What is an MSG file?
An MSG file is a single email, appointment, contact or task saved by Microsoft Outlook.
FormatPeek Editorial TeamTechnical details checked against the current viewerPublished September 10, 2026 · Updated September 10, 2026
What does an MSG file contain?
Most MSG files contain an email subject, sender, recipients, sent date, formatted and plain-text message bodies, internet headers and attachments. The format can also preserve Outlook-specific properties.
What opens MSG files?
Microsoft Outlook is the native choice on Windows. If Outlook is unavailable, the free MSG viewer online can extract the readable fields locally on your device.
Is MSG the same as EML?
No. MSG is an Outlook compound file with Microsoft-specific properties. EML follows the widely supported internet message format.