How to open .eml files in Windows 7?

Question

**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?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

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

Answer 3

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

Answer 4

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

Answer 5

Windows 7 has no native email client and that's why it can't open those files. In *any* operating system you must have a program installed in order to open files created in that program. You will need an email client installed which can read .eml files. Examples of email clients are Thunderbird and Windows Live Mail.

---

MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!