How to View .MSG Files Without Outlook

MSG files contain complete email messages of a particular email client. These files are denoted with the extension .msg. They are used in a number of email-management clients like Windows Mail, MS Outlook, Pegasus Mails, etc. These files can either contain only the text of the message or complete message accompanied with the images and their associated elements in HTML format.
In this write-up, we have discussed a few factors that often prove to be challenges for a common user to view .MSG files without Outlook. We have also discussed solutions that can be deployed in order to overcome these challenges and access MSG files without any hassles.

Common Challenges to Open .MSG File Without Outlook

The most common challenges that arise when a user needs to read .MSG files without Outlook:

• One of the factors of key importance is that for accessing MSG files, a user needs to install a supporting email client. For example, in case the users are looking forward to open the MSG files in Outlook, it is necessary for the users to configure MS Outlook in the user machine. In the absence of any such email client, the MSG files are rendered useless.

• There are many applications and Hex Editors available to view .MSG files without Outlook. However, these utilities do not prove to be effectual, as the preview generated by them cannot be readily understood by normal users.

• For example, when a Hex editor is used to read .MSG files without Outlook, then the content of the MSG file is shown in hexadecimal form. As you can see in the image shown below, the entire data stored in the MSG file is shown in the form of hexadecimals.

This hexadecimal form cannot be interpreted by the common users and thus do not turn out to be a preferable solution for read .MSG files without Outlook.

Accessing MSG File in Absence Of MS Outlook

As discussed earlier, the MSG file can be opened in many email clients including MS Outlook. If we talk specifically about MS Outlook, these MSG files can be easily opened in it and the data residing within the file can be read. However, the problem arises in the absence of Outlook. In case a user possesses a MSG file but does not have access to Outlook, then the MSG file cannot be accessed.

Therefore, an external utility is required to view .MSG files without Outlook. One such external tool is Free MSG File Viewer. This utility has been specifically designed for read .MSG files without Outlook. The software enables the user to analyze files in multiple views and supports email attachments as well. Moreover, the users can also view multiple MSG files at the same time. Being a standalone utility, it does not require installation of any email client for its working. What’s more, the utility is completely free of cost and thus can be used without investing anything in it. Thus, it turns out to be the best software to open .MSG file without Outlook.