[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"page_blog-slug_abk4qBvmXaLQ6l8oJZ2mX5EKtbr0f3gCVwOLZqvq8hY":3},{"__nuxt_island":4,"id":94,"head":9,"html":95},{"key":5,"params":6,"result":8},"page_blog-slug_abk4qBvmXaLQ6l8oJZ2mX5EKtbr0f3gCVwOLZqvq8hY",{"url":7,"props":-1},"/blog/what-are-eml-files",{"head":9},{"script":10,"meta":27,"link":83,"title":69,"style":91},[11,17,21,22,23,24,25,26],{"id":12,"type":13,"processTemplateParams":14,"innerHTML":15,"tagPosition":16},"nuxt-og-image-options","application/json",true,"[{\"component\":1,\"props\":2},\"OgImageBlogPost\",{\"title\":3,\"description\":4},\"What Are EML Files and How to Open Them\",\"Everything you need to know about EML files — what they are, how to open them, how they differ from MBOX and MSG files, and why they matter for email archiving, forensics, and migration.\"]","bodyClose",{"key":18,"tagPosition":16,"tagPriority":19,"innerHTML":20},":NIiDfe5__B:","critical","document.querySelectorAll('[data-prehydrate-id*=\":NIiDfe5__B:\"]').forEach(e=>{let t=window._nuxtTimeNow||=Date.now(),n=(e,t)=>t>0?e[0].toUpperCase()+e.slice(1):e,r=e.getAttribute(`datetime`);if(!r)return;let i=new Date(r);if(Number.isNaN(i.getTime()))return;let a={};for(let t of e.getAttributeNames())if(t.startsWith(`data-`)){let r=t.slice(5).split(`-`).map(n).join(``);r===`relativeStyle`&&(r=`style`),a[r]=e.getAttribute(t)}if(a.relative){let n=(i.getTime()-t)/1e3,r=[{unit:`second`,seconds:1,threshold:60},{unit:`minute`,seconds:60,threshold:60},{unit:`hour`,seconds:3600,threshold:24},{unit:`day`,seconds:86400,threshold:30},{unit:`month`,seconds:2592e3,threshold:12},{unit:`year`,seconds:31536e3,threshold:1/0}],{unit:o,seconds:s}=r.find(({seconds:e,threshold:t})=>Math.abs(n/e)\u003Ct)||r[r.length-1],c=n/s;e.textContent=new Intl.RelativeTimeFormat(a.locale,a).format(Math.round(c),o)}else e.textContent=new Intl.DateTimeFormat(a.locale,a).format(i)})",{"key":18,"tagPosition":16,"tagPriority":19,"innerHTML":20},{"key":18,"tagPosition":16,"tagPriority":19,"innerHTML":20},{"key":18,"tagPosition":16,"tagPriority":19,"innerHTML":20},{"key":18,"tagPosition":16,"tagPriority":19,"innerHTML":20},{"key":18,"tagPosition":16,"tagPriority":19,"innerHTML":20},{"key":18,"tagPosition":16,"tagPriority":19,"innerHTML":20},[28,31,34,37,39,41,44,46,49,51,54,57,60,63,65,67,68,70,71,74,78,81],{"property":29,"content":30},"og:image","/__og-image__/image/blog/what-are-eml-files/og.png",{"property":32,"content":33},"og:image:type","image/png",{"name":35,"content":36},"twitter:card","summary_large_image",{"name":38,"content":30},"twitter:image",{"name":40,"content":30},"twitter:image:src",{"property":42,"content":43},"og:image:width",1200,{"name":45,"content":43},"twitter:image:width",{"property":47,"content":48},"og:image:height",600,{"name":50,"content":48},"twitter:image:height",{"hid":52,"property":52,"content":53},"og:type","article",{"hid":55,"property":55,"content":56},"og:url","https://emailshot.io/blog/what-are-eml-files/",{"property":58,"content":59},"og:title","What Are EML Files and How to Open Them",{"name":61,"content":62},"description","Everything you need to know about EML files — what they are, how to open them, how they differ from MBOX and MSG files, and why they matter for email archiving, forensics, and migration.",{"property":64,"content":62},"og:description",{"property":29,"content":66},"/img/emailshot-screenshot.png",{"name":61,"content":62},{"property":58,"content":69},"What Are EML Files and How to Open Them - EmailShot Blog",{"property":64,"content":62},{"property":72,"content":73},"article:published_time","2026-03-12",{"property":75,"content":76,"key":77},"article:modified_time","2026-03-16","0",{"property":79,"content":80,"key":80},"article:tag","tools",{"property":79,"content":82,"key":82},"technical",[84,86],{"rel":85,"href":56},"canonical",{"rel":87,"type":88,"title":89,"href":90},"alternate","application/rss+xml","EmailShot Blog RSS Feed","https://emailshot.io/blog/rss.xml",[92],{"innerHTML":93},"pre code .line{display:block;min-height:1rem}","abk4qBvmXaLQ6l8oJZ2mX5EKtbr0f3gCVwOLZqvq8hY","\u003Cdiv class=\"blog-view\" data-island-uid>\u003Cmain>\u003C!--[-->\u003C!--[-->\u003C!---->\u003C!---->\u003C!---->\u003C!---->\u003C!---->\u003C!---->\u003C!--[-->\u003C!---->\u003C!---->\u003C!--]-->\u003C!--]-->\u003Carticle>\u003Cdiv class=\"container\">\u003Cheader class=\"mb-4\">\u003Cdiv class=\"section-heading\">\u003Ch1 class=\"blog-article-title mb-1 fw-bolder\">What Are EML Files and How to Open Them\u003C/h1>\u003Cdiv class=\"line\">\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv class=\"d-flex flex-wrap align-items-center gap-3 text-muted mb-3\">\u003Cdiv class=\"fst-italic\"> Published on \u003Ctime data-year=\"numeric\" data-month=\"long\" data-day=\"numeric\" datetime=\"2026-03-12T00:00:00.000Z\" data-prehydrate-id=\":NIiDfe5__B:\">March 12, 2026\u003C/time>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv class=\"fst-italic\"> · Updated on \u003Ctime data-year=\"numeric\" data-month=\"long\" data-day=\"numeric\" datetime=\"2026-03-16T00:00:00.000Z\" data-prehydrate-id=\":NIiDfe5__B:\">March 16, 2026\u003C/time>\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv class=\"mb-3\">\u003C!--[-->\u003Cspan class=\"badge bg-secondary me-1\">tools\u003C/span>\u003Cspan class=\"badge bg-secondary me-1\">technical\u003C/span>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/div>\u003C/header>\u003Cdiv class=\"row\">\u003Cdiv class=\"col-lg-8\">\u003Cdiv class=\"blog-content\">\u003Cdiv>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->If you've ever downloaded an email, received a \u003Ccode class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->.eml\u003C!--]-->\u003C/code> file as an attachment, or tried to migrate your emails between providers, you've likely encountered the EML format. Despite being one of the most common email file types, many people aren't sure what EML files are, how to open them, or why they matter.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know — from the basics of the EML format to advanced use cases like email forensics and data migration.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Ch2 id=\"what-is-an-eml-file\">\u003Ca href=\"#what-is-an-eml-file\">\u003C!--[-->What is an EML File?\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h2>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->An EML file is a standard email message format that stores a single email message as a plain text file. The \u003Ccode class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->.eml\u003C!--]-->\u003C/code> extension stands for "electronic mail," and the format has been around since the early days of the internet.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->Each EML file contains the complete email, including:\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cul>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Headers\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: All technical and human-readable headers — From, To, CC, BCC, Subject, Date, Message-ID, and dozens of other fields\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Body\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Both the plain text and HTML versions of the email content (if the sender included both)\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Attachments\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Any attached files, encoded within the EML using MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) encoding — typically Base64\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Inline images\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Images embedded in the email body, also MIME-encoded\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Authentication headers\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC results added by receiving servers\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/ul>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->EML files follow the \u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->RFC 5322\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong> standard (and its predecessor, RFC 2822), which defines the format of internet email messages. This standardization makes EML files universally compatible across email clients and operating systems.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Ch2 id=\"what-does-an-eml-file-look-like-inside\">\u003Ca href=\"#what-does-an-eml-file-look-like-inside\">\u003C!--[-->What Does an EML File Look Like Inside?\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h2>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->If you open an EML file in a text editor, you'll see something like this:\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cpre class=\"\" style=\"\">\u003C!--[-->\u003Ccode>From: John Smith <john@example.com>\nTo: Jane Doe <jane@example.com>\nSubject: Project Update\nDate: Mon, 15 Jan 2026 10:30:00 -0500\nMIME-Version: 1.0\nContent-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="boundary123"\n\n--boundary123\nContent-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"\n\nHi Jane, here's the project update...\n\n--boundary123\nContent-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8"\n\n<html><body><p>Hi Jane, here's the project update...</p></body></html>\n\n--boundary123--\n\u003C/code>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/pre>\u003C!--]-->\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->The file starts with email headers (one per line), followed by a blank line, and then the message body. For emails with both plain text and HTML versions (which is most modern emails), the body is divided into multiple MIME parts separated by boundary strings.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->Attachments appear as additional MIME parts with Base64-encoded content — which is why raw EML files can be quite large for emails with attachments.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Ch2 id=\"eml-vs-other-email-file-formats\">\u003Ca href=\"#eml-vs-other-email-file-formats\">\u003C!--[-->EML vs. Other Email File Formats\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h2>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->EML isn't the only email file format you might encounter. Here's how it compares to the alternatives:\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Ch3 id=\"eml-vs-mbox\">\u003Ca href=\"#eml-vs-mbox\">\u003C!--[-->EML vs. MBOX\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h3>\u003Ctable>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cthead>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ctr>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cth>\u003C!--[-->Feature\u003C!--]-->\u003C/th>\u003Cth>\u003C!--[-->EML\u003C!--]-->\u003C/th>\u003Cth>\u003C!--[-->MBOX\u003C!--]-->\u003C/th>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/tr>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/thead>\u003Ctbody>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ctr>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Emails per file\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->One\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->Multiple\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/tr>\u003Ctr>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->File extension\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->.eml\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->.mbox\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/tr>\u003Ctr>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Standard\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->RFC 5322\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->RFC 4155\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/tr>\u003Ctr>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Best for\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->Individual emails\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->Mailbox exports / archives\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/tr>\u003Ctr>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Readability\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->Easy to inspect\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->Harder (concatenated emails)\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/tr>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/tbody>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/table>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->MBOX\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong> files store multiple emails in a single file, separated by "From " lines. They're commonly used for full mailbox exports from providers like Gmail (via Google Takeout) or Thunderbird. If you need to view MBOX files, check out our free \u003Ca href=\"/tools/mbox-viewer/\" class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->MBOX Viewer\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a> tool.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Ch3 id=\"eml-vs-msg\">\u003Ca href=\"#eml-vs-msg\">\u003C!--[-->EML vs. MSG\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h3>\u003Ctable>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cthead>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ctr>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cth>\u003C!--[-->Feature\u003C!--]-->\u003C/th>\u003Cth>\u003C!--[-->EML\u003C!--]-->\u003C/th>\u003Cth>\u003C!--[-->MSG\u003C!--]-->\u003C/th>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/tr>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/thead>\u003Ctbody>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ctr>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Format\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->Plain text (RFC 5322)\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->Binary (Microsoft proprietary)\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/tr>\u003Ctr>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Created by\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->Any email client\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->Microsoft Outlook\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/tr>\u003Ctr>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Compatibility\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->Universal\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->Primarily Windows/Outlook\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/tr>\u003Ctr>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->File size\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->Generally smaller\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->Generally larger\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/tr>\u003Ctr>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Metadata\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->Standard headers\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003Ctd>\u003C!--[-->Includes Outlook-specific properties\u003C!--]-->\u003C/td>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/tr>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/tbody>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/table>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->MSG\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong> files are Microsoft Outlook's proprietary format. They contain the same email data but in a binary format that's harder to work with outside the Microsoft ecosystem. If you receive an MSG file and don't have Outlook, you'll need a converter or specialized viewer.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Ch3 id=\"eml-vs-pst\">\u003Ca href=\"#eml-vs-pst\">\u003C!--[-->EML vs. PST\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h3>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->PST (Personal Storage Table)\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong> files are another Microsoft format, but unlike MSG files (which store individual emails), PST files store an entire mailbox — including emails, contacts, calendar entries, and tasks. They're used for Outlook backups and archives.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Ch2 id=\"common-use-cases-for-eml-files\">\u003Ca href=\"#common-use-cases-for-eml-files\">\u003C!--[-->Common Use Cases for EML Files\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h2>\u003Ch3 id=\"email-archiving-and-compliance\">\u003Ca href=\"#email-archiving-and-compliance\">\u003C!--[-->Email Archiving and Compliance\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h3>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->Many organizations are required to archive business communications for compliance purposes. Regulations like \u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->SOX\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong> (Sarbanes-Oxley), \u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->GDPR\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->HIPAA\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>, and industry-specific rules often mandate that emails be preserved for specific periods.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->EML files are ideal for archiving because:\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cul>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->Each email is a self-contained file that can be stored independently\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->The format preserves all original headers and metadata\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->Files can be organized in folder structures that mirror mailbox organization\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->The plain text format ensures long-term readability — no proprietary software needed to open them decades later\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/ul>\u003Ch3 id=\"email-forensics-and-investigation\">\u003Ca href=\"#email-forensics-and-investigation\">\u003C!--[-->Email Forensics and Investigation\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h3>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->Security professionals and investigators regularly work with EML files to:\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cul>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Investigate phishing attempts\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Examine the full email headers to trace the origin of a phishing email, checking for spoofed addresses and suspicious routing\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Track email origins\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Follow the \u003Ccode class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->Received\u003C!--]-->\u003C/code> headers to trace the path an email took across servers\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Examine authentication results\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Check \u003Ca href=\"/blog/understanding-email-authentication/\" class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->SPF, DKIM, and DMARC\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a> headers to verify whether the email passed authentication\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Analyze malicious attachments\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Extract and examine attachments in a controlled environment\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Preserve evidence\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Maintain the original email in an unmodified format for legal proceedings\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/ul>\u003Ch3 id=\"email-migration\">\u003Ca href=\"#email-migration\">\u003C!--[-->Email Migration\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h3>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->When moving between email providers — from one Google Workspace account to another, from Exchange to Gmail, or from a local mail client to a cloud service — EML files serve as a universal transfer format.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->The migration process typically involves:\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Col>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->Exporting emails as EML files from the source system\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->Transferring the files to the destination\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->Importing the EML files into the new email system\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/ol>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->Because EML is standardized, this approach works across virtually any combination of email providers.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Ch3 id=\"legal-discovery-ediscovery\">\u003Ca href=\"#legal-discovery-ediscovery\">\u003C!--[-->Legal Discovery (eDiscovery)\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h3>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->In legal proceedings, emails are frequently requested as evidence. EML files are the preferred format for eDiscovery because they:\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cul>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->Preserve the complete email exactly as it was sent and received\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->Include all headers that can verify authenticity\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->Can be verified against DKIM signatures to prove the email hasn't been modified\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->Are widely accepted by courts and legal professionals\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/ul>\u003Ch3 id=\"backup-and-personal-archives\">\u003Ca href=\"#backup-and-personal-archives\">\u003C!--[-->Backup and Personal Archives\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h3>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->For individuals, saving important emails as EML files provides a simple, future-proof backup:\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cul>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->Download receipts, booking confirmations, and important correspondence\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->Store them in cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) alongside related documents\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->Access them years later without depending on any specific email provider\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/ul>\u003Ch2 id=\"how-to-open-eml-files\">\u003Ca href=\"#how-to-open-eml-files\">\u003C!--[-->How to Open EML Files\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h2>\u003Ch3 id=\"using-our-free-online-viewer\">\u003Ca href=\"#using-our-free-online-viewer\">\u003C!--[-->Using Our Free Online Viewer\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h3>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->The easiest way to view an EML file is with our free \u003Ca href=\"/tools/eml-viewer/\" class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->Online EML Viewer\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>. Simply drag and drop your file, and it renders the email with full formatting, headers, and attachment listings — all in your browser.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Key advantages of our EML Viewer:\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cul>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->No upload required\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: The file is processed entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Your email data never leaves your device.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Full rendering\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: See the email exactly as it would appear in an email client, with HTML formatting, images, and styling\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Header inspection\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: View all email headers including authentication results, routing information, and technical metadata\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Attachment listing\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: See all attachments with their names, sizes, and MIME types\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Mobile friendly\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Works on phones and tablets, not just desktop browsers\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->No account needed\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: No sign-up, no login — just drag, drop, and view\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/ul>\u003Ch3 id=\"using-desktop-email-clients\">\u003Ca href=\"#using-desktop-email-clients\">\u003C!--[-->Using Desktop Email Clients\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h3>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->Most modern email clients can open EML files natively:\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cul>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Mozilla Thunderbird\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Double-click the EML file, or drag it into Thunderbird. Thunderbird has excellent EML support and is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Microsoft Outlook\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Drag the EML file into Outlook, or use File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File. Note that Outlook sometimes has rendering differences compared to other clients.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Apple Mail\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Double-click the EML file or drag it into the Mail app. macOS handles EML files natively.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Windows Mail\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: On Windows 10/11, double-clicking an EML file should open it in the default Mail app.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Gmail\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: You can't directly open an EML file in Gmail's web interface, but you can forward it as an attachment to your Gmail address, or use our \u003Ca href=\"/tools/eml-viewer/\" class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->EML Viewer\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a> for quick viewing.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/ul>\u003Ch3 id=\"using-text-editors\">\u003Ca href=\"#using-text-editors\">\u003C!--[-->Using Text Editors\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h3>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->Since EML files are plain text, you can open them in any text editor to see the raw email content:\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cul>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->VS Code\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Great for technical analysis — syntax highlighting makes headers easier to read\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Notepad++ (Windows)\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Handles large EML files well\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Sublime Text\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Fast and lightweight for quick inspection\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->nano/vim (Linux/macOS)\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Command-line options for server environments\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/ul>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->This approach is useful when you need to inspect raw headers, debug email authentication issues, or extract specific information programmatically. However, it won't render the HTML content — you'll see the raw HTML tags instead.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Ch3 id=\"using-command-line-tools\">\u003Ca href=\"#using-command-line-tools\">\u003C!--[-->Using Command-Line Tools\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h3>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->For advanced users and automation workflows:\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cpre class=\"language-bash\" style=\"\">\u003C!--[-->\u003Ccode># View headers only\ngrep -E "^(From|To|Subject|Date):" email.eml\n\n# Extract the subject line\ngrep "^Subject:" email.eml\n\n# Count attachments\ngrep -c "Content-Disposition: attachment" email.eml\n\u003C/code>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/pre>\u003C!--]-->\u003Ch2 id=\"how-to-create-eml-files\">\u003Ca href=\"#how-to-create-eml-files\">\u003C!--[-->How to Create EML Files\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h2>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->You might need to save an email as an EML file for archiving or sharing. Here's how in different email clients:\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cul>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Thunderbird\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Right-click the email > Save As > ensure the format is EML\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Outlook\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Drag the email from Outlook to a folder on your desktop, or use File > Save As > change the type to "Outlook Message Format - Unicode (.msg)" isn't what you want — choose "Text Only (.txt)" and rename to .eml, or use a plugin\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Apple Mail\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Drag the email from Mail to your desktop — it saves as .eml by default\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Gmail\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Open the email > click the three dots menu (⋮) > "Download message" — this saves the email as an EML file\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/ul>\u003Ch2 id=\"security-considerations-when-opening-eml-files\">\u003Ca href=\"#security-considerations-when-opening-eml-files\">\u003C!--[-->Security Considerations When Opening EML Files\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h2>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->EML files from unknown sources should be treated with the same caution as any email from an untrusted sender — perhaps even more so, since they may have been specifically crafted to exploit vulnerabilities.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Ch3 id=\"safety-guidelines\">\u003Ca href=\"#safety-guidelines\">\u003C!--[-->Safety Guidelines\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h3>\u003Col>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Don't click links\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong> in the email until you've verified the sender and the link destinations. Hover over links to see where they actually point.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Don't open attachments\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong> extracted from suspicious EML files. Attachments in EML files can contain malware just like attachments in regular emails.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Check email headers\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong> for signs of spoofing. Look at the \u003Ccode class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->Received\u003C!--]-->\u003C/code> headers, SPF/DKIM/DMARC results, and the \u003Ccode class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->Return-Path\u003C!--]-->\u003C/code> for inconsistencies.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Use our EML Viewer\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong> for safe viewing — it renders emails in a sandboxed environment without executing any scripts, loading external images from tracking pixels, or activating embedded content.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Scan attachments\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong> with antivirus software before opening them.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Be wary of urgency\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong> — phishing emails often create artificial time pressure ("Your account will be closed in 24 hours!").\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/ol>\u003Ch3 id=\"common-red-flags-in-eml-files\">\u003Ca href=\"#common-red-flags-in-eml-files\">\u003C!--[-->Common Red Flags in EML Files\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h3>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->When analyzing an EML file for potential phishing or fraud:\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cul>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Mismatched "From" header and "Return-Path"\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: The display name says "Your Bank" but the actual address is something like \u003Ca href=\"mailto:random@malicious-domain.com\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u003C!--[-->random@malicious-domain.com\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Failed authentication\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: SPF, DKIM, or DMARC failures in the headers suggest the email may be spoofed\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Suspicious links\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: Links that use URL shorteners, look-alike domains (paypa1.com vs paypal.com), or IP addresses instead of domain names\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Encoded or obfuscated content\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>: HTML that uses excessive encoding or JavaScript to hide its true content\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/ul>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->For a deeper understanding of email authentication, check out our guide on \u003Ca href=\"/blog/understanding-email-authentication/\" class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->SPF, DKIM, and DMARC\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Ch2 id=\"frequently-asked-questions-about-eml-files\">\u003Ca href=\"#frequently-asked-questions-about-eml-files\">\u003C!--[-->Frequently Asked Questions About EML Files\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h2>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Can I convert an EML file to PDF?\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\nYes. Open the EML file in an email client or our \u003Ca href=\"/tools/eml-viewer/\" class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->EML Viewer\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>, then use your browser's or system's Print > Save as PDF function.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Are EML files safe to store?\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\nYes. EML files are plain text and don't execute code on their own. The risk comes from opening links or attachments within them, not from the file itself.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->How large can an EML file be?\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\nThere's no technical limit, but files with large attachments can be several hundred MB. Most EML files for typical emails are between 10 KB and 10 MB.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->Can I edit an EML file?\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\nSince EML files are plain text, you can edit them in any text editor. However, modifying an email after the fact will invalidate its DKIM signature, which may be important if you need to prove the email's authenticity.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Cp>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cstrong>\u003C!--[-->What's the difference between .eml and .msg files?\u003C!--]-->\u003C/strong>\nEML is a universal, text-based standard (RFC 5322). MSG is Microsoft Outlook's proprietary binary format. EML files work everywhere; MSG files work best in Outlook.\u003C!--]-->\u003C/p>\u003Ch2 id=\"related-tools\">\u003Ca href=\"#related-tools\">\u003C!--[-->Related Tools\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a>\u003C/h2>\u003Cul>\u003C!--[-->\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ca href=\"/tools/eml-viewer/\" class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->EML Viewer\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a> — Open and read EML files online, securely in your browser\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ca href=\"/tools/mbox-viewer/\" class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->MBOX Viewer\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a> — View MBOX mailbox archive files containing multiple emails\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ca href=\"/tools/dmarc-analyzer/\" class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->DMARC Analyzer\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a> — Analyze email authentication reports to understand SPF, DKIM, and DMARC results\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ca href=\"/tools/dns-checker/\" class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->DNS Checker\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a> — Verify your domain's DNS records, including email authentication records\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ca href=\"/tools/ical-viewer/\" class=\"\">\u003C!--[-->iCal Viewer\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a> — View calendar invitation files often found as email attachments\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003Cli>\u003C!--[-->\u003Ca href=\"https://advancedcomputers.co.nz/computer-repairs/\" rel=\"external\">\u003C!--[-->Computer repair\u003C!--]-->\u003C/a> — For when all the above didn't work\u003C!--]-->\u003C/li>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/ul>\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv class=\"mt-5 pt-4 border-top\">\u003Ca href=\"/blog/\" class=\"btn btn-outline-primary\"> ← Back to Blog \u003C/a>\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv class=\"col-lg-4\">\u003Cdiv class=\"card mb-4\">\u003Cdiv class=\"card-header fw-semibold\"> Recent Posts \u003C/div>\u003Cdiv class=\"card-body\">\u003Cul class=\"list-unstyled mb-0\">\u003C!--[-->\u003Cli class=\"mb-3\">\u003Ca href=\"/blog/export-emails-markdown-pdf/\" class=\"text-decoration-none blog-sidebar-link\">Export Emails as Markdown or PDF — and Why Format Matters More Than Ever\u003C/a>\u003Cdiv class=\"text-muted small\">\u003Ctime data-year=\"numeric\" data-month=\"short\" data-day=\"numeric\" datetime=\"2026-04-07T00:00:00.000Z\" data-prehydrate-id=\":NIiDfe5__B:\">Apr 7, 2026\u003C/time>\u003C/div>\u003C/li>\u003Cli class=\"mb-3\">\u003Ca href=\"/blog/what-are-vcf-files/\" class=\"text-decoration-none blog-sidebar-link\">What Are VCF Files and How to Open Them\u003C/a>\u003Cdiv class=\"text-muted small\">\u003Ctime data-year=\"numeric\" data-month=\"short\" data-day=\"numeric\" datetime=\"2026-03-27T00:00:00.000Z\" data-prehydrate-id=\":NIiDfe5__B:\">Mar 27, 2026\u003C/time>\u003C/div>\u003C/li>\u003Cli class=\"mb-3\">\u003Ca href=\"/blog/what-are-ics-files/\" class=\"text-decoration-none blog-sidebar-link\">What Are ICS Files and How to Open Them\u003C/a>\u003Cdiv class=\"text-muted small\">\u003Ctime data-year=\"numeric\" data-month=\"short\" data-day=\"numeric\" datetime=\"2026-03-19T00:00:00.000Z\" data-prehydrate-id=\":NIiDfe5__B:\">Mar 19, 2026\u003C/time>\u003C/div>\u003C/li>\u003Cli class=\"mb-3\">\u003Ca href=\"/blog/email-sharing-best-practices-for-teams/\" class=\"text-decoration-none blog-sidebar-link\">Email Sharing Best Practices for Teams\u003C/a>\u003Cdiv class=\"text-muted small\">\u003Ctime data-year=\"numeric\" data-month=\"short\" data-day=\"numeric\" datetime=\"2026-03-05T00:00:00.000Z\" data-prehydrate-id=\":NIiDfe5__B:\">Mar 5, 2026\u003C/time>\u003C/div>\u003C/li>\u003Cli class=\"mb-3\">\u003Ca href=\"/blog/how-to-share-emails-on-mobile/\" class=\"text-decoration-none blog-sidebar-link\">How to Share Emails on Mobile Devices\u003C/a>\u003Cdiv class=\"text-muted small\">\u003Ctime data-year=\"numeric\" data-month=\"short\" data-day=\"numeric\" datetime=\"2026-02-22T00:00:00.000Z\" data-prehydrate-id=\":NIiDfe5__B:\">Feb 22, 2026\u003C/time>\u003C/div>\u003C/li>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/ul>\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003Cdiv class=\"card\">\u003Cdiv class=\"card-header fw-semibold\"> About EmailShot \u003C/div>\u003Cdiv class=\"card-body\">\u003Cp class=\"small text-muted mb-2\"> Share any email easily with a simple direct link in just one click. \u003C/p>\u003Ca href=\"https://workspace.google.com/marketplace/app/emailshot/392337853098\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm text-white\"> Install EmailShot \u003C/a>\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003C/div>\u003C/article>\u003C!--]-->\u003C/main>\u003C/div>"]