Convert Outlook MSG to PDF without Outlook
A .msg file is a single Outlook item — usually an email — saved by Microsoft Outlook for Windows. Unlike .eml files, MSG files use Microsoft’s compound file format, so most programs other than Outlook can’t open them. The MSG to PDF converter reads them in your browser and draws the PDF with jsPDF and pdf-lib (MIT) and turns each one into a PDF with the sender, recipients, date, subject, message body and attachments.
That helps when someone sends you a .msg you can’t open on a Mac, phone or Chromebook, when an HR or legal process needs correspondence as PDF, or when you are archiving a folder of saved Outlook messages.
Nothing leaves your device: the file is decoded with the open-source msgreader library (Apache-2.0) on your own computer or phone.
How to convert MSG to PDF
- Drop one or more .msg files on the upload area, or press Try a sample Outlook message.
- Click a message in the list to preview it. Attachments are listed under the preview with a Save button; attached emails also get an Open button.
- Choose the page size, the margins and whether attachments are embedded in the PDF.
- Pick one PDF per message or one bookmarked PDF, then press Download PDF.
MSG to PDF features
Reads Outlook’s own format
Subject, sender, To, Cc and Bcc recipients, sent date, Internet headers and every attachment are read from the MAPI properties inside the file.
All three Outlook body types
HTML bodies are used directly; rich-text bodies stored as compressed RTF are decompressed (MS-OXRTFCP) and the original HTML is recovered from them (MS-OXRTFEX); plain text keeps its line breaks.
Attached emails
A message attached to a message becomes its own .msg file that you can save, or open in the list and convert too.
Inline pictures
Pictures in the body that point to attachments by Content-ID are drawn in place, and only the real attachments are embedded.
Private by design
Everything runs in your browser; scripts are stripped and remote images stay blocked unless you allow them.
MSG or EML — what is the difference?
Need the opposite? EML to MSG writes Outlook files from .eml messages. For .eml files or whole .mbox mailboxes, use EML to PDF or Email to PDF.
| .msg | .eml | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Microsoft Outlook for Windows | Almost every other mail app, plus Outlook on the web |
| Format | Compound file (like an old .doc) holding MAPI properties | Plain-text Internet message (RFC 5322 + MIME) |
| Body | HTML, plain text or compressed RTF | Plain text and/or HTML |
| Opens without Outlook | Rarely | Yes, in most mail apps and text editors |
Senders inside your organisation
Messages between colleagues on Microsoft Exchange often store the sender as an internal Exchange address beginning with /O= instead of an email address. When the file holds no SMTP address, the PDF shows the display name only — the same as Outlook does.
Calendar invitations, contacts and tasks saved as .msg are read too, but only their basic fields (subject, people, date and text) are shown, with a note saying so.
Getting .msg files out of Outlook
- Outlook for Windows: drag messages from the list to a folder on your desktop, or open one and choose File → Save As → Outlook Message Format – Unicode.
- New Outlook and Outlook on the web save messages as .eml instead — convert those with EML to PDF.
- Combine the PDFs with other documents in Merge PDF.
MSG to PDF FAQ
How can I open an MSG file without Outlook?
Drop it on this page: the message appears straight away, and you can download it as a PDF, save its attachments one by one or open attached emails. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone.
How do I convert MSG to PDF for free?
Add your .msg files, choose the page size and press Download PDF. Several messages arrive as a ZIP, or as one bookmarked PDF if you prefer. There is no watermark or sign-up.
Are MSG attachments included?
Yes. Attachments are embedded in the PDF unchanged and listed in the header block, and you can save each one from the preview. Pictures inside the message body are drawn on the page.
Why does an old Outlook message look plain?
Older Outlook versions store “Rich Text” messages as compressed RTF. The converter decompresses it and recovers the HTML when Outlook kept it inside; pure RTF formatting such as fonts and colours becomes plain paragraphs.
Is my Outlook file uploaded?
No. The conversion runs in your browser and nothing is sent to a server. Scripts never run and remote images stay blocked unless you allow them.
Can it open encrypted MSG files?
No. Messages protected with S/MIME encryption or Microsoft Purview rights management can only be opened by Outlook with your certificate or account. Open them there and print to PDF.