How to Convert MSG to CSV
In short: To convert MSG to CSV, you turn each Outlook message into a spreadsheet row, with columns for sender, recipient, subject, date and body. In classic Outlook, drop the MSG files into a folder and use File then Open and Export then Import/Export to save the folder as CSV. Without Outlook, a converter reads the .msg files and writes every field, the body included, straight to CSV.
What converting MSG to CSV really does
An MSG file is a single Outlook item, usually an email, though it can also be a contact or a calendar entry. CSV is a plain spreadsheet format that Excel, Google Sheets and databases all read. Converting MSG to CSV means turning each message into one row, with its details split into columns such as sender, recipient, subject and date. People do this to sort and filter their mail, to build a mailing list or mail merge, to report on email data or to hand it to someone with no Outlook. The catch is that MSG is an Outlook-only format, so getting it into a tidy CSV takes the right method, which the sections below cover.
Senior Analyst, Corbett Software
“People come to this thinking of contacts, but most of the time it is emails they want in a spreadsheet, to sort, filter or report on. Outlook can export a folder to CSV, but it leans on the header fields and often clips the body. When the full message text matters, a converter that maps every field is the cleaner route.”
Convert MSG to CSV in Outlook
If Outlook is installed, this is the free route. Outlook exports a whole folder, not a single MSG, so you gather the files first.
- Drag your .msg files into an Outlook folder, such as a new folder you create for the job.
- Go to File then Open and Export then Import/Export.
- Choose Export to a file, then Comma Separated Values.
- Pick the folder that holds the messages, then choose where to save the CSV.
- Use Map Custom Fields to control which columns appear, then Finish.
Two limits to expect. Outlook needs to be installed. Its export also favors the header fields, so the message body is often shortened or left out. If you need the full body or you have no Outlook, use the method below.
Convert MSG to CSV without Outlook
Because MSG is an Outlook format, no other program opens it by default. A dedicated converter reads the .msg files directly and writes every field, including the full body, into clean CSV columns, with no Outlook needed.
The Corbett MSG Converter opens single or multiple MSG files, previews each one, then exports them to CSV with the sender, recipient, subject, date and body mapped into columns. It needs no Outlook, filters by date so you convert only what you want, handles large batches, then offers a free demo edition on every edition of Windows.
- Install and open the tool, then click Open, Email Data Files, then MSG Files, then add your files.
- Click a message to preview it in modes such as Content, Message Header and Raw Message.
- Click Export, choose CSV under document formats, apply any date filter, then Save.
Which fields end up in the CSV
Knowing the columns up front saves rework. A good conversion maps these:
- Sender and recipient, the From, To, Cc and Bcc addresses.
- Subject and date, so you can sort and filter the list.
- Body, the full message text in its own column, which a converter keeps but Outlook’s export often trims.
- Attachment names, listed so you know what was attached, though the files themselves are not part of a CSV.
Open the CSV in Excel or Google Sheets
A CSV opens straight in a spreadsheet. Double-click it to open in Excel. In Google Sheets, use File then Import then upload. Once it is in columns you can sort by sender, filter by date, remove duplicates or use the addresses for a mail merge. If Excel splits the columns oddly, open it through Data then From Text/CSV and set the delimiter to a comma, which fixes most layout issues.
Frequently asked questions
Can I convert MSG to CSV without Outlook?
Yes. Outlook’s own export needs Outlook installed, but a dedicated MSG converter reads the .msg files directly and writes them to CSV with no Outlook at all.
Can I include the email body in the CSV?
Yes. A converter writes the full body to its own column. Outlook’s built-in CSV export focuses on the header fields and often clips the body, which is why a converter is better when the text matters.
How do I convert multiple MSG files at once?
Outlook exports one folder at a time after you drag the files in. A converter takes many .msg files or a whole folder, then writes them to a single CSV in one pass.
How do I open the CSV in Excel?
Double-click the CSV to open it in Excel. If the columns look wrong, use Data then From Text/CSV and set the delimiter to a comma. In Google Sheets, use File then Import.
Does the CSV keep attachments?
No. A CSV is text, so it lists attachment names but cannot hold the files. To keep the files, extract them separately or convert the MSG to PDF instead.
What details does an MSG to CSV conversion include?
The sender, recipient, subject, date and, with a converter, the message body. Each becomes its own column, so you can sort, filter and report on the data.