How to open .eml files in Windows 7?

Anonymous
2010-07-28T13:42:20+00:00

**Original title: Opening eml files stored in My Documents.**I recently changed my desktop computer from one using Windows XP to one using Windows 7. I transferred from my old computer a large archive of .eml files stored in My Documents folder and sub-folders. These files will not open in Windows 7 unless I change the suffix, in which case they open in an undesirable format. If I save new eml files to My Documents in Windows 7 they still will not open. For me this is a major flaw in the Windows 7 system since I am unable to access previous records and store new ones according to their subject. Is there any convenient solution to this problem? Surely it is not unusual to want to store documents received via e-mail? This facility was availble in Windows XP, why not in Windows 7?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2016-09-11T19:49:19+00:00

Right-click on the .EML file.  Select "Open with".  If you have both Outlook and Live Mail installed, then both will appear on the list and both will open and display the file.

Be advised that support for Live Mail 2012 ends in January of 2017.  Don't get stuck with backups in an obsolete format.

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2012-02-24T16:39:35+00:00

Simple design flaw. Simple fix -

Do the following:

I found the fix: Set Window Live Mail (WLM) as default for EML files in Winodws 7:

Control Panel --> Programs -> Set Your Default Programs --> Windows Live Mail --> Choose Defailts For This Program. Now just select .emlby checking the box. Select Save at bottom and close.

There you have it.

This was from another forum by Mike - http://TechHelp.Santovec.us

Was this answer helpful?

90+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2010-12-07T13:51:57+00:00

One can also rename them to mht and they will open in IE to show any HTML content.

steve

<Dave N9 [MVP]> wrote in message news:*** Email address is removed for privacy ***...

.eml files are plain text files.

Any text editor can open them.

--

Dave N.

MS-MVP (Mail)

Windows 7 Ultimate 64

Get it: http://download.live.com/wlmail

Get Help: http://www.windowslivehelp.com/product.aspx?productid=15

"lobo012847" wrote in message

news:*** Email address is removed for privacy ***...

I found a download for .eml files.

Try http://www.downloadscenter/Best/free-eml-viewer.html download EML Viewer

10.09.01 best of all it's free.

Windows 7 Ultimate 64

Was this answer helpful?

10+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2010-08-04T12:05:16+00:00

Right click on the eml file and go to Properties and click the Change button and then designate WLM as the program with which to open the file.

steve

"wulffpaul" wrote in message news:188303c5-4a85-4ba5-a2b3-4fb292b5aea3...

I'm afraid this reply does not help. I already have Windows live mail, but do not normally use my live mail address but my bt address as an alternative within the Live Mail "envelope. All emails open in my email inboxes both the bt and Live Mail ones. However, as soon as I save a message to My Documents it fails to open. This goes for messages received on my LiveMail account as well as my bt one. I have checked this out just now by saving a message received on Live Mail in connexion with this query. It seems farcical to me that Windows 7 should allow live mail to use eml files for communications but render them useless for saving. It seems to me that the only solution for me is to upgrade to Windows7 professional, and even then I have misgivings since my current Windows 7 home premium came to me pre-installed and I am not sure whether it will accept the upgrade and if it does, what will be the effect on the programs and data I already have installed.

wulffpaul

Was this answer helpful?

0 comments

73 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2012-01-16T01:15:55+00:00

    Ok I'm not exactly sure if what I posted previously on this or a similar issue will help and with that said, I am not an expert by any means on this. However, this has solved my issue and may help so I am posting it again here.

    And before I post it I have to agree that Windows 7 email is not 100% functional - not even as well as my XP  w/ outlook express was before the upgrade to Win 7.

    Outlook express was better than Windows Live in many ways. WL constantly crashes and takes forever to open some emails and drag  & drop stagggers most of the time. My work around for that is to drag at aleast 2 emails at once then it will accept the drag & drop. Then delete the email you didn't need in that transaction however this is the new norm of Windows 7. And I would not suggest using Outlook 2010 untll the bugs are worked out as I upgraded to it and it did nothing but crash. So then I went to WL and it works better but still not as good as Outlook Express on XP. Also, this new tab system seems to keep tons of windows open you thought you already closed or forgot you still had open hiding them till your system slows to a crawl.I 'd say back to the drawing boards for the Windows 7 coders and when they iron out some things it should be great. Ok enough on that and here's my work around for emails that won't open up properly = = = >

    For the problem of when I drag an email out of the Windows 7 Live Mail

    interface, sometimes some of them do not retain correct type of email type but instead show this

    when you look at the email in properties via Right click the File/ in the Genercal tab ===>

    _EML File (._eml) should be ===> Windows Live Mail Email Message (.eml). to open and become draggable.

    *** Method to change it to the correct extension for opening from the desktop or from a folder,

    is this...

    1. Have your un-openable email file on the desktop

    or folder where it will not open.

    Note: In the un-openable state the email file icon looks like the

    Windows7 Live Mail program icon and will only open Windows7 Live Mail if clicked on.

    But will not open up the email.

    1. Open up Notepad.
    2. Keeping Notepad open...

    Drag the un-openable email right on top

    of the white space of Notepad.

    1. Notice the contents of the email

    has populated the Notepad document.

    1. Now simply rename the file from Save As

    keeping the same name (or if you want to change it is

    fine) BUT MAKE SURE TO ADD THE EXTENSION .eml to the end

    of the name.

    1. Close the Notepad making sure you know where you saved the file.
    1. Reopen where you saved the Notepad file WHICH is now an email file that prevsiouly

    would not open WILL NOW open as a normal Windows Live Mail Email Message (.eml) file

    on the desktop or folder AND acts normal when dragged, etc.

    Note: Now the email file icon will retain its proper state and appear as an email envelope icon.

    * I discovered how to fix this by this article:

    Using this search:

    How to change an EML File (.eml) to Windows Live Mail Email Message (.eml)

    This and other articles came up ===>

    http://email.about.com/od/outlookexpressreading/qt/Edit_the_Subject_of_a_Received_Email_in_Win_Live_Mail_OE.htm

    I hope this applies to this issue or helps someone else with what I have described here.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments