How to Analyze Orphaned EML Files without Outlook?

To open and read your orphaned EML files without using the Outlook program. This article will provide different methods to analyze orphaned EML files without Outlook. Read the article to see an online technique to read EML files.

If you don’t know what orphaned EML files are, they are files where the associated program is uninstalled or deleted. This means that the application that you used to create EML files is uninstalled, which makes it an orphan. This doesn’t harm your storage space, and you can easily view the files. But if you don’t want to use Outlook, then how can you do it?

EML files are a common file format that can be opened in various email clients like Thunderbird, Windows Live Mail, Outlook, and even Notepad. So, there are various ways to read the orphan files even if you don’t use Outlook.

Methods to Analyze Orphaned EML Files Without Outlook

As we explained above, you can open the orphaned files in Thunderbird using the add-in. In Windows Live Mail, you can view them by importing them into the program with an in-built option. Apart from that, you can also use a professional way to read the files. Therefore, there are three ways to view orphaned EML files.

  • Import orphaned EML files in Thunderbird.

  • Open the files in Windows Live Mail and read them.

  • Use the professional technique to view the files.

Read Orphaned EML Files in Thunderbird

To import the files into the program, you have to install Addin. So, first install the Import/Export Tools NG from addons.thunderbird.net. After that, follow the steps below to analyze orphaned EML files without Outlook.

  1. Once you download the addon, open Thunderbird.

  2. Click on the Tools option and then the Import/Export addon.

  3. Select the Import button and browse the orphaned EML files.

  4. Open the file in the program; now go to the inbox folder and read the files.

View Orphaned EML Files in Windows Live Mail

In Windows Live Mail, there is a built-in import option. So with the help of this, you can directly open and read the files.

  1. Open Windows Live Mail and go to File option.

  2. Select Import messages, and then Windows Live Mail.

  3. Press next. Click on the Browse button to locate the files. Select import.

  4. After opening the files, click on the inbox to examine your files.

Drawbacks of Manual Methods

The above methods support the EML files and open them. However, it also has problems you may face.

  • In Thunderbird, you cannot view attachments as it only imports email messages.

  • You open a single file in the program at the same time.

  • It will take time to open the files.

  • There is no advanced option, so you cannot analyze the files.

With all these issues, the methods are not a perfect solution. But the next one will help you.

A Professional Way to Analyze Orphaned EML Files Without Outlook

This method is much easier than the above ones. You can directly open and read the files. Here, we use EML Reader Software from FreeViewer. This one will help you view the files, whether you have normal, corrupt, orphaned files. It is a free download tool, and users can use it to analyze the files. There are various features available that you can use.

Features of Software

  • You can read EML files with attachments and all the attributes.

  • There are various preview modes available, like HEX, HTML, MIME, RTF, attachments, etc.

  • You don’t need to install any programs to open the files.

  • It doesn’t allow any file size restrictions to open and view files in the software.

  • The tool supports EML files from other email applications, such as Apple Mail, Thunderbird, and Windows Live Mail.

Steps to View Orphaned EML Files

  1. Download and install the software.

  2. Find your EML files in the list of folders on the left side.

  3. Click on the orphaned files, and they will display in front of you.

  4. Preview your files and read them one by one.

By following these steps, you can easily see the content of the orphaned EML files. But if you don’t want to install the tool, you can simply read them in the Online EML File Viewer. You have to just open the files from the location where they are stored, and you can explore the data with attachments.

Conclusion

Having orphaned files doesn’t cause harm to your local storage. So, to view them, this article explains all the methods to analyze orphaned EML files without Outlook. You can use other email applications to view the EML files, like Windows Live Mail and Thunderbird. Instead of this, you can also use a professional tool that can directly open the files and provide better results. Whichever you use, that is your choice, but make sure you see the pros and cons of the techniques.