Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Windows
• Resolving problems
• Method 2 of 4: Mac
• Method 3 of 4: iPad
• Method 4 of 4: Android

EML is a file format developed by Microsoft for Outlook and Outlook Express. An EML file is an archived email message that preserves the original HTML format and mail headers. Most email clients support EML files, but if you don't have an email client installed on your computer or are using a mobile device, there are alternative methods you can use to open the file.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Windows

1. Open the file in an email client. An EML file is basically an email message displayed as a file. The easiest way to open such a file is to use an email client such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Live Mail or Thunderbird. The latest version of most of these programs should automatically associate the EML file format with the program. This means that you can open the file by double clicking on it.
   • When you open the EML file in an email client, you will be able to download the attachments associated with the message, view the message properly formatted, and see the images.
   • Read on if you don't have an email client on your computer or you can't open the files in your email client.
2. Change the extension to view the file in a browser. EML files are very similar to MHTML files, and if you put the file extension in *. mht you will be able to quickly convert the file to a file format that can be opened in Internet Explorer. Other web browsers can also open MHTML files, but Internet Explorer is the only browser that displays the formatting correctly. You cannot download attachments with this method.
   • Show file extensions if you have hidden them. In Windows 8, you can check the box for "File name extensions" in the "View" tab in any Windows Explorer window. In older versions of Windows, open the Control Panel and choose "Folder Options". Click the "View" tab and uncheck the box for "Hide extensions for known file types".
   • Right-click on the EML file and select "Rename".
   • Get the .emlextension and replace it with .mht. Windows will warn you that this may cause problems with the file. Confirm that you want to change the file extension.
   • Open the file in Internet Explorer. Usually this is the default program for opening MHT files. You can right-click on the file, choose "Open with" and then choose Internet Explorer from the list. Internet Explorer will display the MHT file in much the same formatting as if you were viewing the EML file in an email client.
3. Download and install FreeViewer EML File Viewer. This program can be downloaded for free from the developer's website: http://www.freeviewer.org/eml/.
   • Now go to the folder where you saved your EML file.
   • Double click on the folder in question. All EML files will now be put in the correct order. Now you can click on any EML file to view it.
   • You can also view the attachments that come with an email message.
4. View the file as plain text. If you can't open the file in an email client and convert it to view it in Internet Explorer, you can view it as plain text. There will be a lot of nonsense characters in it, but you will still be able to see the body of the message and all the links. You will not be able to see images or attachments.
   • Right-click on the EML file and select "Open with".
   • In the list of programs, choose Notepad.
   • Find the html>- and body>tags. These tags indicate where the email starts. You can find the content of the email in this section, although you will probably have to search through some HTML code.
   • Find the a href =tags to find links. You can copy and paste the URL displayed there into your web browser to visit the link from the EML file.

Resolving problems

1. EML files do not open in Outlook Express even though the program is installed on the computer. This is usually caused by another program to which the EML format is associated by default. You will have to reset which file formats should be opened by default in Outlook Express.
   • Quit Outlook Express if you have opened the program.
   • Press ⊞ Win+R..
   • Type msimn / reg and press ↵ Enter. Now you have reset all file formats associated with Outlook Express. All EML files should now open automatically in Outlook Express when you double-click the file name.
2. View the file extension. According to some users, backups made with Windows Live Mail have the wrong EML extensions ( * ._ eml instead of *. eml). If you can't open an EML file, check if the file has the correct extension.
   • To learn how to show hidden file extensions, go to Step 2 in the previous method.
   • Rename any EML file with the extension * ._ eml around the _ to delete.

Method 2 of 4: Mac

1. Open the EML file in Apple Mail. Apple Mail is installed by default in OS X and can open and properly display EML files.
   • Right click (Ctrl-click) on the EML file and choose "Open with".
   • In the list of programs, choose "Mail". Your EML file will now open in Apple Mail. You can do this even if you don't have an email account set up in Apple Mail.
2. Use Microsoft Entourage or Outlook for Mac. If you have Office 2008 or 2011, you can install an email client from Microsoft to open the EML files. Office 2008 includes Entourage, while Office 2011 replaces Entourage with Outlook for Mac. You may have chosen not to install an email client when installing Office.
   • When you have installed the program, right click (Ctrl-click) on the EML file and choose "Open with". From the list of available programs, choose Entourage or Outlook.
3. Extract the file with StuffIt Expander. This is a free compression utility for OS X, and you can use it to extract the information from the EML file.
   • Download and install StuffIt Expander from my.smithmicro.com/stuffit-expander-mac.html or in the Mac App Store.
   • Drag the EML file into the StuffIt window. You can extract multiple EML files at once by dragging them all into the window at once.
   • Open the new folders that will be created for each EML file. You will find separate files for the attachments and images, as well as a text document containing the body of the email message.
4. View the EML file as plain text. If you don't have an email client and can't install StuffIt Expander, you can open the EML file in TextEdit. This way you can read the body of the e-mail and see links. You will not be able to view images or attachments.
   • Right click (Ctrl-click) on the EML file and choose "Open with ...".
   • In the list of apps, choose "TextEdit". You may have to scroll through the list.
   • Look for the body>tags. These HTML tags help you find the body of the message. Links start with the a href =tag.

Method 3 of 4: iPad

1. Download and install the Klammer app. You can get this app in the App Store for € 0.99. You can use it to open EML files and view its contents. This is currently the only way to view EML files without having to convert them with another operating system first.
2. Open the Mail app (or the app that contains the EML file you want to open). You can use Klammer to open EML files associated with email messages. You can do this with Dropbox or another cloud storage service, or in another file management program.
   • If you are using Mail, you will have to tap the attachment once to download it to your iPad. If you are using Dropbox or Google Drive, you will need to download the file to your iPad.
   • If the attachment does not download, try forwarding the message to yourself and download it again.
3. Tap the file you downloaded. You will be asked to choose an app to open the file in.
4. Tap "Open with Klammer". The EML file will now be displayed in the Klammer app and you will be able to view it with the correct formatting.

Method 4 of 4: Android

1. Download the EML Reader FREE app. Android itself does not support the EML format. The only way to open EML files on your Android device is to install an app.
   • EML Reader FREE is one of the best-rated apps out there to view EML files, but there are other apps you can choose from as well. Simply search for "eml reader" in the Google Play Store.
2. Open an EML file. There are several ways to open an EML file, depending on how you got the EML file.
   • If you received an EML file as an attachment, open the email message with the EML file in your Gmail or Mail app, then tap the attached EML file.
   • If you downloaded the EML file from a website, use a file manager app to open your folder of downloaded files. You can also open the EML Reader FREE app to browse your files.
3. Choose EML Reader FREE from the list of apps. When you try to open the EML file, you will be asked to choose an app. EML Reader FREE should be on the list. Tap "Always" to link EML files to your new app.
4. Read the EML file. EML Reader FREE will split the EML file into the various parts it has including from / to, date, subject, text, HTML and attachments.
   • The "Text" section contains the middle part of the EML file.
   • The "HTML" portion displays the message in its original formatting.
5. Touch and hold an attachment to open it. At the bottom of the displayed file you will see a list of attachments. These are all the images used to create the HTML message, as well as any files not attached to the message.
   • When you hold your finger on an attachment, a new menu will appear. Select "Open" and then search for an app that can display the relevant file format. You can also tap "Save" to remove the file from the EML file and place it in the same folder.