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EML MSG
File conversion

Convert EML to MSG

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jul 19, 2026
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Is it possible to convert EML to MSG?
Yes - EML converts to MSG.

Open the .eml in Outlook (double-click), go to File > Save As, and choose Outlook Message Format (*.msg). For bulk conversion, use a dedicated paid tool such as Aid4Mail. No reliable free tool exists that converts EML to MSG without Outlook, because the MSG format is a proprietary OLE2 binary structure.

1 programs
Also to MSG: OST · PST · OFT

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert EML to MSG?

EML is an open MIME standard readable by any mail client; MSG is Microsoft's proprietary OLE2/CFB binary format for a single Outlook message. The conversion is needed when integrating with Microsoft Exchange, SharePoint, or legal discovery tools that expect .msg input - platforms that work natively with Outlook's format.

How to convert EML to MSG

Microsoft Outlook APP

Double-click the .eml to open it in Outlook, then go to File > Save As and select Outlook Message Format (*.msg) from the format dropdown.

Aid4Mail APP

Add the source .eml files or folder, set the output format to MSG, choose a destination folder, and run - Aid4Mail batch-converts without requiring Outlook to be open.

Programs that convert EML

Microsoft Outlook

About these formats

.EML E-Mail Message (RFC 822 / MIME)

An EML file is one email message saved as a plain-text file - headers, body, and any attachments - in the internet-standard MIME/RFC 822 format. You do not need Microsoft Outlook to open…

Open .EML details →
.MSG Outlook Message (Microsoft Outlook saved email)

An MSG file is one email - with subject, sender, recipients, body, and any attachments - saved from Microsoft Outlook in Outlook's proprietary binary format. On Windows, double-click it in…

Open .MSG details →

Quality & what to watch

  • No reliable free standalone tool converts EML to MSG - the .msg format is a proprietary OLE2 binary structure that requires Outlook or a commercial library to produce correctly.
  • The drag-and-drop shortcut also works in Outlook: drag .eml files into an Outlook folder, select them all, then drag them back to the desktop - Outlook exports each as a separate .msg file.
  • Test the output .msg files in Outlook before using them for compliance or legal discovery purposes.

Frequently asked questions

Why is there no free EML to MSG converter?
The .msg format is a proprietary Microsoft OLE2 binary structure; generating a correct one requires Outlook or a commercial library that reimplements it.
Can I convert many EML files at once?
Yes - drag a batch of .eml files into an Outlook folder, select all, then drag them back to the desktop; Outlook exports each as a separate .msg file.
Will the MSG file keep all headers and metadata?
When converted via Outlook, headers, metadata, and attachments are preserved; test with a sample file before bulk-converting an archive.