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Open EML Files in Outlook with Various Useful Techniques

  author
Published By Ashwani Tiwari
Tej Pratap Shukla
Approved By Tej Pratap Shukla
Published On February 14th, 2024
Reading Time 6 Minutes Reading

Today, we will be explaining how can one open EML files in Outlook. Also, the reasons for the effort will also be mentioned. But Outlook restricts user’s to Import EML files. In this case first change EML files into Outlook data file format and then easily open it on Outlook. Let’s discuss the process in detail.

EML, as known, is short for email file which is developed by Microsoft by default. It can be opened in Outlook express which is preinstalled in the Windows XP.

It has the standard structure and is compatible with different third-party applications, emails, clients, and servers.

You may want to open EML in Outlook 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021 for many reasons. Now, if your Outlook 2010 or later versions are installed on your machine by default, the EML file will open in it. If not, you will have to make it the default program to open the EML file. It may be seems quite confusing to you. But don’t worry below section explains steps to open EML in Outlook.

If you have Outlook 2003 or 2007, then you will have to change the registry settings. We will understand how to do so in this blog but first, let’s check out the reasons that force users to import EML to Outlook.

Pro Tip: If you want to quickly get your EML files to be opened in Outlook without making any efforts, just you can use the software to convert EML to PST.

Opening EML Files without Outlook

EML Viewer is professional software that allows you to inspect and open EML files in a simple way. With this tool, you can read EML file emails with attachments without any reliance on email clients. The tool integrates various functions and an easy-to-use interface. Easily browse EML files with attachments on Windows OS.

Free Download

Reasons for Opening EML Files in Outlook

Number of email clients have been used by people over the years. The email clients such as Outlook Express, and Windows Live Mail have been discontinued.

This is why now users are migrating to Outlook since it offers a lot of advanced features. Some of the OS releases bring along the changes in the default email clients. In the Windows OS versions of XP, Outlook Express came in as the default email client.

In the later versions such as Vista and 7, Windows Mail and Windows Live Mail replaced Outlook Express.

All these three email clients support different file formats which is why it is important to open these files in Microsoft Outlook.

Steps to Make Outlook as Default Mail Application

Making Outlook the default application is easy. Just follow the steps given below for different Windows OS versions:

1. First of all, click on the Default App dialog box by following the steps.

  • Windows 7
    Select Start and choose the Default Program. Now, click on the Associate a file type or protocol with a program.
  • Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
    Here, hit the Start and click on the type: Default Programs option. Then, select the Associate a file type or protocol with a program option.
  • Windows 10
    Choose Start and select the Settings option. Click on the Apps option and choose the Default Apps >> Choose Default Apps by file type for opening EML files in Outlook.

2. A list with the file extensions will appear from which you have to find the .eml file extension.

3. Choose the Application Icon or hit the Change program button from the control panel.

4. Select Outlook from the pop-up.

This is how you can set MS Outlook as the default application.

Now, let’s find out the different methods to open these files in Outlook.

Solutions to Open EML File in Outlook 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021

Here, we have brought various workarounds for you to get your EML to be opened up in Microsoft Outlook. Check these out and find out which is best suited for you.

Technique 1 – Make Outlook Default Program

For this, you have to move to the drive that contains the EML files. After that, right-click on the files and choose Open With from the menu. Then, select the Outlook option for opening EML files in Outlook.

Technique 2 – Windows Live Mail and Microsoft Outlook

Before you do so, back up your emails and then follow the steps mentioned:

  1. Open both Microsoft Outlook and Windows Live Mail.
  2. In Windows Live Mail, click on the File option and select Export Email.
  3. From there, choose the Email Messages option.
  4. In this step, you have to select the Microsoft Exchange as the export option and choose the Next button to proceed further.
  5. Now, a dialog box will appear on which you have to click OK.
  6. Select to move all folders at once or select specific folders.
  7. Hit Finish when prompted with a message for successful export.

You might experience an error during the export. There is another method to open EML files in Outlook 2010, 2013, and 2016.

Technique 3 – Drag and Drop EML Files in Outlook

This workaround is the easiest of all when it comes to open EML into Outlook. You just have to drag the EML files and drop them into Outlook to access them.

Technique 4 – Pro Solution for Access EML in Outlook

This is the best workaround as there is no risks involved with migration. All you have to do is just download the EML to PST Conversion Tool and let it do all the work for you.

Download Now Purchase Now

This software will change the EML files into Outlook data file format, so that you have no problem while opening EML Files into Outlook.

The on-disk folder structure is maintained by the application and offers a Date-Range filter for selective file conversion.

Email Formatting is also not touched by the tool and it provides naming conventions while converting.

Steps to Import EML to Outlook All Versions

Follow the below listed steps and make sure to perform the steps carefully:

Step-1: Install the above suggested tool on your Windows system and explore folder tree and select the folder containing EML files.

open EML files

Step-2: Browse EML files and view complete data into software panel and hit Export.

import eml to outlook

Step-3: Select PST radio button from list and browse path to save output. Wait till you get the PST file as output.

change files

Step-4: Now launch the Microsoft Outlook and go to File >> open & Export >> import/export and import the Output file easily. Get step by step guide to import PST in Outlook.

open eml in outlook

Ending Note

Since Outlook Express and WLM have been discontinued by Microsoft, users are now moving from there to Outlook. To open EML files in Outlook 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2021 you will have to make these the default programs. There may be errors that you experience while doing so.

If you do not want to go through any of the errors, you can use the software to change EML to Outlook data file format.