Guide · E-invoices
Open an XRechnung file
You received rechnung.xml and all you see is code? An XRechnung is an invoice written for machines. MSGView turns it into a readable invoice in your browser — seller, buyer, line items, VAT and payment details — without software, without an account and without uploading it.
Open an XRechnung in 3 steps
- Open MSGViewGo to msgview.app in any browser — Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone or Android. No installation, no account.
- Drop the .xml fileDrag the XRechnung onto the page, or the email it came in (.msg or .eml) and press Open next to the attachment. It is read inside your browser and never sent to a server.
- Read, print or exportYou see the invoice laid out like a paper invoice, with a plausibility check of its amounts. Save it as PDF or export the line items as CSV.
What is an XRechnung?
XRechnung is the German standard for electronic invoices, based on the European norm EN 16931. The invoice is an XML file in one of two syntaxes, UBL or UN/CEFACT CII; MSGView reads both. It has no layout of its own, which is why opening it shows raw code.
Since 1 January 2025 every business in Germany must be able to receive e-invoices; issuing them becomes mandatory in stages in 2027 and 2028.
What you see
Invoice number and dates, seller and buyer with addresses and VAT IDs, the buyer reference (Leitweg-ID), every line item with quantity and price, the VAT breakdown, totals, and the payment details such as IBAN and payment terms.
Private by design
Most online viewers ask you to upload the invoice to their server. MSGView does not: the file is opened in your browser's memory and never leaves your device — you can check this in the Network tab of the developer tools.
FAQ
How do I open an XRechnung without software?
Drop the .xml file on msgview.app. The browser shows it as a readable invoice; nothing is installed and the invoice is not uploaded.
Does it work with UBL and CII?
Yes. Both XRechnung syntaxes are supported, as are ZUGFeRD and Factur-X PDFs with an embedded XML.
The XRechnung arrived as an email attachment. What now?
Drop the whole email (.msg or .eml) on MSGView and press Open next to the invoice attachment. It opens in place; Back returns to the email.
Does MSGView check whether the invoice is valid?
No. It runs a plausibility check — required fields present, amounts add up — which is not an official validation. For a full check against the official XRechnung rules, use the KoSIT validator or your accounting software's validation. Whether an invoice is accepted is decided by its recipient.