How Do I Import a MSG File into Outlook?

If you’ve received a .msg file—perhaps exported from another Outlook account or sent by a colleague—you might wonder how to open or import it into your own Outlook environment properly. A .msg file is a single email message saved in Microsoft Outlook format, containing metadata like sender, recipient, subject, date, and attachments. These files are commonly used for email archiving, sharing individual emails, or transferring messages across systems.

Luckily, Microsoft Outlook natively supports MSG files, and importing them is not that complicated. However, your approach might depend on your requirements—whether you need to view, save, or merge these messages into your current Outlook folders.

Here is a detailed guide outlining the various methods to import.msg files into Outlook, including simple drag-and-drop methods and more systematic approaches for long-term storage.

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What Is an MSG File?

Before going into the importation process, it is helpful to know what an MSG file is.

Microsoft Outlook generates an MSG file when you save a single email message. The file comprises the full message content, metadata, and any attached embedded material. This is convenient for saving particular emails for archiving purposes or for sharing significant correspondence without actually sending them.

These files are commonly applied in commercial environments where the upkeep of email files outside the mail server is valuable, i.e., in compliance with law or project reports.

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Pre-Requisites: What You Need

To import MSG files to Outlook, ensure:

• You have installed a version of Microsoft Outlook (2010 and later recommended).

• The MSG file was not corrupted during downloading or transferring.

• The file is available on your computer or network location.

Outlook should be set up with a minimum of one email profile; otherwise, the process will not function.

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Method 1: Drag and Drop (Quick and Easy)

This is the easiest way to import MSG files into Outlook.

Steps:

1. Launch Microsoft Outlook.

2. Go to the location where you will drop the email (e.g., Inbox, Archive, Custom Folder).

3. Open Windows File Explorer and find the MSG file.

4. Drag the MSG file from File Explorer and drop it in the target Outlook folder.

Result:

The email message is now visible in Outlook like any other email. You can open, reply, forward, or move it around in Outlook as desired.

Best for:

One-time imports or occasional use when handling a handful of MSG files.

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Method 2: Use Outlook's Import Feature (Organized Method)

Technically, Outlook's Import and Export Wizard does not import MSG files directly. Yet if you have several MSG files and wish to handle them more systematically, you can put them in a folder and import them manually into Outlook.

Steps:

1. Make a folder on your computer and put all your MSG files into it.

2. Open Outlook and make a new folder to store the imported messages (optional but helpful for organization).

3. Open Windows Explorer, highlight all MSG files by using Ctrl + A, then drag and drop them into the Outlook folder.

While this is still a drag-and-drop process, having the files in an organized folder beforehand provides you with more control, particularly helpful when importing dozens or hundreds of messages.

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Method 3: Convert MSG to PST (Advanced)

If you have lots of MSG files and you wish to convert them into a .pst file (Outlook's default data file format), third-party software can come in handy for automating this process. Once the files are converted to PST, you can then import the file through Outlook's Import feature.

Steps:

1. Use a good quality tool such as vMail MSG to PST Converter or Vartika Converter for MSG.

2. Install the software and follow its instructions for batch converting MSG files to a PST.

3. In Outlook, go to:

O File > Open & Export > Import/Export

o Select Import from another program or file

o Choose Outlook Data File (.pst)

o Browse and import the PST file that was generated

Best for:

Power users, IT administrators, or legal staff handling large volumes of archived e-mails.

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Things to Remember

•MSG files are Windows-specific. They won't open correctly on macOS unless you're using Outlook for Mac with specific setups.

• Duplicate handling: When you import the same MSG file twice, duplicate entries might be shown by Outlook. You can use integrated or third-party tools for removing duplicates.

• Attachments: Attachments within the MSG file will be retained when importing.

Migrating MSG files into Outlook is a doable operation whether you have a great amount of technical expertise or not. Moving an individual message or consolidating tens of thousands of archived messages is just as simple for Outlook. Simple needs require nothing more than a drag-and-drop solution. In more sophisticated scenarios, using MSG to PST provides an enterprise-scale solution.

Mastering these methods gives you the power to have an efficiently organized mailbox and guarantees that nothing vital in communication is lost along the way.