How to Convert MSG to EML Format in Bulk? Complete Guide

Summary: In this article, we will learn how to convert MSG to EML effectively by configuring an email account in your Outlook and save MSG as EML or directly using the dedicated converter to bulk export MSG files into EML. Let’s have a look at both the methods briefly to understand which one is the best for you.

As we know, MSG is an Outlook-dependent format, and it is the biggest limitation for users who no longer have access to Outlook or want to change their email platform. MSG is a structured binary format that includes email headers, messages, attachments, metadata, etc., and is dependent on Outlook. On the other hand, .eml is an open-standard format based on MIME structure that is supported across many email platforms like Thunderbird, Windows Mail, Apple Mail, etc.

Now, MSG files are not a universal format, making it difficult for users to share, access, or store the MSGs for the long term. To overcome the problems, users prefer to convert MSG to EML as it helps to maintain the email integrity and structure. It is easy to share and access on any device. Now, converting these files into EML becomes a task when you don’t follow a safer path. Using a manual workaround can cause data loss or data breaches. Let’s read ahead to know how to save .msg as .eml format productively.

Manual way to Save MSG as EML

You can change MSG file to EML format by configuring the email account in your MS Outlook, installing Thunderbird add-ons, and using PowerShell. Let’s see the working steps of all three methods below:

{A} Configuring Gmail and Dragging & Dropping MSGs:

1. Go to Outlook Classic and click on file> info> add account. Add your Gmail account credentials to configure and sync the data.
2. Then, drag & drop the MSG files one by one into your desired email folder and wait for the files to sync.
3. Now, open your Gmail> browse your dropped .msg files in the folder and open them.
4. After that, send the files one by one to your email address.
5. Then, open the sent file> click on three dots> download message. Like this you MSG files will be converted into .eml format.

Note: You will have to repeat the process of sending and saving each .msg file as .eml one by one.

{B} Export MSG to EML Using Thunderbird:

1. We will first configure the same email address in both Outlook and the Thunderbird application.
2. Now, simply drag & drop your MSG files one by one into the desired folder in Outlook.
3. Then, right-click on the same folder in Thunderbird and click on ImportExportTools NG> export all messages in folder> EML message format> messages and index with subfolders.

{C} PowerShell Approach for Technocrats:

1. Firstly, take up the code given below and paste it into your desired text editor.
2. Change the folder path of the MSG.
3. Save the file and go to the location where the MSG was saved.
4. Right-click on MSG> run with powershell and the process is completed. You can view your EML files at the selected destination path.

# 1. Set the direct path to your folder
$folderPath = "C:\MSG"
# 2. Check if the folder exists before starting
if (!(Test-Path $folderPath)) {
Write-Error "The folder $folderPath was not found. Please check the path."
return}
# 3. Get all .msg files in C:\MSG
$msgFiles = Get-ChildItem -Path $folderPath -Filter *.msg
# 4. Open Outlook COM Object
$outlook = New-Object -ComObject Outlook.Application
try {foreach ($file in $msgFiles) {
# Create the .eml path in the same C:\MSG folder
$emlPath = [System.IO.Path]::ChangeExtension($file.FullName, ".eml")
Write-Host "Converting: $($file.Name)..." -NoNewline
# Load the MSG and Save as EML (Type 10 = olRFC822)
$mail = $outlook.CreateItemFromTemplate($file.FullName)
$mail.SaveAs($emlPath, 10)
# Close the mail item to free memory
$mail.Close(1)
Write-Host " Done!" -ForegroundColor Green
}
}
catch {
Write-Error "An error occurred: $_"
}
finally {
# Clean up the Outlook process
$outlook.Quit()
[System.Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($outlook) | Out-Null
Remove-Variable outlook
Write-Host "`nFinished! Check C:\MSG for your new .eml files." -ForegroundColor Cyan
}


Note: Hierarchy loss is the biggest issue in PowerShell. It does not preserve the original hierarchy or preserve nested folders. Also, scripting and technical knowledge are required to understand .NET libraries and work with them.

Core Features of the Professional Tool

• The automated approach allows you to bulk convert MSG to EML without any size limitations. It can save MSG as EML despite the number of files/folders in one go, without consuming time.
• You don’t need to install any email client or application to export MSG to EML using the expert tool. It directly changes MSG to EML format in bulk without any errors or hassle.
• It has an automated data sync feature where you just have to select the main folder, and all of your MSG files, folders, and sub-folders will be automatically loaded from that scattered folder. It saves time and maintains the exact hierarchy.
• Convert MSG file to EML using the advanced filter settings like date range, exclude folders, organizer, and many more to specifically change MSG to EML format.
• The data is fully secured as it is a fully desktop-based application that uses only the device resources for the conversion process. Plus, it works offline without internet, which means the data is not uploaded to the cloud.
• All the important data elements like attachments, hyperlinks, metadata, and other properties are kept the same as before without any loss or changes.

Conclusion

At the end, we can clearly define that to convert MSG to EML, there are two ways: one manual and the other automated. Both methods work on their own end. Whereas the manual approach sometimes shows errors and works slowly, on the other hand automated approach is quick and secure. Basically, through this blog, you can decide whether you want to opt for the manual way or the automated way to save MSG as EML.

FAQs

Q1. Can I batch convert MSG to EML directly using Outlook?
No, if you cannot save .msg as .eml directly in bulk using Outlook, but if you use the professional migrator, it is possible. As the expert tool allows direct bulk conversion.

Q2. Does manual conversion preserve attachments and formatting?
No. Outlook does not guarantee to preserve the attachments, metadata, or original data format.

Q3. What are the formats can I convert MSG to for compatibility?
Besides converting MSG into EML, you can also batch convert MSG to PDF with attachments or PST.

Q4. Is converting MSG to EML using email configuration safe?
No, it is not safe, as configuring means syncing or sending your data over the internet, which creates a risk of data exposure or data loss.

Q5. Are MSG and EML the same? Which one is more freely accessible? 
Yes, the MSG file is an Outlook-based file format in a binary structure, which is limited to Windows OS and the Outlook application. On the other hand, EML is accessible in multiple email platforms. It consists of a MIME structure, which is understandable and organized for many of the email clients.