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Convert MSG to TXT – Ultimate Tutorial

  author
Written By Ashwani Tiwari
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh
Published On February 21st, 2025
Reading Time 5 Minutes Reading

Summary: Want to know how you can convert MSG to TXT. Then, this blog is useful for you. This article explains the need to do this and provides manual methods to do so. Firstly, starting with what MSG files actually do.

MSG is spelled as message. It is the file format used to store email messages that are saved by Microsoft Outlook. These messages often contain very important information. However, when it comes to data-less versions of emails in which there is no metadata or formatting to read, thenTXT format is preferred. Converting MSG files to TXT helps in archiving, searching, and sharing emails in a pure text-based format.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to structure email data systematically, a better approach would be to convert MSG to CSV for seamless organization in spreadsheets.

Table of Contents Hide

Why MSG to TXT Conversion?

There are several aspects which users take into consideration while they want to convert MSG to TXT.

  • This file format can be opened from any device that does not have Outlook.
  • A plain text file is a lot smaller than an MSG file. It allows easy searching within keywords stored in that file.
  • TXT files operate without further installation across all operating systems.
  •  It makes storage and organization very simple to be made for documentation needs.

How to Convert MSG to TXT? 3 Manual Ways

In this section, we will be discussing various methods to do the following conversion. Follow these steps from below wordings.

Method 1. Using Microsoft Outlook  

This method enables you to save MSG files in TXT format manually using the following simple steps:

  1. First, open Microsoft Outlook and make sure you’re in the folder where the MSG file is situated.
  2. After that, double-click the MSG file, which opens it in Outlook.
  3. Now, click on File > Save As.
  4. Make sure to choose Text Only (*.txt) as the file format.
  5. Then, select the destination where you want to save it and click on Save.

This method is effective only when Outlook is installed on your system.

Method 2. Open MSG File in Notepad

It does not require the need of outlook, you can easily access the content using this method and convert MSG to TXT.

  1. Firstly, find the MSG file within your computer.
  2. Right-click on the file and choose Open With > Notepad.
  3. You will notice an email’s actual message, along with its headers and metadata.
  4. Then click File > Save As, select Text Documents (*.txt) and name the file.

This method may come with a lot of additional unwanted metadata and symbols which is not really user-friendly.

Method 3. Using Online MSG to TXT Converter

Go to the web and search for online tools which is a great option. Especially since you have few MSG files to convert.

  1. Open a trusted MSG to TXT converter on a web platform.
  2. Hit on Upload, select the MSG file(s) from your device.
  3. Select TXT as the output format.
  4. Hit ‘Convert‘ and wait for the process to complete.
  5. Now, download the converted TXT file to your system.

Convert MSG to TXT – Reliable Approach

We have mentioned various manual solutions to achieve this file conversion process. Like, using Outlook, opening file in notepad, or using a online MSG to TXT converter. But, all this method comes with some limitations which makes all this option as the last one for the users. So, go for SysTools MSG Converter Tool which will ensure precise and secure file conversion in bulk without loss of data.

Simple Step By Step Guide:

1. Firstly, Download & Install the Software and select your preferred language from the Select Language drop-down.

download msg converter

2. Browse and select the folder containing MSG files for conversion.

select MSG files

After selecting the folder, the software will provide you different View modes in the software panel. You can select the Switch view as horizontal or vertical.

select switch or view mode

3. Use Export Selected to convert specific MSG files which you want.

use export selected option

Click the Export button to initiate the bulk export procedure.

click on export button

4. In order to export Outlook MSG files in CSV file format, select the radio button corresponding to CSV in Export Type section.

select txt as your export output

5. By clicking the Browse button, you can select the output folder for the converted CSV file.

click on browse button

Click Export to start the batch conversion process.

now, click on export option to convert msg to txt

6. Conversion progress will now be shown on the application panel.

conversion progress will now be displayed

7. Click on the Save button to save the CSV report for each browsed MSG file.

click on save button

8. The converted report can now be saved to any location of your choice.

save the report in your desired location.

9. You may now view the resultant CSV file at the desired location.

see the report

Final Words

Users can simply convert MSG to TXT if they want to have just a plain text version of Outlook emails. You have the option of saving it using “Save As” of Outlook, opening the MSG file using Notepad or using an online converter for a quick conversion. While this method of conversion is free and straightforward, manual methods may not be well-suited for bulk process. If you want to convert many MSG files at once without losing the format in which this file was created, you can consider using an automatic tool.

  author

By Ashwani Tiwari

Being a Chief Technical Analyst, I am aware of the technicalities faced by the user while working with multiple technologies. So, through my blogs and articles, I love to help all the users who face various challenges while dealing with technology.