Guide · Convert
How to convert a .msg file to PDF
Outlook saves emails as .msg files, but sharing or archiving them is easiest as a PDF. MSGView converts .msg to PDF for free, right in your browser — no Outlook, no Microsoft 365, and nothing is uploaded.
Convert .msg to PDF in 3 steps
- Open MSGViewGo to msgview.app in any browser — Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge. Nothing to install.
- Drop your .msg fileDrag the .msg onto the page (or click to browse). It is parsed inside the tab and never leaves your device.
- Click PDFIn the Convert panel, click PDF. Your browser's print dialog opens — choose “Save as PDF” and you're done.
Why convert .msg to PDF?
A .msg file only opens cleanly in Outlook, which makes it awkward to share with anyone who doesn't use it. A PDF opens everywhere — on any phone, Mac or PC — and is the standard format for archiving an email, forwarding it to a lawyer, or attaching it to a case file or expense report. Because a PDF is a fixed snapshot, it's also what you want when the message has to stay exactly as it was received: nobody can accidentally edit the text or reflow the layout.
What the PDF keeps
MSGView writes the whole message into the PDF — the subject, the From, To and Cc recipients, the date, and the full body. Because the conversion goes through your browser's own print engine, the HTML formatting is preserved: fonts, bold and italic, tables, quoted replies, and inline images all render the way they looked in the email. Non-Latin text is handled too — Cyrillic, Greek, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean come through correctly, which is where a lot of “save as PDF” tools quietly drop characters.
Convert a .msg to PDF with its attachments
The PDF is the email itself; attachments stay as separate files so you can keep their original format. On the same screen you can save any single attachment, or pull all of them out at once as a .zip — including files trapped inside a winmail.dat (TNEF) attachment, which MSGView decodes automatically. Convert the message to PDF and grab the attachments in the same visit; nothing is uploaded either way.
Convert several .msg files
You don't have to do them one at a time. Drop a whole set of .msg files onto MSGView and convert each to PDF from the list — handy when you're archiving a thread or a mailbox export. If you'd rather keep the messages as editable email instead of fixed PDFs, convert them to .eml instead.
Private by design
Most “convert .msg online” tools upload your email to their server. MSGView doesn't: the parser runs inside your browser tab, so your message never touches the internet. You can verify it yourself — open your browser's Network panel and watch: not a single request carries the file. That's what makes it safe for confidential or legally sensitive mail that shouldn't leave your machine.
FAQ
Can I convert a .msg to PDF without Outlook?
Yes. MSGView opens and converts .msg files entirely in your browser, so you don't need Outlook or a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Is it safe to convert .msg files online?
With MSGView it's private — the file is read into your browser's memory and never uploaded. You can confirm it in your browser's Network panel.
Does the PDF keep attachments?
The PDF captures the email itself (subject, sender, recipients, date and body). Attachments can be saved separately, or extracted together as a .zip from the same screen.
Are formatting and images preserved in the PDF?
Yes. The conversion uses your browser's print engine, so HTML formatting, tables, quoted text and inline images render as they did in the email — and non-Latin scripts like Cyrillic or Chinese come through correctly.
Can I convert a .msg to PDF on a Mac or phone?
Yes. MSGView runs in any modern browser on macOS, Windows, Linux, iPhone or Android — there's nothing to install, and the steps are the same everywhere.