MSG file format is the extension used for mail exchange on Microsoft. If you have encountered MSG file not opening problem, this write-up is for you. Here you will learn 7 effective solutions on how to repair MSG file not opening problem in Outlook. Read more and fix the issue with ease.
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As you must be aware of the Outlook data files like OST and PST, MSG file is also another kind of Outlook file. The .msg is a file extension used for all the mail messages by Microsoft Outlook and the Exchange server.
An MSG file can contain ASCII signatures, text for the headers, or the main message body. This file is also capable of storing mail hyperlinks and attachments. MSG files may be exported for the purposes of archiving and storage or scanning for malware.
However, users may encounter strange issues while accessing the MSG files in Outlook which comes with the error stating “cannot open MSG file”. In this article, we have discussed some common causes that often make it difficult for users to open MSG files.
Read the next section to know the method that will help you quickly fix the inaccessible MSG file. If you are wondering how to change the location of Outlook Data file, click here.
If any of the below reasons are true, then an Outlook user will not be able to access MSG file:
The “MSG file is not opening” error can be fixed with the help of the troubleshooting methods that will be given below.
Note: If this fix has not been properly done or if the file has been changed to an invalid format, you may lose or corrupt the file. It is always recommended to take a backup of your Outlook data before trying to troubleshoot the can’t open the MSG error.
For older versions of Outlook, in order to open an MSG file generated by a new Unicode format, you can request the sender to resend the MSG file after saving it in ANSI. This will resolve any compatibility issues concerning older versions of Outlook.
In some cases, a lack of compatibility with your Windows or having an older version of Outlook can cause the MSG file not to open error. However, by updating the following you might be able to access Outlook
Change the default “.msg” format from Unicode to ANSI format to fix the inaccessible MSG error. Just drag and drop the Outlook email to the Windows File Explorer folder and follow the steps mentioned below.
Go to Tools -> Options -> Tab Other -> Advanced Options button -> Disable Option: Use Unicode Message Format when saving messages
Go to File -> Options -> Mail -> Section -> save Messages -> Disable Option: Use Unicode Format
Note: When you save the file, change the type from Unicode (*.msg) to (*.msg) by going to File -> Save as -> “Save as type” drop-down list from “Outlook Message Format-Unicode (*.msg) to Outlook Message Format (*.msg)”.
If this method doesn't work well for you, progress with the below-listed solutions
Even after trying all the listed methods, if you are still unable to get rid of the error. We recommend you repair your Office suite
Usually one of the listed solutions will fix the MSG file not opening in Outlook issue. However, if the issue still presides. You will need a reliable PST repair utility to fix the issue.
“Just like issues in Outlook MSG file, you might come across facing problems with Outlook PST file as well. Under such instances, you can learn how to fix PST file issues with the help of Remo Repair PST Software just in a few minutes.”
There are several ways to fix an MSG file not opening error in Outlook on Mac here are some of the accurate solutions to fix your MSG file not opening Error in Outlook on Mac.
Keeping your Outlook updated can be beneficial in many other ways and it also helps you in fixing the error of file MSG not opening in Outlook Mac. Follow the below-given steps to update your Outlook:
You can also update your Outlook by downloading the latest version of Outlook and install manually.
To convert the MSG file to a different format, follow the below-given steps:
To check file permissions on a Mac, follow these steps:
To Repair the Outlook database follow the below-given steps:
These are the solutions to fix your MSG file not opening Error in Outlook on Mac.
Quick-Tip:
If you frequently work offline on Outlook, synchronize the changes to the exchange servers regularly. This will help you to quickly restore the deleted offline file from the server.
Conclusion
The above article emphasizes many effective ways how to fix MSG file not opening problems in Outlook. If you have incurred corruption in your Outlook, you can always make use of the reliable Outlook recovery utility to fix the issue. If you have any further queries regarding the article, please make use of the comment section below
a. As it simple as it sounds, by double-clicking on the file you will be able to open the MSG file. However, if the MSG extension has not been set default you will need to right-click on the file format and select MSG extension to access it
Use Outlook’s ‘Print to PDF’ option
a. In the menu bar, go to ‘File’
b. Then ‘Print’ and choose ‘Microsoft Print to PDF’ or ‘ Convert to PDF option’
a. Open the MSG file in Outlook.
b. Select the File option > Save As and specify the destination location. The "Save As" window opens.
c. Select the MHT or HTML file type.
d. Open the resulting file in Microsoft Word.
e. From File > Save As select the destination folder.
f. In the "Save As" window specify the desired Word document format: DOCX, DOC, RTF, etc.