How to open an EML file in Gmail

Gmail can receive an EML file as an attachment, but it is not a full desktop-style EML importer.

FormatPeek Editorial TeamPresented by Claire Bennett, editorial personaPublished September 10, 2026 · Updated September 10, 2026

Private by designYour file is opened locally in this browser. It is never uploaded to our server and disappears when you close this page.

View the EML first

Drop the file above to inspect its sender, date, body, headers and attachments locally before sharing it.

Create a new Gmail message and attach the EML file.
Send it to yourself or the intended recipient.
Open the received message and use Gmail’s attachment controls if a preview is available.

Availability varies by browser, account and message structure. Attaching an EML is not the same as importing a normal Gmail conversation.

Open the EML in Outlook, Apple Mail or Thunderbird, then forward the original message to Gmail. Check sensitive information first.

For a direct preview, see the free EML viewer.