Corbett

MSG Converter

Corbett MSG Converter opens single or batch MSG files on Windows and saves mail as PST, EML, MBOX, PDF, HTML, TXT or CSV. Attachments, dates and folders stay intact, and Outlook does not need to be installed. Try free demo first.

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4.6 out of 5 from 683 reviews

Works offline on your PC. Corbett never sees your MSG files or messages.

Free demo, scanned clean on VirusTotal and a 30-day money-back window.

Lifetime licence from $99 Demo converts 10 emails per folder

Quick answer

What Is an MSG Converter?

An MSG converter opens Outlook MSG files and converts them into another format. Corbett MSG Converter does that offline on Windows, so a folder of MSG files opens in Thunderbird, a PDF viewer or any mail client, with no Outlook.

What it opens

Single MSG files and entire folders of them

What it saves

PST, EML, MBOX, PDF, HTML, TXT, CSV and more

Who uses it

Switchers, admins, lawyers and anyone with saved Outlook mail

Conversion scope

MSG Converter for Outlook Message Files

MSG Converter Saves Piles of Outlook Messages in One Format

An MSG file is one saved Outlook message. It opens in Outlook, and a folder full of them is slow to search or archive. MSG converter exports them in bulk to a format that suits your new program or records archive.

Kept in output

Attachments
Message dates
Full headers
Folder layout
Sender and recipient fields

MSG input types

Single MSG files
Folders of MSG files
Large batches of MSG files
MSG files of any size

Outputs

PST
EML
MBOX
PDF
HTML
TXT
CSV

Not needed

Outlook install
Mail client install
Internet connection
Mailbox password

One message per MSG file

Library of Congress MSG format page says an MSG file stores a single message with its attachments inside, in a compound file format, and that Microsoft advises against it for large standalone archives. That is why thousands pile up fast and are hard to search. MSG converter saves them in formats that suit your new program.

Open MSG file without Outlook

Related pages: PST Converter, EML Converter, MBOX Converter and OST Converter. Other mail files sit on email converter tool page.

Core features

MSG Converter Features by Screen

Five screens of Corbett MSG converter software, in conversion order.

MSG converter email data files list with MSG files option

Source files

Add Your MSG Files

Select Open, then Email Data Files, and choose MSG Files. MSG converter loads your messages into its panel, and no Outlook is needed.

A spare PC with no Outlook or Thunderbird still works. MSG file converter reads your files and leaves them as they were.

MSG converter choose folders or choose files option

Batch loading

Choose Files or Choose Folders

Select Choose Files for one message or a few. Select Choose Folders to load an entire directory of MSG files in one step.

Loaded mail appears in one tree with a checkbox beside every item, so MSG converter handles many MSG files in a single session. No file size limit applies.

MSG converter email preview with content, header, properties, hex and raw views

Message preview

Preview MSG Emails Before Converting

Click any message and a reading pane opens beside five analysis views. Use them to confirm correct mail before an export starts.

Content shows the email body. Message header lists From, To, Subject and Date. Properties reports message data, while hex and raw message views show the stored mail.

MSG converter export menu with email file and document formats

Output formats

Select Your Output Format

Email files export to PST, EML or MBOX. Document files export to PDF, HTML, TXT or CSV. The Export menu also lists Gmail, Office 365, IMAP and Thunderbird for sending mail into an account.

Search by keyword first, then save only matched items. Quick search highlights hits in yellow, and Advance search checks every field or only name, subject, To, Cc and content.

Export options

Set MSG Export Options Before You Save

Switch on open folder after export, skip greyed out folders, create empty folders and include email headers. For PST output, create an individual PST file for every folder, so small files stay healthy.

Select Browse to choose a destination, then Save. Live progress shows every folder as it converts. Need Outlook files? Read Convert MSG files to PST.

Working process

How to Convert MSG Files in Four Steps

Four steps take your MSG files to their new format. Try them on a few files in free demo first.

Add your MSG files

Start MSG converter, select Open, then Email Data Files and choose MSG Files. Select Choose Files for one message or Choose Folders for many.

Preview and select mail

Your MSG files load as one tree. Click any email to preview it, tick what you need and search by keyword to trim your conversion.

Choose your output

Select Export and choose a format: PST, EML or MBOX for email files, PDF, HTML, TXT or CSV for documents.

Save your converted mail

Set options, select Browse for a folder and press Save. Live progress shows every folder, and Open Folder takes you to your output.

Want screenshots for every click? Follow MSG converter guide.

Working process

MSG Converter Video Walkthrough

Prefer text? Open Open MSG file without Outlook to read an MSG file on a PC with no Outlook.

Advanced options

More MSG Converter Features for Big Jobs

Small options that save hours when you convert MSG files in bulk.

Batch MSG conversion

Folders of MSG files converted in one session

No file size limit

MSG files of any size convert

Folder layout kept

Folders stay as you stored them

Attachment extraction

Save attachments alone from any MSG

Email address extraction

Export addresses to CSV

Phone number extraction

Pull numbers from message bodies

File naming options

Name output by From, To, Date or Subject

Smart filters

Date, sender, subject and size

Quick and advance search

Find emails before you convert

Five preview views

Content, header, properties, hex and raw message

Individual PST per folder

One PST file for every folder

Log and CSV report

See what converted and what failed

USB and NAS targets

Save output to external drives and network storage

Include email headers

Keep full header data in output

Contacts and calendars

MSG contacts and calendars export to vCard and ICS

Choose output

MSG Converter Output Formats

MSG converter saves to nine file formats. Match format to where your converted mail will open.

Format	Best for	Opens in
PST	One file per mailbox with folders intact	Microsoft Outlook
MBOX	Moving mail to a free email client	Thunderbird and Apple Mail
EML	One file per email, easy to search	Windows Mail and most email clients
PDF	Legal files, audits and printing	Any PDF viewer
HTML	Reading mail with no email client	Any web browser
TXT	Plain text archives	Any text editor
CSV	Lists of senders, dates and subjects	Excel and Google Sheets
vCard	Contacts moved into a phone or address book	Outlook, Gmail and phones
ICS	Calendar entries shared between apps	Outlook, Google Calendar and Apple Calendar

Free demo

Test MSG Converter on Real MSG Files

Install free demo, add a folder of MSG files and choose a format. Free demo converts 10 emails per folder, so your output is quick to check.

Download free demo

Try before you buy

Free Demo vs Full MSG Converter

Free demo opens, previews and searches your full set of MSG files. Only conversion is capped.

Feature	Free demo	Full version
Add MSG files and folders	Yes	Yes
Preview, search and analysis views	All available	All available
Emails converted per folder	10	Unlimited
MSG file count and size	Conversion stops at 10 per folder	No limit
Price	Free	From $99 one time

Use cases

Who Needs an MSG Converter?

Anyone who must convert MSG files that will not open where needed.

People leaving Outlook

MSG converter saves a pile of MSG files as PST, EML or MBOX and keeps folders in place.

Legal and compliance teams

Convert MSG emails to PDF with sender, date and attachments named clearly for case files and audits.

IT admins after a switch

MSG converter saves leftover MSG files from retired PCs in formats users open without Outlook.

Anyone archiving saved mail

Convert thousands of MSG files into one searchable PST or a set of PDFs for your records.

Investigators

Preview message header, hex and raw views for an MSG of unknown origin before you export.

Marketers and list builders

Export addresses and phone numbers from old MSG files to CSV for outreach.

Why Corbett

Why Choose Corbett MSG Converter?

No subscription

Lifetime price from $99

Works offline

No sign-in and no upload

Originals stay safe

MSG files open read only

No Outlook needed

Convert MSG with no Outlook

No size limit

Any MSG size and file count

Folders kept

Layout stays as stored

Smart filters

Date, sender, subject and size

30-day refund

Money-back window after purchase

Before conversion

MSG Converter Scope and Limits

MSG converter converts saved email files into another format. Here is what that covers and where it stops.

Capability	Supported	What it means
File to file conversion	Yes	MSG to PST, EML, MBOX, PDF, HTML, TXT and CSV
Outlook installed	Not needed	Files open on a PC with no Outlook
Source MSG files	Read only	Output goes to a new folder and your originals stay as they were
Internet and passwords	Not needed	Conversion works offline on local files
Client settings and rules	Not converted	Account passwords, filter rules and saved searches stay behind
Live mailboxes	Other mode	Use Email Backup Software or Email Migration Tool for accounts
Mac and Linux	No	MSG converter installs on Windows only

Outlook or tool

MSG Converter vs Outlook Export

Outlook opens and saves one message fine. A folder with thousands of MSG files is another job. Here is where doing it by hand stops.

Task	Outlook export	MSG Converter
Cost	Free	From $99 one time
A handful of messages	Open and save in Outlook	Works too
Folders of MSG files	One message at a time	One batch of files or folders
Outlook installed	Required	Not required
Output formats	Print or Save As	PST, EML, MBOX, PDF, HTML, TXT and CSV
Data extraction	Copy by hand	Addresses, phone numbers and attachments
Filters	Folder search only	Date, time, To, From, size and name
PDF file names	Typed in by hand	Named by From, To, Date or Subject

For one message Outlook does the job.

Global recognition

MSG Converter Software Users Trust

Users rate Corbett MSG converter 4.6 out of 5 from 683 reviews, and these software directories list it.

CNET
Download.io
UpdateStar
TopSoftware Advisor
SaaSHub
Uptodown

Specifications

MSG Converter Specifications

Download details

Download size: 87.4 MB
Demo limit: 10 items per folder
Delivery: After payment, mail arrives with a download link and a licence key.
Licence: Personal: 5 machines. Business: 25 machines. Enterprise: 100 machines. Lifetime validity.

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System

Hard disk: 150 MB of free space
RAM: 4 GB of memory minimum
Processor: 1 GHz Intel Pentium minimum and 2.4 GHz advised
Interface: English
Input: MSG files

Supported editions

Windows 11 (64 bit), 10, 8 and 7 in 32-bit or 64-bit, plus Windows Server 2016, 2012 R2 and 2008.

Start MSG converter with administrator rights.

Corbett has built Windows email utilities since 2020. Setup trouble and first-use questions go to our support desk.

User testimonials

MSG Converter Reviews

MSG converter shares 683 reviews on software index sites and customer feedback.

4.6 out of 5

Collected across 683 reviews from software indexes and customer feedback. Three reviews below are unedited.

Amazingly advanced

I strongly recommend this MSG Converter tool to all those who need to convert their MSG files. This tool helped me a lot while converting MSG files to other file formats. It is really an amazingly advanced application.

Jack Williams

Deadline beaten

My senior gave me a bundle of MSG files to convert into PDF within a week. At that time, I felt very confused and frustrated. However, Corbett MSG Converter made this seemingly daunting task very smooth and easy for me. With the help of this tool, I was able to complete my work even before the assigned deadlines.

John Martin

Support team thanked

This MSG Converter tool has been good for me so far. I used it to export some particular emails which I needed to save from Outlook. This utility worked effectively and properly as stated by the developer. Thank you to the support team as well as the developers of this wonderful utility.

Teresa Butler

Before conversion

Prepare Your MSG Files for Conversion

Three short checks keep your MSG conversion clean.

Keep MSG files in one folder

Collect your messages into a single directory, so one load brings them all into MSG converter.

Set file names early

Name output files by Subject, Date or Sender. Clear names make a large batch easy to sort later.

Check free disk space

PDF output can take more room than MSG. Select an output drive with plenty of space.

Single message jobs are covered in Extract attachments from MSG file and MSG to Gmail.

Best practice

How to Keep Your MSG Conversion Safe

An MSG conversion only helps if your mail arrives complete. Four habits keep your data safe through it.

Back up first

Copy your original MSG folder before you start. Keep 3 copies on 2 types of media with 1 copy off site.

Start with a few files

Convert one small folder with MSG converter and open a few messages in your new format. Catch a wrong setting before a large job.

Check the count

Compare the number of MSG files with the converted emails before you close the job.

Keep originals until checked

Store your source MSG files until counts match. Delete them only after you open converted mail.

Common questions

MSG Converter FAQs

MSG converter steps, formats, limits and licence answers.

What is an MSG converter?

An MSG converter opens Outlook MSG files and converts them into another format. Corbett MSG Converter does that offline on Windows, so MSG file converter needs no Outlook.

How do I convert MSG files with attachments?

Open MSG converter, select Open, then Email Data Files and MSG Files. Choose Files or Choose Folders, preview your mail, select Export, choose a format and press Save. Attachments stay with every message.

What is an MSG file?

Library of Congress MSG format page says an MSG file stores a single message, such as an email, appointment, contact or task, with its attachments inside the same file. Outlook creates it.

Can I convert MSG files without Outlook?

Yes. MSG converter reads your files by itself, so a PC with no Outlook installed still converts MSG files. No internet connection or mailbox password is needed.

Which formats can I convert MSG files to?

PST, EML and MBOX for email files, plus PDF, HTML, TXT and CSV for documents, vCard for contacts and ICS for calendars. The Export menu also lists Gmail, Office 365, IMAP and Thunderbird for sending mail into an account.

How do I convert MSG to PST?

Select PST in the Export menu, set options such as an individual PST for every folder and press Save. Convert MSG files to PST shows every click.

How do I convert MSG to PDF?

Select PDF in the Export menu, search for the emails you need, choose a naming option and press Save. Every message becomes a PDF. Save Outlook email as PDF shows another route.

Can I convert MSG to EML or MBOX?

Yes. Select EML for one file per email, or MBOX for Thunderbird and Apple Mail. Folders stay in order. EML Converter and MBOX Converter cover those files.

Can I convert MSG to CSV or Excel?

Yes. Select CSV in the Export menu and open the file in Excel. Export Outlook emails to CSV and Convert MSG file to Excel show the steps.

Can I convert many MSG files at once?

Yes. Select Choose Folders and load an entire directory, then MSG converter converts every file in one session.

Is there an MSG file size limit?

No. MSG converter sets no size cap, and MSG files of any size convert. Keep free disk space for your output.

Can I convert only some MSG files?

Yes. Filter by file name, date range, time range, subject, To, From or has attachments, then convert only the results.

Can I preview MSG emails before converting?

Yes. A reading pane opens beside content, message header, properties, hex and raw message views for every email.

Can I choose output file names?

Yes. Name files by Subject, Date or Sender, so a large batch stays easy to sort.

Does it keep my attachments?

Yes. Attachments stay with every message, and you can also save them alone. Extract attachments from MSG file shows the steps.

Will converting change my original MSG files?

No. MSG converter opens your files read only, and output goes to a new folder. Keep a spare copy anyway.

Can I extract email addresses and phone numbers from MSG?

Yes. Export addresses to CSV, pull phone numbers from message bodies and save attachments alone.

Can I move MSG mail into Gmail?

The Export menu lists Gmail, Office 365, IMAP and Thunderbird. Read MSG to Gmail for the steps.

Does my MSG data pass through Corbett?

No. Conversion happens on your PC with no upload. Corbett never sees your MSG files or messages.

Can I convert MSG on a Mac?

Not on the Mac itself. Copy your MSG files to a Windows PC and convert them there.

How many emails can free demo convert?

Free demo of MSG converter opens your files, shows every folder and gives you every search and preview. Conversion stops at 10 messages per folder, enough to test your output before you buy.

Which Windows versions work?

Windows 11 (64 bit), 10, 8 and 7, plus Windows Server 2016, 2012 R2 and 2008. There is no macOS or Linux build.

How many PCs does one licence cover?

Personal licence covers 5 machines for $99, Business covers 25 for $299 and Enterprise covers 100 for $499. All three are one time payments with lifetime validity, 24/7 support and a 30 day refund.

MSG guides