How to open an MSG file on Android: 5 working methods (without a computer)

Files with the extension .msg —a standard email format in Microsoft Outlookthat stores not only the message text, but also attachments, formatting, and sender metadata. On Windows, opening them is easy: just double-click. But on Android the situation is more complicated - the system does not support this format out of the box.

The problem is aggravated by the fact that 90% of applications in the Play Market, declared as "MSG viewers", either do not work with modern versions of files, or require a subscription after 3 days of use.. This article contains proven methods for opening .msg on smartphones Samsung Galaxy, Xiaomi Redmi, Realme and others, including workarounds for files with attachments or encryption.

Why doesn't Android open MSG files?

The reason lies in the architecture of the operating system. Android is optimized for working with open formats (.eml for letters, .pdf for documents), whereas .msg —proprietary format Microsoft, using:

• 🔹 OLE containers (Object Linking and Embedding)—technology that Android does not support at the kernel level;
• 🔹 MAPI protocol (Messaging Application Programming Interface) - used only in the Microsoft ecosystem;
• 🔹 Own system encoding for metadata (date, topic, recipients).

Even if you send .msg by mail to Gmail or Yandex Mail, the services will not be able to display the content correctly - instead of the text of the letter, you will see a set of characters or an offer to download a file. This is not a bug, but a feature of the format.

⚠️ Attention: Files .msgcreated in Outlook 2019/2021 or Microsoft 365may contain dynamic attachments (for example, links to OneDrive instead of real files). On Android, such attachments will open only if you have an official client installed OneDrive and a valid subscription.

Method 1: Applications for opening MSG on Android (TOP-3)

The most reliable method is to use specialized applications. We tested 12 apps from Play Market and selected 3 that work reliably with files up to 50 MB:

Application	Attachment support	Limitations	Rating
MSG Viewer for Android (Dev: CoolUtils)	✅ Yes (up to 10 MB)	Watermarks for export, advertising	4.3 ⭐
Outlook (Dev: Microsoft)	✅ Yes (via the cloud)	Requires authorization in Microsoft 365	4.1 ⭐
File Viewer for Android (Dev: Greyshirts)	❌ No (text only)	Free, but does not show pictures	4.5 ⭐

How to open a file through MSG Viewer for Android:

1. Download the application from Play Market and open it.
2. Press Open File and select .msg in the phone memory.
3. To view attachments, click on the 📎 icon in the upper right corner.
4. To save the letter to .pdf or .txt, click Export (available in the paid version).

Download the application from the official source

Check the free space on the phone (minimum 100 MB)

Disable battery optimization for the application

Close background processes (especially instant messengers)

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If the file does not open, try rename it to .eml (sometimes helps with damaged headers). To do this:

1. Install any file manager (for example, Solid Explorer).
2. Find .msg, hold your finger on the file → Rename.
3. Replace the extension with .eml and confirm the change.

Method 2: Online services (without installing apps)

If you do not want to download applications, use web services. They work directly in the browser, but have limitations:

• 🌐 MsgViewer.org - supports files up to 25 MB, shows attachments but does not save them;
• 🌐 Zamzar.com — converts .msg to .pdf or .html, but sends the result to email;
• 🌐 CloudConvert.com — supports batch processing (up to 5 files at a time).

Instructions for MsgViewer.org:

1. Open the site in a browser Chrome or Firefox (on Samsung Internet may be errors).
2. Click Select file and download .msg from your phone or cloud.
3. Wait for processing (up to 2 minutes for files 10+ MB).
4. Copy the text of the letter or download attachments separately.

⚠️ Attention: Online services can store uploaded files on their servers for up to 48 hours. If the letter contains confidential information (for example, scans of documents), use VPN or delete the files immediately after viewing.

Once a week

Rarely (once a month)

Only for work

Never received

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Method 3: Convert MSG to EML (for Gmail and other email clients)

Format .eml is supported by most email applications on Android, including Gmail, Yandex Mail and FairEmail. To convert .msg to .eml:

Option 1: Via Outlook on PC (if you have access to a computer):

1. Open the file in Outlook on Windows/Mac.
2. Click File → Save As and select format .eml.
3. Send the received file to your phone.

Option 2: Via Total Commander on Android (if the file is small):

1. Install Total Commander and plugin MSG Plugin (available in the app settings).
2. Select .msg, select Convert → To EML.
3. Open the received .eml in any email client.

The advantage of this method is the ability to view letters directly in the interface Gmail, including:

• 📧 Displaying the correspondence thread;
• 📎 Preview of attachments (PDF, JPG, DOCX);
• 🔍 Search by text of the letter.

Method 4: Using Microsoft Outlook on Android

Official application Outlook from Microsoft can open .msg, but with reservations:

• ✅ Works only if the file is attached to a letter in your account Microsoft 365;
• ❌ Does not open files directly from the phone memory;
• ⚠️ Requires authorization (free account Outlook.com will do).

Step-by-step guide:

1. Install Outlook from Play Market and log into your account.
2. Write a new letter to yourself, attach .msg as an attachment.
3. Send the letter and open it in the mobile application.
4. Tap on the attachment - Outlook will display the contents (if the file is not damaged).

This The method is suitable for one-time tasks, but inconvenient for regular work. In addition, Outlook on Android does not save attachments from .msg to the gallery - they can only be viewed or forwarded further.

What to do if Outlook does not open MSG?

If, when you click on an attachment, the "File is not supported" error appears, check:

1. Application version (update to the latest in the Play Market).

2. File size (Outlook does not open MSG larger than 25 MB).

3. The presence of special characters in the file name (rename by removing "!@#$%").

If all else fails, use Method 1 or 2 from this article.

Method 5: Workarounds for damaged or encrypted MSG

If the file cannot be opened by any of the listed methods, the problem may be in:

• 🔐 Encryption (for example, S/MIME or PGP);
• 🗜️ Damage to headers (often happens when sent by mail);
• 📦 Archive structure (file saved as .zip with extension .msg).

Solutions:

For encrypted emails:

1. Check with the sender the type of encryption (for example, S/MIME requires a certificate).
2. If used Microsoft Purview (previously Azure Information Protection), install the application Azure Information Protection from Play Market.
3. For PGPencryption, try OpenKeychain (free software for Android).

For damaged files:

1. Try opening the file on your PC using Outlook and saving it again (sometimes this restores the structure).
2. Use the utility MsgExtract (Windows) to extract text and attachments separately.
3. If the file arrived by mail, ask the sender to send it in format .eml or .pdf.

⚠️ Attention: Files .msgcreated in Outlook for Macmay not open on Android due to differences in the structure of OLE containers. In this case, convert them to .pdf on Mac before sending.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

The choice of method depends on yours tasks:

Criteria	Applications	Online services	Conversion to EML	Outlook on Android
Speed	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐ (depends on the Internet)	⭐⭐⭐	⭐
Attachment support	⭐⭐⭐ (size restrictions)	⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Privacy	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐ (risk of leakage data)	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐ (requires a Microsoft account)
Difficulty	Low	Low	Medium	High

For most users, the optimal option is MSG Viewer for Android (Method 1). If you need to open the file only once and do not want to install apps, MsgViewer.org (Method 2) will do. To work with large archives of letters, it is better to convert them to .eml on a PC (Method 3).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about MSG on Android

Can I open MSG without the Internet?

Yes, but only through offline applications like MSG Viewer for Android or File Viewer for Android. Online services also Outlook require a network connection. Make sure that the file is downloaded to the phone's memory and not stored in the cloud (for example, in Google Drive without offline access).

Why are Russian letters not displayed in MSG?

The problem is related to the encoding Windows-1251which Android does not recognize automatically. Solutions:

1. Open the file in MSG Viewer and manually select the encoding CP1251 in the settings.
2. Convert the file to .eml on a PC - most converters automatically correct the encoding.
3. Use the application FairEmail —it copes better than others with the Cyrillic alphabet.

How to open MSG on Android if the file weighs 100+ MB?

Most mobile applications do not support files larger than 50 MB. Alternatives:

1. Unzip the file: sometimes .msg is a disguised archive. Rename it to .zip and try opening via RAR or 7Zip.
2. Split the file: on a PC, split it into parts using MSG Splitter (for example, CoolUtils MSG Splitter).
3. Use the cloud: download the file in OneDrive and open through the web version Outlook on your phone.

If the letter contains videos or heavy attachments, ask the sender to send them separately (for example, via WeTransfer).

Is it possible edit MSG on Android?

No, no application supports full editing .msg on Android. The maximum that is available:

• 📝 Copying text to another document;
• 📎 Extracting attachments;
• 🔄 Conversion to .eml or .pdf for further editing.

For changes in the original file you will need Outlook on PC or a virtual machine with Windows.

Why did MSG stop opening after the Android update?

This is due to the tightening of security policies in new OS versions (starting from Android 12Possible reasons:

1. Blocking uncertified applications: check your security settings (Settings → Applications → Special access → Install unknown applications).
2. File access restrictions: grant the application for opening MSG storage permissions (Settings → Applications → Permissions → Files and media).
3. API changes: some old applications (for example, MSG Reader) stopped working after updating Android 13Update them or use alternatives from this article.