Convert MSG to EML — Export Outlook Emails to Universal EML Format

Outlook stores every email as an .msg file — a proprietary binary format that only Outlook and a handful of specialized tools can open. If you are migrating to Thunderbird, Apple Mail, eM Client, or any other email application, those clients expect .eml files, not .msg. Total Mail Converter reads MSG files directly from disk, extracts all headers, body content, and attachments, and writes standard EML files that any RFC 5322-compliant client can open.

• Converts MSG to EML without requiring Microsoft Outlook installed
• Batch mode — process thousands of MSG files in one session
• Preserves all email headers, HTML body, inline images, and attachments
• Customizable file naming templates: date, sender, subject, or any combination
• Command-line interface for automated and server-side conversion
• Free 30-day trial — no credit card or email required

 

Quick answer: To convert MSG to EML, install Total Mail Converter, open the folder of MSG files, tick the messages or click Check All, click the EML button, choose the destination folder and a file-naming template, then press Start. Each MSG becomes a standard RFC 5322 EML file with headers, body, and attachments intact — in one batch, with no Outlook required.

MSG vs EML: What Is the Difference?

MSG locks your emails inside Microsoft's ecosystem. EML gives you universal access and long-term portability. If you leave Outlook, your .msg files become inaccessible without a converter. EML files remain readable on any platform, any operating system, and any email client for years to come.

How to Convert MSG to EML

• Step 1. Launch Total Mail Converter. The folder tree on the left shows your local drives and network paths. Navigate to the directory containing your MSG files. The file list displays every email with sender, subject, date, and size.
• Step 2. Select the messages. Tick individual MSG files or click Check All to select every file in the folder. Use subfolders to include nested directories.
• Step 3. Click the EML button on the toolbar. The conversion wizard opens with EML-specific settings.
• Step 4. Choose the destination folder where converted EML files will be saved. The converter creates one .eml file per MSG.
• Step 5. Configure output options. Set the file naming template using macros: date, sender name, subject line, or any combination. Choose whether to replicate the source folder structure in the output directory.
• Step 6. Press Start. Each MSG file is parsed and written as a standard RFC 5322 EML file with all headers, HTML body, plain-text alternative, inline images, and attachments preserved as MIME parts.

Once converted, import the EML files into Thunderbird by dragging them into a folder in the mailbox panel. Apple Mail, eM Client, and Windows Mail also accept EML files directly — copy them to the client's storage directory or use the built-in import function.

Command-Line Conversion

MailConverter.exe "C:\Emails\*.msg" -sEML "C:\Output\EML\"

Parameters: source files (wildcards supported), -sEML sets the target format, and the last argument is the output folder. Save this command in a .bat file and schedule it with Windows Task Scheduler to automate nightly MSG-to-EML exports. The command-line version supports all options available in the GUI: file naming patterns, folder structure, and attachment handling.

Why Use Total Mail Converter?

• Full format fidelity. Every header field, HTML body, plain-text alternative, inline image, and file attachment from the MSG is preserved in the output EML. No data loss, no stripped formatting.
• Batch conversion. Select a folder with thousands of MSG files, click Check All, and convert them in one session. No need to process files one by one.
• Customizable file naming. Name output EML files by date, sender, subject, or a custom template with macros. Avoid generic names like "message.eml" — every file gets a meaningful, searchable name.
• Attachment preservation. All attachments are embedded in the EML file as standard MIME parts. The target email client reads them just as if the email had been received directly.
• Outlook not required. Total Mail Converter reads MSG files using its own parser. No Outlook installation, no MAPI library, no Microsoft Office license needed on the machine.
• Multiple output formats. Beyond EML, the same tool converts MSG files to PDF, DOC, HTML, TXT, RTF, TIFF, PST, and more. One application covers all email conversion tasks.

Manual Export vs Total Mail Converter

Feature	Manual (drag from Outlook)	Total Mail Converter
Batch export	One email at a time	Entire folders — thousands of files in one click
Attachment handling	Embedded, no control	Embedded as MIME parts, full control
Folder structure	Lost — all files in one pile	Preserved — subdirectories mirrored
File naming	Outlook's default (cryptic)	Custom patterns: Date, Subject, Sender
Speed	Manual drag-and-drop per file	Thousands of files per minute
Requires Outlook	Yes	No — reads MSG files independently
Command-line automation	Not possible	Full CLI with all options
Pricing	Requires Outlook license	$59.90 one-time, 30-day free trial

Total Mail Converter Customer Reviews 2026

Rate ItRated 4.7/5 based on customer reviews

"We migrated 40 staff mailboxes from Outlook to Thunderbird. Each user had years of MSG files exported from PST archives. Total Mail Converter processed all of them in batch — around 12,000 MSG files total. Every EML imported into Thunderbird cleanly: headers, body formatting, attachments, all intact. The file naming by date and subject made the transition transparent to end users."

Brian Kowalski System Administrator, Greenfield Municipal District

"We receive custodian email exports as MSG files and need to standardize them to EML for our forensic analysis platform. Total Mail Converter preserves the full MIME structure, including all original headers and routing information. The command-line mode lets us script the conversion into our evidence intake workflow. Reliable output every time."

Sandra Reeves Digital Forensics Analyst, Reeves & Associates

"Clients regularly hand me MSG files they cannot open because they switched from Outlook to Apple Mail or Thunderbird. Total Mail Converter handles the conversion quickly — even folders with 5,000+ files. The batch mode and custom naming save hours of manual work. Only wish: a native Mac version so I could run it without a VM."

Martin Delgado IT Consultant, Delgado Tech Solutions

MSG to EML Conversion: FAQ ▼