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How can I open .msg (Outlook) files in Thunderbird from the windows explorer?

  • 2 replies
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  • Last reply by MothHunter

MothHunter
MothHunter
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Hi!

a colleague would like to open old Outlook .msg files in Thunderbird directly from the windows explorer. As they are stored in various folders I would prefer not to have to convert them to .eml.

I can open them just fine via "File -> Open -> Saved Message", however when I try the same from the windows explorer via "right click -> open with" the file is not opened as a message but rather added as an attachment to a new mail.

Is there any way I can change this behavior?

Thanks!

Hi! a colleague would like to open old Outlook .msg files in Thunderbird directly from the windows explorer. As they are stored in various folders I would prefer not to have to convert them to .eml. I can open them just fine via "File -> Open -> Saved Message", however when I try the same from the windows explorer via "right click -> open with" the file is not opened as a message but rather added as an attachment to a new mail. Is there any way I can change this behavior? Thanks!

Chosen solution

They would need to be .eml files.

I've not needed to do this but I did locate this info: https://msoutlookworld.blogspot.com/2016/08/best-way-to-convert-microsoft-outlook-msg-file-to-thunderbird-eml.html Quoted from link: Method 2: Import MSG file to EML when Outlook is not Installed

  • Right click on MSG file >> select the option Rename.
  • Change the extension from MSG to EML. It will create a new EML file.
  • Right click on newly created EML file >> select Open with >> and choose Thunderbird. Now you can see the eml files in Thunderbird.

Suggest you test this by creating a copy of one of the .msg files before renaming the extension.

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All Replies (2)

Toad-Hall
Toad-Hall
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

They would need to be .eml files.

I've not needed to do this but I did locate this info: https://msoutlookworld.blogspot.com/2016/08/best-way-to-convert-microsoft-outlook-msg-file-to-thunderbird-eml.html Quoted from link: Method 2: Import MSG file to EML when Outlook is not Installed

  • Right click on MSG file >> select the option Rename.
  • Change the extension from MSG to EML. It will create a new EML file.
  • Right click on newly created EML file >> select Open with >> and choose Thunderbird. Now you can see the eml files in Thunderbird.

Suggest you test this by creating a copy of one of the .msg files before renaming the extension.

MothHunter
MothHunter Question owner
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Thanks, that does work indeed! While I would have preferred to keep the files unchanged, running a search and rename seems like a workable solution.