How to Open .msg Files on Mac

When you receive a Microsoft Outlook file from a Windows computer, you’ll most likely see a .msg extension suffixed at the end. As of now, files with a “.msg” extension cannot be opened by Mac nor by Outlook for Mac.

It can get very frustrating to know that Outlook for Mac cannot open Outlook files created on a Windows system. Microsoft needs to fix this as soon as possible, but in the meantime, we have collected and detailed a few workarounds for this problem. This article shows you the various ways you can open “.msg” files on your Mac.

Table of Contents

There is no native support to open .msg files on Mac, and this can become an issue if you’ve shifted to a Mac from a Windows system or you need to open an Outlook document on your Mac for work.

The first method is the simplest and only requires you to access the web version of Outlook. Read the details provided below to see how it is done.

Open your Mac and log in to it.
Load up your preferred browser and head over to the Microsoft Outlook homepage at https://outlook.office365.com/owa/
Enter your Outlook email ID and password to log in.
Now head over to your mail and send the Outlook file to your Outlook mail as an attachment.
Since the web version of Outlook has an inbuilt MSG viewer, you’ll be able to open the file by double-clicking on it.

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How to Open .msg Files on Mac Using Bootcamp

The second method is rather time-consuming and involves many steps since it requires installing Windows on your Mac. This is only possible with Intel Macs and will not work for newer Macs that run on the Apple Silicon chip like the M1.

The Boot Camp utility tool is available on every modern Intel-based Mac, and Apple has streamlined the entire process. So, all you have to do is follow the onscreen instructions on how to do it.

Please refer to the instructions below for a deeper understanding of how to use Boot Camp to install Windows 10 on your Mac.

Sign in to your Mac and check to see if you have some free space on your hard drive. At least 64 GB is required for a successful Windows 10 installation, and backing up your entire system before commencing this process.
Head over to this site to download the Windows 10 ISO package. Click the Select edition box, choose Windows 10 multi-edition iSO, and click Confirm.

Next, select the preferred language in which you’d like to install the Windows 10 ISO.
Hit Confirm when you’ve chosen the product language.
Now, you’ll be presented with the option to choose between the 32-bit download or the 64-bit download. Choose 64-bit and click on Save when the pop-up window is displayed.
Once the Windows 10 ISO file has finished downloading, we can move on to the next part, installing it using Boot Camp Utility.

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Installing Windows 10 Using Boot Camp Utility

Open a Finder window from the dock or use a Spotlight search to do the same. Press the Command-Space shortcut to launch the search bar, type in ”finder,” and hit the return key to launch it.
Select the Applications tab from the menu on the left side and find the Utility folder.
Open the folder and double-click the Boot Camp Utility. Once Boot Camp is launched, it will automatically look for the ISO file you previously downloaded.

Decide how much storage you’re willing to allocate to Windows 10 ISO using the slider. It is set to 48 GB by default, but you can tinker with that according to your preference.
After selecting the partition size, click on Install, which will download the Windows support software.
Next, enter your Mac’s password when prompted, and your Mac will begin to restart.
You’ll see the Windows setup screen when the device turns back on; select the language you want and choose to install now.
After that, you will be asked for a product key to verify the authenticity of the software. If you don’t want to enter it right away, click on I don’t have a key. And you can always enter it after the installation has been finished.
Now choose between Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro; depending on your preference, select the one that best suits your needs by reading up on the two OS.
Hit Next and click on the Custom: Install Windows Only option.
Make sure you select Drive 0 Partition X: BOOTCAMP and nothing else.
Hit Next and the installation process will begin; your Mac will restart several times throughout the process, so do not be alarmed.
After the installation, choose between Express installation or customize your installation. We recommend you select Express installation as it will install all the necessary drivers and software needed without picking them out. The best part is you can change everything once the installation has finished.
Hit Next and choose whether you want to enable Cortana or not. After this, Windows 10 will fully be installed on your system. You can use it like any regular Windows laptop or PC.
Now you’ll be able to open all the MSG files sent to you.

This is a very long process just to open a file extension. This should only be used as a last-ditch effort or if you were already looking to install Windows on your Mac.

Subsequently, you can also use a virtual machine to do the same. You can operate a Windows system while using the Mac, making this method incredibly convenient and time-consuming as installing Windows from scratch.

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Using Third-Party Software to open .msg Files on Mac

As a last resort, you can also use third-party software such as an MSG viewer to open Outlook files on your Mac. It is essential to note that most of these applications are paid but offer superior functionality. We recommend using MSG Viewer for Outlook, Klammer, or Sysinfo MSG Viewer to open Outlook files.

Conclusion

Microsoft needs to fix this issue, as having native support to open .msg files on Mac will be the best option. In the meantime, we hope this article helps you out in understanding everything you need to know.

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Carissa

I am Carissa Gudinoa, a technology buff, and Office online and Apple expert with over 9 years of experience. I am passionate about helping others get the most out of their Apple devices. I have written extensively about Apple products and technologies. I am committed to providing my clients with the best possible service and am always up-to-date on the latest Apple products and features. I also write extensively on other software available for use at minimal cost or free. This includes Word Online, Outlook Online, Excel Online, and other Office online programs… Check out more.