Easy & Safe Methods to Open RPMSG File

Read time: 5 minutes

Outlook allows you to send normal as well as encrypted emails. Anyone who uses Outlook email client, can turn on the email encryption. Usually, the recipient of the encrypted email is an Outlook user with the required permission to open RPMSG file. But those who either received the .rpmsg file in another email client (not Outlook) or without authorization (shared), will not be able to open it.

If you are someone who is stuck with an .rpmsg file and needs instant solutions on “how to open RPSG file?”, then read the complete blog to find quick & easy solutions. Having sent and received tons of encrypted RPSMG files myself, I have all the answers you need. Before we begin to open the Outlook RPSMG file, let’s understand a little more about it.

What is a RPMSG File?

If you have ever used WhatsApp, you must know about end-to-end encryption. Only the sender and receiver know what’s in the message. A similar safety mechanism is present in Microsoft 365’s environment. The Outlook RPMSG file is the result of this security check. To put it simply, the RPMSG file is the encrypted version of the normal email you sent. Outlook uses Information Rights Management (IRM) to implement it.

How do you encrypt a message in Outlook?

It’s a very simple process, just follow these steps:

Step 1: Open Outlook, click New Email, and compose a new message.

Step 2: Click File and select the Encrypt this item option.

Step 3: Choose the type of encryption you want and send the message.

Outlook will wrap the original message in an encrypted file, with the extension .rpmsg, and will send the locked message as an attachment in a fresh new email (unlocked).

Methods to Open RPMSG file?

Check out the different ways to read the Outlook encrypted email safely.

Method 1: Open RPMSG file in Outlook Desktop Application.

This is the first and easiest way to access the locked file in your system. If you have the authority to open the .rpmsg file and Outlook is installed, then do this:

1. Open Outlook and go to the encrypted message.
2. Click on it and follow the instructions to open the file.

Note: If no instructions are present, double-click the .rpmsg file to open.

Method 2: Open RPMSG file without Outlook Application

If you don’t have Outlook installed or are unable to access the .rpmsg file in the desktop version of Outlook, try the web version. Outlook Web App (OWA) also allows you to open the .rpmsg files. To open it, do the following:

Step 1: Open the web browser and go to https://outlook.office.com/

Step 2: Login with the account that has the permission to view the protected message.

Step 3: Open the email and click on the .rpmsg file.

How to Open RPMSG file in Gmail or any Other Email Client?

Now you know the process of viewing .rpmsg file when received in Outlook. But how will you open it in other email clients, like Gmail. There are two easy solutions for it:

• Solution 1: Configure Gmail in Outlook and use Outlook to open the RPMSG file. If you ask me, you should pick this solution, as it preserves data confidentiality.

Steps to perform this solution are:

Step 1: Launch (download if required) Outlook and add the Gmail account.

Step 2: Open the email; the Outlook will automatically verify it for authenticity and open the encrypted message.

Note: Outlook may ask you to login to the Gmail account to make sure only the right user is accessing data.

• Solution 2: Download the encrypted message and use an online RPMSG viewer tool to open it. You have to upload the encrypted file to an unknown server. Therefore, many users avoid this method due to the data security risk involved.

What to do if you cannot open RPMSG file?

Try the following troubleshoots in case you get an error:

• Update Outlook: If you have an old Outlook version that cannot decrypt the encryption from the latest Outlook version or Office 365, you will fail to open Outlook RPMSG file. Use Outlook 2016 or latest version. Furthermore, you can try to repair Office 365 or Outlook in case an underlying software issue is the root cause.
• Enable IRM: If your account belongs to an organization, contact admin and make sure the Information Rights Management (IRM) is enabled for your account before opening the file.
• Download ARI: Some companies use Azure Rights Management for encryption. Try to download and install the Azure Information Protection (AIP) client. Then, open RPMSG file again.
• Repair Corruption: Sometimes, it’s not the file encryption but the file itself. If the RPSMG file is damaged or corrupt, no Outlook versions can open it. You need to repair it.
• Remove Encryption: In case nothing works, you must ask the sender to resend the message, but without encryption.

Conclusion

Outlook is the correct and simplest way to open RPMSG file. Even if you receive the encrypted email in Gmail or any other email client, you must use Outlook to view the message. In case Outlook is not working, try the troubleshoots given above.

To avoid delays in reading emails, professional IT employees prefer to have an Outlook email viewer like Kernel MSG Viewer. This professional MSG Viewer tool allows you to quickly read MSG file of any size with attachments. You can download and use the tool for free.

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