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Are you having issues while trying to open EML files in Outlook? This blog lists a few practical solutions to your problem, along with the reasons why access EML files in Outlook. Additionally, we will discuss how to help you add and view bulk EML files in any Outlook version.
EML is an acronym for Email Message, developed by the Microsoft Corporation. The EML file format follows a standard structure, containing a header, sender and recipients’ details, date, and the message body.
Although EML files can be easily accessed via Outlook, still in some scenarios users find it challenging to access them. We’ve explained how to open EML file in Outlook through some practical methods and have explained in detail why users should access their EML files in Outlook.
Reasons to Open EML Files in Outlook
Opening EML files in Outlook is a wise decision on the user’s part, considering the array of features it provides compared to other email clients. Some of the most common reasons to view EML files in Outlook are listed below:
- The majority of organizations, irrespective of their size, use Outlook as their primary email client. It acts as a centralized platform to view and organize EML files.
- Outlook has better security features as compared to its counterparts which proves to be beneficial while accessing EML files with sensitive data.
- After switching from another client to Outlook, users may need to access their EML files in Outlook.
How to Open EML Files in Outlook?
Users can open EML files in Outlook in several distinct ways as per their needs. We’ve discussed a few manual methods in detail to easily access EML files in Outlook. Let’s have a look at them.
Method 1. Drag & Drop EML Files Directly to MS Outlook
This is by far the easiest method to export EML files to Outlook. If you know the location of the EML files on your system, you can drag and drop them into Outlook. However, do keep in mind that you’ll have to drag each EML file individually to Outlook, which becomes very time-consuming. Follow the steps below to open an EML file in Outlook via this method:
Step 1. Launch Outlook on your system and open the folder where all your EML files are saved.
Step 2. Choose the EML file that you wish to open, drag it to the folder in Outlook and drop it.
Method 2. Change the Default Application of EML Files to Outlook
By default, if you have installed Outlook 2010 or later versions on your system, you can easily open EML file in Outlook. If you are unable to open it, you can access the EML file by making Outlook the default program. It is pretty easy to make Outlook the default application for EML files, even if its location in Windows is unknown. Let’s see how:
Step 1. Locate the folder where all of your EML files are saved.
Step 2. Then right-click on these files and choose Open with >> Outlook.
Step 3. You will be able to view your selected EML file in Outlook.
Method 3. Open an EML File in Outlook Using Windows Live Mail
Users can access their EML files in Outlook by importing Windows Live Mail emails to an Outlook profile. However, to use this method, you have to first install the Windows Live Mail tool and import the EML file into it.
Before moving any further, it is advisable to back up your data. Follow the steps below:
Step 1. Launch Windows Live Mail, navigate to the File tab, select Export email from the list, and click on Email messages.
Step 2. Now choose Microsoft Exchange as the export option and click Next . You will see a dialog box pop up (see below). Click OK to proceed.
Step 3. Either choose to migrate all folders at once or select folders as per your requirement, and then click OK.
Step 4. After the successful completion of the export process, a dialogue box will display the same on your screen. Click on Finish to exit the Export wizard.
Step 5. Now open your Outlook and view the EML files.
How to Open Multiple (Bulk) EML files in Outlook Efficiently?
If your requirement is to import EML files into Outlook in bulk, like adding archived emails to Outlook, you can use an Kernel EML to PST Converter tool. Because adding a large number of EML files in Outlook will take a significant amount of time, combined with constant Outlook freezing issues.
For large-scale conversion of EML files from multiple folders into a single Outlook-ready PST file. Import the PST file into Outlook using the Import/Export feature. It also allows you to directly import EML files to Office 365.
Conclusion
In this tutorial, we have put forth several methods on how to open EML files in Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, or older versions. If you only have a few EML files, then the fastest way to open them is by the drag-and-drop method. But if you have to open large EML files in bulk, you can convert them into a single PST file with an EML File Converter and then import the PST into Outlook.
Frequently Asked Questions
A. To open an EML file in chrome, do this:
1) Open Chrome
2) Select the EML file to view.
3) Drag the file into Chrome.
However, use this method only if you want to read only the text part, without formatting, metadata, or attachments. Also, if the content of the selected EML is not supported, it will show a blank web page on Chrome.
A. Yes, you can open EML files without Outlook. In scenarios when Outlook is not accessible or fails to correctly parse an EML file, you can use an EML Viewer to view/read EML files.
