the attachments behind. Both have clear answers below, whether or not you have Outlook.
Senior Analyst, Corbett Software
“The trap with MSG to PDF is that the print method needs Outlook, yet half the people asking do not have it. If you do, printing to PDF is clean and quick. When you do not have Outlook, a converter reads the MSG and writes the PDF directly, attachments and all, one file or a whole folder.”
Convert MSG files to PDF using Outlook
If Outlook is installed, this is the cleanest manual route for one file.
- Double-click the .msg so it opens in Outlook. If it does not, drag the file into any Outlook folder, then open it from there.
- With the message open, choose File then Print. You can also press Ctrl+P.
- Under Printer, select Microsoft Print to PDF.
- Click Print, name the file, choose a folder and Save.
You may see older advice to save the MSG as HTML and then re-save it from Word as a PDF. It works, but it is slower and can break the formatting, so the print method above is the better choice. Remember it saves the body only, so handle attachments separately.
Convert MSG files to PDF without Outlook
This is the part most guides skip. If you do not have Outlook, the print method is out. The free rename tricks that let you open an MSG file without Outlook only show the text, not a proper PDF. The dependable route is a converter that reads the .msg on its own and writes a clean PDF, with no Outlook and no email client at all.
The Corbett MSG Converter opens MSG files with no Outlook installed and saves each one as a PDF, with attachments, headers and formatting kept. It previews the mail first, handles one file or a whole folder, filters by date, sender or subject, then a free demo edition runs on every edition of Windows.
- Install and open the tool, then click Open and choose Email Data Files then MSG Files.
- Select a single file or a folder, then each message loads into the preview panel.
- Click Export, pick PDF, set any options such as page numbers, then Save.
Convert multiple MSG files to PDF at once
Outlook prints one message at a time, so a folder full of MSG files is slow and easy to get wrong by hand. There is no built-in way to turn many MSG files into PDFs in one go. A converter is the practical route: point it at the folder, then it reads every message and exports them together, each as its own PDF or combined, whichever you choose.
Keep the attachments too
Printing an MSG to PDF from Outlook saves the body and lists the attachment names, but the files themselves are not in the PDF. If the attachments matter, either save them from the open message first, shown in our guide on how to extract attachments from MSG files. Or use a converter that keeps each PDF with its attachments.
Convert MSG to PDF on a Mac
Macs are the hardest case, because Apple Mail does not open .msg files and Outlook for Mac does not handle them well. There is no reliable print-to-PDF route on a Mac. The dependable answer is to convert the file with an offline tool on a Windows machine, then open the resulting PDF on the Mac like any other.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert an MSG file to PDF?
If you have Outlook, open the .msg, choose File then Print and select Microsoft Print to PDF. Without Outlook, use a converter that reads the MSG and saves it as a PDF directly.
Can I convert MSG to PDF without Outlook?
Yes. The print method needs Outlook, but a dedicated MSG converter opens the file on its own and writes the PDF, with no Outlook or email client installed.
Can I convert multiple MSG files to PDF at once?
Not in Outlook, which prints one at a time. Point a converter at the folder and it saves every MSG as a PDF in one pass, which is the fast route for a large batch.
Does converting MSG to PDF keep the attachments?
The Outlook 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 convert an MSG file to PDF on a Mac?
Apple Mail cannot open .msg, so there is no clean print route on a Mac. Convert the file with an offline tool, then open the resulting PDF on the Mac like any other document.
Will the PDF open on any device?
Yes. A PDF follows the open standard, so it opens on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android with no extra software.