How to Save Outlook Email as MSG – Best Guide

If you have ever tried to locate an essential Outlook email for review, audit, or migration, you know how challenging it can be. PST and OST Outlook files bundle everything together, making it difficult to handle individual email messages. MSG format, which gives you precise control over your Outlook email messages, storing individual messages with attachments, properties, and metadata intact. Thus, it is an ideal format for all your needs. Hence, this blog guides you on how to save Outlook email as MSG free or with a reliable PST Converter in minimal time. 

What are the Reasons to Download Outlook Emails as MSG?

The substantial reasons for users being motivated about saving Outlook emails in another native MSG file format are:

  • MSG files preserve every attachment, metadata, header, and other details, useful for evidence. 
  • Auditors, HR department, and legal teams prefer the MSG format for the custodial documents. 
  • With the MSG format, store individual messages in place of the entire PST backup. 
  • MSG files can be easily migrated to other platforms and used in DMS platforms and enterprise systems. 
  • Outlook performance is improved with small individual MSG files as compared to large OST/PST archives. 
  • MSG files can be easily restored in Outlook without any difficulties. 
  • Organized storage with a lightweight collection of important emails helps in secure transfers without data exposure. 

“I have around 55 GB of Outlook emails locked in PST format that I need for an audit trail. Since PST isn’t a compliance-friendly format, it needs to be converted to MSG. Suggest potential ways to export Outlook emails to MSG files without loss.”

Jane Patrick Marker

Manual Workarounds to Save Outlook Email as MSG

As the MSG format is directly compatible with Microsoft Outlook, saving Outlook emails becomes easy. There are two free ways that you can perform instantly if you have an active MS Outlook profile. These are discussed in detail as follows: 

Method 01: Save Emails from Outlook as MSG with Dates

  1. Open MS Outlook and from your Inbox, choose the email to move. 
  2. Or, pick the folder containing emails to move and right-click it. 
  3. Then, from View, select View Settings and choose Filter
  4. Go to Advanced and apply filters like (Received: This Week, Received: Today, Received: between two dates) s required. 
  5. After that, click OK and move to the File tab. Open it and choose Save As
  6. Now, pick a location and in file type, select Outlook Message Format-Unicode (*.msg).
  7. Give your file a name and finally, click Save to complete the conversion. 

Method 02: Save Multiple Outlook Emails as MSG

  1. Open Outlook and select all the emails to move from the desired folder. 
  2. Next, drag and drop emails directly to the desktop, and they are saved as .msg files. 
  3. Alternatively, you can right-click and choose Move >> Copy to Folder to group them. 
  4. Later, drag them to your PC to save as Outlook message files

Expert Way to Save Outlook Email as MSG 

Whether you are an individual, a business, or a large-scale enterprise user, if you need to bulk save Outlook emails as individual MSGs. The most secure, smart, and efficient solution is to use the SysInfo PST Converter Tool. This software directly converts all your Outlook emails into MSG with all headers, folder attachments, and metadata properties intact and preserved. Additionally, it requires no MS Outlook installation and also provides unique filters for duplicates, date range, attachments, etc. Moreover, the user-friendly interface is suitable for all technical and non-technical users across all Mac, Windows, and Linux OS. 

One-Time File Conversion 

Besides, if you are not interested in downloading the software on your PC, and also wish to avoid the manual download hassles. Then, avail SysInfo One-Time Service where our technical experts take care of all your Outlook email downloads in no time with guaranteed accuracy and precision. 

Working Process to Save Multiple Outlook Emails as MSG

  1. Launch the Outlook Converter Tool and select a radio option. Tap Next. 
  2. Further, select Outlook emails on PC and add them to the software. 
  3. Click Next, and after that, preview and select emails from the tree to convert. 
  4. Again, click Next and choose the MSG file format from the save list. 
  5. At last, apply the filters, select the destination folder, and click Convert to download. 

That’s how simple it is to save Outlook email as MSG with the dedicated software. You can even download its Demo Version first for evaluation and conversion of upto 50 emails per folder at no cost. Furthermore, if you want them in a more structured format, refer to this guide → Export Outlook Emails to CSV.

Best Method to Download Outlook Emails as MSG

While both manual methods and the professional tool are beneficial at their own levels, the best among them is yet to be identified. Check out the comparison table to find the ideal solution. 

Basis 

Manual Methods

Professional Tool

Bulk Transfers

Not very suitable

Highly suitable

Data Fiedlity

Inaccurately maintained

Properly Preserved

Ease 

Time-consuming and requires repetition 

Quick and complete download in one go

With this, excellent software takes the upper hand for large-scale Outlook email downloads, maintaining everything as in the original file. 

A real example of this is the Financial Services firm at Berkley, which had around 45,000 Outlook emails they needed in the MSG format for compliance audits. Outlook crashed with only a few emails and repeated manual exports. Then, they downloaded the Outlook Conversion Tool. It helped them save emails from Outlook as MSG with dates in no time with 100% accuracy and zero loss. 

Conclusion 

When you save Outlook email as MSG, it gives you clarity, control, and precision over your important Outlook messages. A long-term portability is achieved that something can never be obtained with the PST archives. Furthermore, moving a single email message or hundreds or thousands at once, choosing the right method depends on data volume and the fidelity required. All the above methods are trusted, verified, and suitable for this purpose, but the best one still remains the excellent Outlook Converter. 

FAQs

Q. Is MSG or EML format better for saving Outlook emails? 

Ans. Both file formats are suitable, but the MSG format retains metadata more deeply and preserves every attachment and header information clearly and completely. MSG files save them exactly as in the original file. So, it is indeed a better option.

Q. Can I save Outlook 2021 email as MSG with dates and without Outlook?

Ans. Yes, of course. Use the optimal PST File Converter, which has a Date Range filter for selective email downloads. Also, it doesn’t require MS Outlook installation to save emails as MSG files.

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About The Author:

Suman Rawat is a technical content writer and expert in the fields of email migration, data recovery, and email backup. Her passion for helping people has led her to resolve many user queries related to data conversion and cloud backup.

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