How to open .EML files on Linux
To open .EML files on Linux, in your file manager, right-click the .eml file → Open With and pick an installed email client/viewer.
Step-by-step instructions
- In your file manager, right-click the .eml file → Open With and pick an installed email client/viewer.
- If it opens in the wrong app, adjust the file association for message/rfc822 or for *.eml using your desktop environment’s “Default Applications” settings (based on shared MIME-info).
Common issues
The .EML file opens as unreadable raw text
This typically happens when the file is opened in a plain text editor that does not interpret RFC 5322 headers and MIME parts (HTML body, attachments).
- Open the .eml with an email client/viewer instead of a text editor.
- If you must inspect it manually, use a text editor only to verify headers, and extract attachments using a mail client that understands MIME.
Double-click opens the .EML in the wrong program
File associations may be set incorrectly (for example, not associated with message/rfc822 or mapped to a generic editor).
- On Windows: right-click → Open with → choose Outlook (or another mail client), and set it as the default for .eml if offered.
- On Linux: change the default application for message/rfc822 or the *.eml association via your desktop environment settings (shared MIME-info).
Outlook won’t open the .EML as expected
Different Outlook versions and configurations (including the new Outlook) can behave differently when opening .eml files.
- Use Microsoft’s documented method for opening .eml in the new Outlook (see Further reading).
- If one method fails (e.g., double-click), try opening from within Outlook or using Open with from File Explorer.
Attachments are missing or won’t open
The .eml may be incomplete/corrupted, or the message’s MIME structure may not have been preserved during download/transfer.
- Re-download or re-export the .eml from the original source to ensure the full message is saved.
- Open the .eml in a mail client that supports MIME so attachments are recognized and extracted correctly.
Still can’t open your .EML file?
Recover a deleted or lost .EML file
If the file was deleted by mistake or the drive was formatted, data recovery software may be able to get it back. Stop writing to that drive right away, because new data can overwrite what you want to recover.
Windows software that recovers deleted or lost files from PCs and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and memory cards, after deletion, formatting or a crash.
Wondershare RecoveritWindows and Mac software that recovers deleted or lost files from computers and external drives such as HDDs, SSDs, USB drives and SD cards.
We may earn a commission when you use affiliate links. This supports our free file extension guides.
Security note
.EML files can contain links, HTML content, and attachments via MIME; treat them like opening an email—be cautious with unexpected senders and do not open attachments you don’t trust.