How to Fix “MSG Files Not Opening in Outlook”?
Microsoft Outlook is a widely used email client that stores individual email messages in the MSG file format. The files contain all the message components – sender and recipient details, subject, attachments, body content, and metadata. Even though there are some users who report that they encounter issues like the MSG Files not opening in Outlook accounts.
If you try double-clicking the MSG file and nothing happens, or Outlook shows an error, don’t worry, the problem is quite common. In the comprehensive guide, we will explore the main reason why MSG files are not opening in Outlook and provide the step-by-step methods to fix the issues effectively.
What are MSG Files?
Before troubleshooting, we need to understand the MSG file. The MSG files are single messages created by Microsoft Outlook or Exchange. When you drag and drop the emails from Outlook to the desktop or a folder, the files are saved in the MSG format.
The file is designed to open only in Microsoft Outlook or another compatible email client. Therefore, opening MSG files outside of Outlook or the system without Outlook is not possible.
To learn more about securely transferring and managing the MSG files, check out the detailed guide: Import MSG Files into Outlook.
Why MSG Files Are Not Opening in Outlook
There are several reasons why MSG files fail to open in Outlook. Below are the most common causes:
- Corrupted MSG Files: When an MSG file gets corrupted due to a partially downloaded file transfer error or a virus attack, these damaged files are unreadable by Outlook and may not open.
- Outlook Is Not the Default Program: The reason might be due to the setting of default settings. When you click on the MSG files, if it does not automatically launch Outlook, then that could be the cause.
- Different Versions of Outlook: The MSG file generated in a newer version of Outlook may not open properly in an older version, such as Outlook 2010 or 2013, due to compatibility or format changes.
- Problems with Outlook Profile or Add-In: A faulty Outlook profile or certain third-party add-ins can, in rare cases, cause Outlook to function abnormally, resulting in the inability to open MSG files.
- Outlook Running with Administrator Privileges: If you have permission to run Outlook and want to open a file that was created by a user with different permissions, Windows may block it for security reasons.
- Using New Outlook: The redesigned Outlook for Windows currently has limited support for opening standalone *.msg files. This is one of the most reported causes, and it is not a fault in your setup.
- Corrupted or Overloaded Secure Temp Folder: Outlook extracts attachments to a hidden temp folder; if it’s full or damaged, new files, such as MSG files, can fail to open.
- Unicode vs ANSI Format: A message saved in Unicode format in newer Outlook might fail to open in older Outlook that expects ANSI.
How to Fix the Issue “MSG Files Not Opening in Outlook”?
Now, we know some of the causes of the issue; let’s find out the troubleshooting mechanism one by one.
Check if Outlook is installed or updated. Make sure that Microsoft Outlook is properly installed on the PC.
- In case you don’t have Outlook installed, a freeware file Viewer tool is the best way to open the file.
- If Outlook is already on your computer, make sure your version of Outlook is up to date. An old version of Outlook may not be compatible with the MSG file format created by the newer releases.
Set Outlook as the Default Application for MSG Files
If MSG files are opening with another app or not responding, try setting Outlook as the default program.
Windows 10/11
- Right-click on any *.msg file.
- Select Open with > Choose another app.
- Pick Microsoft Outlook from the list.
- Check the box with “Always use this app to open .msg files.”
- Click Ok.
Now, again double-click the MSG file. If the MSG files are not opening in Outlook again, then try the next method.
MSG Files Not Opening in the New Outlook
If you’re running the new version of Outlook for Windows (“New Outlook”) and double-clicking on a .msg file doesn’t open Outlook at all, you’re not alone. This is a common, known limitation-and one that Microsoft has not (yet) formally addressed in a fix.
Here’s what to try:
- Switch back to Classic Outlook: Click the “Try the new Outlook” toggle at the top right of the app. This will bring you back to the old desktop version that opens .msg files normally.
- Reset the navigation pane: Win + R and run outlook.exe /resetnavpane, then open the file again.
- Open via Browser: If it’s also saved to your mailbox, you can open it from Outlook on the web instead of the desktop application.
- Rename the extension to .eml: Others have reported that this trick works to open the file, although the formatting will look like HTML without any layout.
Try Outlook in Safe Mode
As we mentioned earlier, it is the case that add-ins can cause some kind of interference and an inability to open the files in the MSG format. If you want to find out, you have to start Outlook in safe mode:
- Press Windows + R, and the Run dialogue will appear.
- In the Run dialogue, type outlook.exe / safe and press the Enter key.
- At this point, try to open the files in the MSG format once again.
If it is successful in safe mode, it means that the add-in was to blame.
Disable Unnecessary Add-ins to Resolve “MSG Files Not Opening in Outlook”
- Access the Add-ins section through the File > Options menu.
- Clicking Go near the “Manage COM Add-ins” allows you to manage your add-ins.
- Deselecting the suspicious add-ins and then rebooting Outlook will return it to the normal state is what you should do next.
Repair Outlook Profile
Any damage to the Outlook profile can cause unexpected issues. To repair it:
- Open Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles.
- Select the Outlook profile and click Properties > Email Accounts > Repair.
- Follow the prompts to complete the repair.
If the repair does not work, try creating a new profile.
In the same Mail window, click Add, create a new profile name, and configure the email account again.
Repair Outlook Installation
If you can’t open MSG files in Outlook, there could be a chance that files or registry entries of Outlook are corrupted, and the MSG file may not open. A repair of the Outlook installation should bring things back to normal:
- Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features.
- Select Microsoft Office and press the Change button.
- Firstly, select the Quick Repair option. If the problem is still there, then choose the Online Repair option.
- A restart of the machine is required before checking whether the MSG files can be accessed now.
Change File Extension Manually
There is a chance that a person has renamed an MSG file or changed its extension by mistake entirely. It is necessary to make sure that the file has the right extension.
- Right-click> Rename > Confirm that it is finishing with *.msg
- Afterwards, open it by double-clicking in Outlook once again.
Check Windows Registry Setting
If MSG files are still not opening, the issue may be linked to incorrect registry entries.
Note: Editing the registry should be done carefully.
- Press Windows + R, try regedit, and press Enter.
- Navigate to:
- HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.msg
- Ensure the Default value is set to:
- Outlook.File.msg
- If it’s incorrect, right-click > Modify > Enter the correct value.
- Restart the system.
Clear the Outlook Secure Temporary Files Folder
When you open attachments, Outlook unpacks them into an invisible folder named OutlookSecureTempFolder. Once this folder reaches a maximum size or one of the files inside becomes corrupt, Outlook can’t open any new files (including MSG files).
- Press Windows + R, type regedit, then press Enter.
- Open the registry at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\\Outlook\Security.
- Locate the key titled OutlookSecureTempFolder and record its location.
- Open that folder in File Explorer and remove everything.
- Close Outlook and then try opening the MSG file.
Use Alternate Methods – A Tool to Fix “MSG Files Not Opening in Outlook”
The MSG File Viewer is the best tool that will help you open the emails if you can’t open them in the Outlook application. It will let the user know which files have the attached document, as it shows under the Att. option. It provides a simple, reliable way to access email content, including message details, body text, and attachments. Identify the important document without opening each file individually. Get the tool from here:
FAQs
Q) Can I open an MSG file without Outlook?
A) Not natively – It’s a proprietary Outlook format. A specific file viewer tool, like the one above, allows you to open and read .msg files without having to install Outlook.
Q) Is an MSG file the same as an EML file?
A) No. The proprietary format of Outlook is MSG, while EML is more standard, supported by clients such as Thunderbird and Apple Mail. Some software can convert back and forth.
Q) What causes Outlook to display “this item cannot be opened” or “this item is invalid”
A) This generally indicates either a corrupted file or one saved in an unsupported format version. Attempt the repair processes above, or try to open the MSG in a specific viewer to determine if the content is recoverable.
Q) Does the New Outlook support MSG files yet?
A) Not completely yet. The best workaround currently available is to use Classic Outlook or a third-party tool like File Opener.
Conclusion
The Issue of “MSG Files Not Opening in Outlook” may arise because of different causes, such as a wrongly configured setting, a corrupted file, or incompatibility between versions. Nevertheless, a proper troubleshooting procedure will solve the issue in no time. If not, you may as well proceed with the solution given here. First, make sure that Outlook is your default app, and then verify add-ins, file corruption, and compatibility problems. Once you have carried out the actions indicated here, you will be capable of opening the MSG files in Outlook without any issues, and thus managing your emails will be a breeze from now on.