Open MSG Files on Mac Outlook in 8 Easy Ways
As a Mac Outlook user, you cannot open MSG files directly through Outlook for Mac. Nevertheless, you can use various ways to open MSG file in Mac Outlook. In this article, we will explain how to open a .msg file in Outlook for Mac step by step with 8 different ways and explain some basic reasons why one cannot open an MSG file in Mac Outlook.
Outlook for Mac is the Mac version of Microsoft Outlook designed to help Mac users to manage their emails, contacts, and calendar in one place, and save them in an OLM file format. Therefore, it does not support the MSG format. This is why some users have problems opening MSG files in Outlook for Mac.
An MSG file is the email format used by Microsoft Outlook for Windows that contains one e-mail message with its header information, body, attachments, and other data. In order to open one or several MSG files in Mac Outlook, you need to use several methods such as the following:
Quick Answer: Different Methods to Open MSG file on Mac Outlook
| Method | Limitations | Cost | Data Safety | Ease | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outlook Web | Requires Effort & Time | Free | 100% | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Quick preview, single file |
| Via EML File | Not suitable for Bulk files & formatting | Free | 80% | ⭐⭐ | Tech-savvy users only |
| Email to Self | Bulk data | Free | 100% | ⭐⭐⭐ | Single most important email |
| Online Viewer | Not reliable for Bulk files & formatting | Free | 10% | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Quick view, no installation |
| SeaMonkey | Challenges with bulk data | Free | 90% | ⭐⭐ | Advanced users |
| Offline Viewer | – | Free | 100% | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Bulk files, guaranteed results |
| BitRecover Tool | – | $29 | 100% | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Bulk files, guaranteed results |
| Rename .msg→.eml | Not a reliable way | Free | 30% | ⭐ | NOT recommended |
Why MSG file Not Opening in Outlook Mac? Causes and Fixes
- Compatibility Issue: MSG files are used by Windows Outlook, whereas Mac Outlook primarily uses EML files, which makes it impossible for MSG files to work with Mac systems.
- MSG is a Windows-Specific Format: The MSG format was created specifically for the Microsoft Outlook program for Windows, not for macOS.
- No Native macOS Support: macOS does not support opening MSG files natively.
- Uses Windows-Only MAPI Technology: The MSG file format operates on MAPI, the Windows information transfer service that is not supported on macOS.
Mac Outlook Compatibility: Which Version Do You Have?
Old Mac Outlook
(2016 – 2019)
- ✅ Can handle MSG through workarounds
- ✅ Import/Export features available
- ⚠️ Slower performance with large MSG files
Modern Mac Outlook
(2019 – 2024)
- ✅Better performance overall
- ⚠️ Import/Export will have limitations
- ⚠️ MSG does not guarantee stability
New Mac Outlook
(2024+)
- ❌NO built-in support for MSG files
- ❌Can’t import
- ✅ IMAP is supported
Use dedicated tool
7 Ways to Open .msg files with Outlook for Mac
Manually, you can open your MSG files in Mac Outlook by converting your MSG to EML or renaming the file extensions. Let’s see all three manual ways briefly.
Method 1: Open MSG file in Mac Outlook Via EML file
Convert MSG file to EML and easily read MSG using Mac Outlook:
- If you have Windows systems also, open Outlook in Windows and select your MSG files.
- Save them one by one as .eml.
- Later, transfer those EML files to macOS via Apple Mail or any other approach.
- Then, drag & drop your MSG files into Outlook for Mac, and from there, you can try to view your data.
Note: This method is risky and very time-consuming, plus it does not ensure a fully secure MSG conversion.
Method 2: Renaming file Extensions
- Browse and right-click on your MSG files.
- Rename the .msg as .eml.
- Then, open it with Mac Outlook.
Note: This method is not successful most of the time, and you cannot even consider it as a temporary approach because it does not actually convert the MSG files. It fails most of the time, does not load complete data elements like metadata attachments, and other properties.
Method 3: Open MSG file in Mac Outlook using Outlook.com
- Login to your Outlook on the web (outlook.office.com).
- Locate the .msg attachment or attach the msg file to a new draft if it’s on your Mac system.
- Click on the .msg attachment.
- OWA directly previews the file without downloading it.
- You can read the content from the preview.
Note: Outlook.com does not always render MSG clearly, especially when the file is large, complex, or older.
Method 4: Email to Yourself
- Open the .msg file somewhere where it is natively supported (eg; Outlook)
- Now click “Forward” to forward the email content contained in this MSG file.
- Send it to your Outlook for Mac email address.
- Now open Outlook for Mac on your Mac device and read that forwarded email.
Note: Working with multiple devices is not reliable just for opening an MSG file in Mac Outlook. Especially for large or multiple MSG files, this method requires a lot of manual effort, which is time-consuming.
Method 5: Open MSG file on Mac Outlook via an Online Tool
- Search for an online tool on your Mac device.
- Upload or drag and drop your MSG file into the tool.
- It will display the MSG file within the browser.
Warning: A real privacy concern arises here. You are simply uploading your sensitive data to an online server. Moreover, it requires an internet connection and raises quality and file size limits.
Method 6: Use SeaMonkey to Open MSG file on Mac Outlook
- Download and install SeaMonkey on your Mac device.
- Navigate to Mail & Newsgroups.
- Go to File menu and Open File.
- Browse and select the MSG file and open it.
Note: It is not suitable to install an extra application that is suited for one file type. Moreover, it is not the right method to read multiple MSG files on Mac Outlook.
Method 7: Use Offline Viewer Tool to Open MSG file on Mac Outlook
- Download the free MSG viewer on your Mac device.
- Add the MSG files or folders.
- Easily preview data.
- Use the search option to read specific data.
Note: The tool is free and safe to use.
Method 8: Easy and Safe way to Open MSG file on Mac without Losing Data & Formatting
Unfortunately, there exists no reliable manual solution if you can’t open MSG file in Outlook Mac. The reason, as we discussed, is that Mac Outlook does not support files with .msg extension. This means that willingly or unwillingly, you will have to opt for an additional program to open the MSG files on Outlook for Mac.
To open single or multiple MSG files on Mac easily without facing technical challenges or manual efforts, professionals recommend using the specialized tool BitRecover MSG Converter software, which is available for both Windows and Mac systems.
The software lets you open and view specific data of MSG files on Mac in various easily readable file formats.
How to Open .msg files with Outlook for Mac? Working Steps
- Firstly, download and launch the software on your Mac system by clicking the download button.
- After launching, click the Add Folder or Add File option to add .msg files to the software to open MSG file on Mac Outlook.
- Now, you can see all the folders. Select the folder as per your need, and tap Next.
- Thereafter, choose the PST as a saving option on the software panel.
Note: If you have New Mac Outlook versions then select IMAP option instead of PST. After that, you can migrate your data by adding the login details of your account.
- After that, select the desired location by clicking the Browse button.
- Finally, click the Export button to open MSG file on Mac Outlook.
Import MSG Files into Outlook Mac in OLM Format
- Open Mac Outlook and click on File >> Import >> Outlook for Mac archive file.
- Click on Continue and then select the file that you created during phase 1 conversion.
- Finally, hit the Import button if you can’t open an MSG file in Outlook Mac.
Why Manual Methods Often Fail
(And When to Use a Tool)
⚠️ The Problem of Data Loss
If you manually try to open MSG files on Mac Outlook:
lose attachments
lose formatting
lose special characters
of file corruption
Why?MSG Format keeps data in MAPI containers. Manual conversion methods do not recognize this.
🔧 When Manual Works
- •You have single MSG file (<1MB)
- •You do not require attachments
- • Have time to troubleshoot issues
- • You have technical knowledge
🚀 When You NEED Our Tool
- ✅ Open bulk of MSG files in Mac Outlook
- ✅ Large MSG files
- ✅ Maintain attachments and formatting
- ✅ Want to save time and efforts
- ✅ You want peace of mind
Bottom Line: BitRecover tool guarantees no data and formatting loss while opening MSG files in Mac Outlook.
Why Choose BitRecover for Opening MSG Files on Mac?
A dedicated solution for Mac that guarantees no data loss and maximum safety.
💻 Built for Mac
- ✓ Mac interface
- ✓Compatible with any version of Outlook on Mac
- ✓ No need for a Windows computer
🔒 Security Features
- 🛡️No uploading to the cloud (everything is processed on the local device)
- 🛡️Military level encryption while processing
- 🛡️No data is saved on our servers
- 🛡️Your privacy is 100% guaranteed
What Happens During the Process?
Maintains complete original email data
Maintains original folder hierarchy
Keeps original attachments
Maintains sender, recipient, & date information
Keeps original formatting as it was
⭐ Real Guarantees
- ✅ 100% data safety
- ✅ Free trial – try before purchase
- ✅ 30-day -money-back guaranteed
- ✅ Updates included
- ✅ 24/7 support
⚡ Speed Comparison
2-4 hours (for 50 files)
15-20 seconds (for 50 files)
Customer Success Stories
“I saved myself many more hours of tedious work. This tool allowed me to open hundreds of MSG files on Mac Outlook.”
— David M.
IT Administrator
“I switched from Windows to Mac and panicked about my old documents. Fortunately, this tool saved the day!”
— Sarah T.
Freelance Consultant
“The manual methods keep ruining my emails. This tool did an excellent job.”
— James R.
Attorney
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can I bulk open MSG files into Outlook Mac editions?
A: This is a preferable method to batch open .msg into Outlook Mac without size limitations.
Q2: Does your software permit you to open MSG file on Mac Outlook with attachments?
A: Yes, the tool maintains all types of attachments when opening MSG files in Mac Outlook.
Q3: Is your software compatible with both Windows and Mac OS users?
A: Yes, you can configure this application on all the latest and previous Windows OS and Mac OS machines.
Q4: Is there software compatible with the New Mac Outlook?
A: Yes, this software is compatible with all the latest and older versions of Mac Outlook.
Conclusion
A complete solution to open MSG files on Mac Outlook, New and Older versions, is given in this post. Each step is described in detail in this post. Users who want to view MSG files in Outlook for Mac can check out this page. We assure you that you will not face any problems while working. If you are facing any problems due to the new Mac Outlook, then you can get help from our support team.
Read More: How to Open MSG File Without Outlook?
