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How to Open MSG File Without Outlook – Top Trusted Ways

Shaks George ~ Published: August 7th, 2025 ~ How to ~ 5 Minutes Reading
MSG files can contain some important data from Outlook, but what if you are not using Outlook or switching to another email client or device? In this guide, we will learn how to open MSG file without Outlook easily. It includes a manual method and a professional method to open MSG file without Outlook. Let us move forward to access MSG files without Outlook installation.

Overview

A MSG file is a file format used by Microsoft Outlook to store a single email. It includes metadata, attachments, text formatting, file structure, and other details. Since we cannot open the MSG file easily without any non-Microsoft applications. Moreover, the .msg file is designed for Outlook, and opening it without Outlook can be a difficult task. Let’s continue to learn the manual methods.

How to Open MSG Files Without Outlook – Manual Method

Here are some manual methods that you can use to access MSG files without Outlook installation. These methods are compatible with both Windows and macOS users.

Open and read the MSG file using Notepad

Using this method, users can open the MSG file using Notepad. To use this method easily, go through the steps below.

  1. Firstly, open Outlook and select the email.
    choose email
  2. Then, click on the file.
    click file
  3. Go to the Save As option.
    save as
  4. Now, navigate to select txt only option from the drop-down menu.
    choose txt
  5. Next, click the Save button to save the file.
  6. Lastly, right-click on the saved .txt file and choose the Open with Notepad option.
    open with

Open MSG file using WordPad

This method allows users to open and view the MSG file easily. Follow the steps below to open MSG file.

  1. Open Outlook and select the email.
    choose email
  2. Then, click File from the top left corner.
    choose file option
  3. Navigate to the Save As option.
    save as option
  4. Now, select txt only option from the drop-down menu.
    choose txt
  5. Lastly, right-click on the saved file and choose the open with option from the list. Then select Open with Wordpad.
    open with wordpad

Open MSG file without Outlook using a Browser

Applying this method, you can open MSG file without Outlook using a browser. To know how go through the steps below.

  1. Firstly, open the MSG file by double-clicking.
    open with outlook
  2. Then, click on the file option from the top right corner.
    select file
  3. After that, click on the Save As option.
    save as
  4. Nextly, save the file as an HTML file.
    choose html
  5. Lastly, open the HTML file with any Browser. (Chrome, Edge, or many more)

Limitations of Manual Methods

  • Bulk Support: Users can not open multiple files at the same time.
  • Risk of Data Loss: The manual method can lead to a risk of data loss while opening the MSG files.
  • Unreadable Structure: The email data is often lost or cannot be read by users.
  • File Attachments: Manual methods do not support viewing or downloading the attachments.
  • Security: As we know, using a manual method, you can lose your essential data, and you cannot restore or recover your data. So there may be a risk to privacy.
  • Functionality: It does not provide any option to move or convert the file into any other file format.
  • Time-Consuming: Manual methods can be time-consuming, as handling a large number of files manually can be difficult.

Automated Tool to Open MSG File Without Outlook

The manual methods come with some limitations that can make the process time-consuming. Here is an automated solution to open MSG files without Outlook installation. The Corbett MSG File Converter is an advanced and user-friendly tool. Using this tool, users can easily view and read the MSG File without Outlook.

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Steps to Use the Advanced Tool

  1. Download the software on your device and tap on the Open tab.
    click open
  2. Then, click to email data files from the list, and after that, press on MSG files, and then choose the files and folders accordingly.
    select files
  3. Lastly, select a MSG file from the data, and you can easily open MSG file without Outlook.
    view msg file
Note: Have you recently encountered the MSG File not opening in Outlook issue? And looking for a reliable solution to fix “Not able to open MSG File in Outlook”? This guide will help you understand the problem more clearly and further help you solve it.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are several ways to open MSG file without Outlook. Manual techniques, even though some of them come with multiple limitations and may be time-consuming like text editors or free readers, usually lack security, accuracy, and the capacity to manage or open files in Bulk. Moreover, professionals and individual users who usually handle multiple MSG files or require complete access to data, the advanced software is a dependable, standalone, and user-friendly solution. This tool ensures to preserve the data integrity, text formatting, and offers advanced viewing features, making it the most efficient, time-saving, and secure method to open MSG files without Outlook.