How to Open EML Files on Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android

Published on June 4, 2026

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You have an EML file and need to read it. Whether it arrived as an attachment, was exported from an email client, or came from a backup archive, here's how to open it on every platform.

Quickest way: Drop the EML file into our free online EML viewer — it shows headers, body, and attachments instantly in your browser. No account, no install, works on any device.

What is an EML file?

An EML file is a standard email message saved to disk. It stores the complete email: headers (From, To, Subject, Date), the message body in plain text and/or HTML, and any attachments. EML files follow the RFC 5322 standard and are supported by virtually every email client.

Common sources of EML files:

Emails exported or dragged out of Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or Outlook
Email archive backups
.eml attachments forwarded by colleagues
Automated systems that save outbound emails

Method 1: Open an EML file online (no software needed)

Works on any device — Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Chromebook.

Go to emailshot.io/tools/eml-viewer/
Drag and drop the EML file, or click Select File
The full email is displayed: subject, sender, recipients, HTML body, plain text, and attachments

Nothing is uploaded to a server. The file is parsed locally in your browser. MSG files (Outlook's format) are also supported.

Method 2: How to open an EML file on Windows

Option A — Thunderbird (recommended, free)

Download and install Mozilla Thunderbird
Drag the EML file into any Thunderbird folder
The email opens immediately

Option B — Windows Mail / Outlook

Double-clicking an EML file on Windows usually opens it in Outlook or Windows Mail if either is installed. If nothing happens, right-click → Open with and select your email client.

Option C — Text editor (raw view)

Right-click the EML file → Open with → Notepad. EML files are plain text, so you can read the raw content — headers, MIME structure, and body — though it will not render HTML.

Method 3: How to open an EML file on Mac

Option A — Apple Mail

Double-click the EML file. If Apple Mail is your default mail client it opens immediately. If not, right-click → Open With → Mail.

Option B — Thunderbird

Drag the EML file into any Thunderbird folder.

Option C — Text editor

Right-click → Open With → TextEdit. If TextEdit opens in rich-text mode, go to Format → Make Plain Text first. VS Code or BBEdit give a cleaner view.

Method 4: How to open an EML file on iPhone

iOS has no native EML viewer. Tapping an EML file in Mail or Files will often show a blank screen or an error.

To read the email on iPhone:

Open Safari on your iPhone
Go to emailshot.io/tools/eml-viewer/
Tap Select File and choose the EML file from the Files app

The viewer runs entirely in Safari — nothing is uploaded.

Method 5: How to open an EML file on Android

Android does not open EML files natively. The file may show as unrecognised.

To read the email on Android:

Open Chrome on your Android device
Go to emailshot.io/tools/eml-viewer/
Tap Select File and choose the EML file

Alternatively, install Thunderbird for Android, which can open EML files directly.

How to open an EML file without Outlook

You do not need Outlook to open an EML file. Use any of these free options:

Browser-based: EML viewer — no install, works everywhere
Thunderbird: Free, cross-platform, handles EML natively
Apple Mail: Built into macOS and iOS
Text editor: Opens the raw content on any OS

EML vs MSG files — what's the difference?

EML (.eml) is a universal, plain-text format defined by RFC 5322. It works with any email client on any operating system.

MSG (.msg) is Microsoft Outlook's proprietary binary format. It's not plain text and requires either Outlook or a tool that understands the format to open it. Our EML viewer supports both formats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can EML files contain malware? EML files are plain text and cannot execute code on their own. The risk is from clicking links or opening executable attachments inside the email — not from opening the EML file itself. Using a browser-based viewer means the email is displayed but never executed.

Why does my EML file show garbled text? The file may use quoted-printable or base64 encoding, or a non-UTF-8 character set. Open it in the online EML viewer which handles these encodings automatically, or open it in a text editor and look at the Content-Transfer-Encoding header for clues.

How do I open an EML file attachment from another email? Save the attached EML file to your device first (right-click → Save As, or download from webmail), then open it using any method above.

Can I convert an EML file to PDF? Open the EML file in Thunderbird or Apple Mail, then use File → Print → Save as PDF (or Print to PDF on Windows). Alternatively, open it in the online viewer and use your browser's print-to-PDF feature.

EML Viewer — Open any .eml or .msg file in your browser instantly
MBOX Viewer — View MBOX email archives that contain many EML-style messages
VCF Viewer — Open vCard contact files that may be attached to emails

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