This article explains how to open an EML file in Windows and how to change the default app that Windows will use to handle EML files. Instructions in this article apply to Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.

What To Know

  • To open, right-click the file and select Open With, and pick either Mail or Windows Mail.To change the default app, search for “default,” and select Default app settings. Choose…by Type > EML > Mail or Windows Mail.

Manually Open EML Files in Windows

If you have more than one EML viewer installed on your computer and want to choose which program opens it, here’s how to open the EML file: 

  • Open Windows File Explorer and locate the EML file you want to open.
  • Right-click the EML file and select Open With.
  • Select Mail or Windows Mail. The file opens in the Windows email program.

Change the Default Program to Open EML Files in Windows

Windows gives you the option to pick which program will open an EML file when you double-click it. This method is useful if you always want the EML file to open in the same program. You can change the file association at any time.

Open Windows File Explorer and locate the EML file you want to open.

Right-click the EML file and select Open With.

Select Mail or Windows Mail. The file opens in the Windows email program.

  • In the Windows Search box, enter default.
  • Select Default App Settings or Default Programs.
  • Select Choose Default Apps by Type or Associate a File Type with a Program.
  • In the list of file types, select EML.
  • In the list of programs, choose Mail or Windows Mail to set it as the default.

In the Windows Search box, enter default.

Select Default App Settings or Default Programs.

Select Choose Default Apps by Type or Associate a File Type with a Program.

In the list of file types, select EML.

In the list of programs, choose Mail or Windows Mail to set it as the default.

There may be several programs on your computer that open EML files. For example, you can use Mozilla Thunderbird to open the EML file instead of a Windows email client.

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