How to Save an Outlook Email as MSG With Embedded Attachments Intact

You need to save an Outlook email as an MSG file, but the attachments must remain inside the file exactly as they appear in your inbox. The MSG format preserves the full email structure, including inline images and file attachments, unlike plain text or HTML exports. This article explains the correct method to save a single email as an MSG file with all attachments embedded. You will also learn what causes attachment loss and how to verify the saved file.

How the MSG Format Preserves Attachments

The MSG file format is Microsoft’s proprietary email storage format used by Outlook and Exchange. Unlike the EML format, which stores attachments as separate MIME parts that some clients may strip, the MSG format encapsulates the entire message object — including all attachments — into a single binary file. This means inline images, file attachments, and even embedded OLE objects remain intact when you open the MSG file later in Outlook or other compatible applications.

The key requirement for preserving attachments is that you use Outlook’s built-in Save As function or the drag-and-drop method. Exporting to other formats such as PDF, TXT, or HTML will strip attachments. The MSG format is the only standard Outlook export option that guarantees full attachment retention.

Prerequisites Before Saving

You need Outlook 2013 or later on Windows 10 or Windows 11. The email must be in your mailbox, not in a PST file that is password-protected or corrupted. If the email contains attachments that are blocked by your organization’s security policies, those attachments may be removed during the save process. In that case, contact your IT department to adjust the attachment blocking rules.

Steps to Save an Email as MSG With Attachments Using Save As

1. Open the email in its own window
   Double-click the email in your inbox or any folder to open it in a separate window. Do not use the Reading Pane for this method.
2. Click File in the ribbon
   In the open message window, click the File tab at the top-left corner of the window.
3. Select Save As
   In the File menu, click Save As. A dialog box titled Save As will appear.
4. Choose a destination folder
   Navigate to the folder where you want to save the MSG file. You can create a new folder by clicking New folder in the dialog.
5. Set the Save as type to Outlook Message Format
   Click the Save as type dropdown list and select Outlook Message Format – Unicode (msg). Do not select Text Only or Outlook Template.
6. Enter a file name and click Save
   Type a name for the file or keep the default subject line. Click Save. The email and all its attachments are now stored in a single MSG file.

Alternative Method: Drag and Drop to File Explorer

If you prefer not to open each email individually, you can drag an email from the Outlook folder view directly into a File Explorer window. This method also creates an MSG file with attachments intact.

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the target folder
   Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer. Browse to the folder where you want to save the MSG file.
2. Resize Outlook and File Explorer windows
   Drag the Outlook window to one side of the screen and the File Explorer window to the other side so you can see both at the same time.
3. Select the email in Outlook
   Click the email you want to save. You can select multiple emails by holding Ctrl and clicking each one.
4. Drag the email to File Explorer
   Click and hold the selected email, then drag it into the File Explorer folder. Release the mouse button. Outlook creates an MSG file for each email you dragged.

The drag-and-drop method works for emails in the main folder list, including Inbox, Sent Items, and custom folders. It does not work for emails that are open in a separate window.

How to Verify Attachments Are Intact

After saving the MSG file, you should confirm that all attachments are present. Double-click the MSG file in File Explorer. Outlook opens the message in a new window. In the message window, check the Attachments line above the message body. You should see the same attachments that were in the original email. If an attachment is missing, repeat the save process using the Save As method and ensure you selected Outlook Message Format – Unicode (msg).

Common Mistakes When Saving MSG Files

Attachments Missing After Saving as MSG

If attachments disappear, you likely selected the wrong file format. Check that you chose Outlook Message Format – Unicode (msg) and not Outlook Message Format – Unicode (htm) or Text Only. Also verify that the original email still has the attachments. If the email was forwarded or replied to, the original attachments may not be included. Open the original email in the Sent Items or Inbox folder to confirm.

MSG File Opens as a Blank Email

A blank MSG file usually indicates that the file was corrupted during the save or transfer process. Re-save the email using the Save As method. If the problem persists, copy the MSG file to a different drive or computer and try opening it there. If it opens correctly on another machine, the issue is with your Outlook profile or installation.

Cannot Open MSG File in Outlook

Outlook may refuse to open an MSG file if the file is associated with a different version of Outlook or if the file is damaged. Right-click the MSG file in File Explorer, select Open with, and choose Outlook. If Outlook does not appear in the list, browse to the Outlook executable at C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\OUTLOOK.EXE (the folder path may vary by Office version). If the file still does not open, try repairing your Office installation via Settings > Apps > Microsoft 365 > Modify > Quick Repair.

MSG vs EML Format for Attachment Retention

Item	MSG Format	EML Format
Attachment storage	Embedded inside the single .msg file	Stored as MIME parts; may be stripped by some clients
Inline images	Preserved exactly as in the original email	Preserved in most clients, but can break in older versions
Opening in Outlook	Opens directly in Outlook as a normal message	Requires import or drag-and-drop; may not show all properties
File size	Larger because attachments are inside the file	Smaller if attachments are removed or linked externally
Best use case	Archiving, legal discovery, or sharing with other Outlook users	Sending to non-Outlook email clients or webmail

For most business scenarios where you need to keep attachments intact and share the email with other Outlook users, the MSG format is the correct choice. Use EML only when the recipient uses a non-Outlook email client and you are certain the attachments will not be stripped.

If You Need to Save Multiple Emails as MSG Files

To save multiple emails at once, select all the emails you want to save by holding Ctrl and clicking each one. Then drag the selection to a File Explorer folder. Outlook creates an MSG file for each email. This method preserves attachments for every email. Alternatively, you can use Outlook’s Export feature by going to File > Open & Export > Import/Export > Export to a file > Outlook Data File (.pst) to create a PST file that contains multiple emails. The PST file also preserves attachments, but it is a single file that contains many messages, not individual MSG files.

You can now save any Outlook email as an MSG file with all attachments embedded using either the Save As dialog or the drag-and-drop method. Verify the saved file by opening it in Outlook and checking the Attachments line. For bulk operations, use the drag-and-drop method to save multiple emails simultaneously. As an advanced tip, you can create a Quick Step in Outlook that automates the Save As process with a single click by going to Home > Quick Steps > Create New and selecting the Save As action.