Available in the Chrome Web Store

EML Viewer for Chrome
Open EML files directly in your browser

View EML email files instantly without installing any software. Our free Chrome extension opens EML files locally in your browser — no uploads, no servers, complete privacy.

Add to Chrome - It's Free See how it works
100% private
Batch processing
Download attachments
Works offline

What is an EML File?

An EML file (.eml) is a standard email message format defined by RFC 5322. Unlike Microsoft's proprietary MSG format, EML is an open standard used by a wide range of email clients including Mozilla Thunderbird, Windows Mail, Apple Mail, and many others.

What EML files contain

  • Email headers (From, To, Subject, Date)
  • Plain text and HTML email body
  • File attachments (Base64 encoded)
  • Embedded images and inline content
  • MIME type information

Email clients that use EML

  • Mozilla Thunderbird
  • Windows Mail / Windows Live Mail
  • Apple Mail
  • Outlook Express
  • Many other RFC 5322 compliant clients

While EML is widely supported, you may receive EML files when you don't have an email client installed — for example, as email exports, legal documents, or archived communications. That's where our EML viewer for Chrome comes in: open any EML file instantly, right in your browser.

How to Open EML Files in Chrome

View any EML file in 3 simple steps — no email client required

1

Install the Extension

Add MSG Viewer to Chrome from the Chrome Web Store. Takes just a few seconds with minimal permissions.

Install MSG Viewer from Chrome Web Store to open EML files
Click Import Files to select and open your EML files
2

Import Your EML Files

Click the extension icon and select your EML files. You can open one file or import multiple EML files at once for batch viewing.

3

View & Download

Your email renders instantly with full HTML formatting. View headers, download attachments individually, and browse through your emails.

View opened EML file with full email formatting and attachments
Install EML Viewer - Free

Why Use Our EML Viewer?

The fastest and most private way to view EML files online

Complete Privacy

Your EML files never leave your computer. All processing happens locally in Chrome — no server, no cloud, no tracking. Your emails stay yours.

Instant Rendering

EML files open immediately. Full HTML formatting, embedded images, and styled content render exactly as the sender intended.

Attachment Support

View all attachments included in EML files and download them individually with their original filenames. Supports all attachment types.

Batch Processing

Open multiple EML files at once. Perfect for reviewing email exports, legal discovery documents, or archived email collections.

Works Offline

No internet connection needed. Once installed, the EML viewer works entirely offline — ideal for air-gapped environments or travel.

Cross-Platform

Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chrome OS. Anywhere Chrome runs, your EML viewer is ready.

EML vs MSG: What's the Difference?

Both are email file formats, but they come from different ecosystems

Feature EML Files MSG Files
Format Open standard (RFC 5322) Microsoft proprietary (CFBF)
Used by Thunderbird, Apple Mail, many others Microsoft Outlook
Readability Plain text (human-readable) Binary format
Attachments Base64 encoded inline Embedded in binary structure
Compatibility Wide cross-platform support Requires Outlook or special viewer

MSG Viewer handles both formats. Whether you have EML or MSG files, you can open them in seconds.

Who Uses Our EML Viewer?

Trusted by professionals who need a reliable way to view email files

Legal Professionals

Review email evidence and discovery documents. EML files from Thunderbird and other clients open instantly with preserved metadata.

IT Administrators

Troubleshoot email issues by inspecting EML headers, routing information, and MIME structures without a full email client.

Chromebook Users

No desktop email client on Chrome OS? No problem. View any EML file directly in your Chromebook's browser.

EML Viewer FAQ

Common questions about opening EML files in Chrome

What is an EML file?
An EML file is a standard email message saved in MIME RFC 5322 format. It stores the complete email including headers (From, To, Subject, Date), body text in both plain text and HTML, embedded images, and file attachments. EML is used by Mozilla Thunderbird, Windows Mail, Apple Mail, and many other email clients. Unlike MSG files from Outlook, EML is an open format readable by many applications.

How do I open EML files in Google Chrome?
Install the free MSG Viewer extension from the Chrome Web Store. Once installed, click the extension icon in your toolbar, then click "Import Files" to select your EML file. The email opens immediately with full formatting, attachments, and headers. You can also open multiple EML files at once.

Is it safe to open EML files with this extension?
Yes, completely safe. MSG Viewer processes your EML files entirely on your local machine. Nothing is uploaded to any server. The extension runs in Chrome's sandboxed environment and requires only minimal permissions (local file access). Your email content stays private at all times.

Can I view EML files on a Chromebook?
Yes. MSG Viewer works on any platform that runs Chrome, including Chrome OS. Since Chromebooks don't have traditional desktop email clients, our extension is especially useful for viewing EML files on Chromebooks.

Can I open EML files from cloud storage?
Yes. MSG Viewer can open EML files directly from Notion, Google Drive, Dropbox, and other cloud services without downloading them first. Just click on an EML file in your cloud storage and it opens automatically.

Does the EML viewer also support MSG files?
Yes. MSG Viewer supports both EML and MSG file formats. Whether you receive email files from Thunderbird (EML) or Outlook (MSG), you can open them all with the same extension.

Start Viewing EML Files Now

Free forever. No account needed. Install in seconds.

Add to Chrome - It's Free

Also opens MSG files · Works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS