MSG File
Did your computer fail to open a MSG file? We explain what they are used for and recommend software that we know can open or otherwise handle your .MSG files.
What is a MSG file?
A .MSG file is an Outlook Message file. Files containing the .msg file extension are most commonly created by or saved within the Microsoft Outlook email application. The MSG file contains information about a saved email file including the date of the message, who sent it, who received it, the subject and the contents of the email associated with the file. If an attachment is included with an email, that information will also be saved within the associated MSG file.
These files allow users who download email via POP 3 clients to view their email messages and attachments even when they are not connected to the Internet. Users can even send replies to the emails or forward the emails using the MSG files, but the files will not actually be sent by the client until the user has Internet connectivity.
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How to open MSG files
You will need a program compatible with the specific file you are trying to open, as different programs may use files with extension MSG for different purposes. We have identified 3 MSG openers for Windows that is compatible with this specific type of MSG file.
Programs that open MSG files
 | Microsoft Outlook | Verified |
 | SysTools MSG Viewer | Verified |
 | Systools MSG Converter | Verified |
What else are .MSG files used for?
While Outlook Message is a popular type of MSG-file, we know of 4 different uses of the .MSG extension.
The MSG file extension indicates to your device which app can open the file. However, different apps may use the same file extension for different types of data. So a MSG opener may not be able to open all kinds of MSG files. In this case, look through all formats to make sure you find the best suited MSG viewer.
Adventure Game Toolkit Messages
Through our analysis of MSG files, we know that one use of the format is Adventure Game Toolkit Messages. We have not yet described in detail what these files contain and what they are used for, but our team is working tiredlessly through thousands of file formats. We'd love hearing from you if you have information about the format.
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Logistix Messages
Through our analysis of MSG files, we know that one use of the format is Logistix Messages. We have not yet described in detail what these files contain and what they are used for, but our team is working tiredlessly through thousands of file formats. We'd love hearing from you if you have information about the format.
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NetWare Message
Through our analysis of MSG files, we know that one use of the format is NetWare Message. We have not yet described in detail what these files contain and what they are used for, but our team is working tiredlessly through thousands of file formats. We'd love hearing from you if you have information about the format.
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Not sure exactly what type of file you are trying to open? Try our new File Analyzer. It is a free tool that can identify more than 11,000 different kinds of files - most likely yours too! It will help you find software that can handle your specific type of file. Download File Analyzer here.