SOYATOOLS / GUIDES

How to open winmail.dat and save its attachments on Windows

You expected a document or picture, but the email arrived with a winmail.dat attachment. Outlook Rich Text mail can put attachments inside this TNEF file. To see those files, open the winmail.dat container rather than treating it as the document you expected.

Updated October 28, 2026 · 4 minute read

A winmail.dat can contain other files

MSG, EML & PST Viewer can open a standalone winmail.dat and show files inside winmail.dat attachments in .msg or .eml messages. You do not need Outlook, an email account or an upload to read the local file.

Open the file with the app

Save the winmail.dat attachment to your PC. If you already have a .msg or .eml containing it, you can open that message instead.
Install MSG, EML & PST Viewer from Microsoft Store and open the saved file in the app.
Select the message and inspect the attachment list, including files inside winmail.dat.
Open or save the attachment you need, one file at a time. Choose a location on your PC and check the saved file.

What is free?

Open winmail.dat, .msg and .eml files and read the messages.
Open or save attachments individually, including files inside winmail.dat.
Read local files offline; remote images are blocked until you allow them.

Save and export with Pro

Pro is a one-time purchase with no subscription. Check the Microsoft Store purchase screen for the current price.

Save an email as PDF.
Save all attachments of an email at once.
Convert a folder of .msg/.eml files to PDF.

Limits and things that may be missing

This is a viewer. It does not send or edit messages, repair a damaged winmail.dat or unlock passwords.
A damaged file is opened only as far as it can be read. An attachment missing from the data cannot be recovered by the viewer.
Seeing an attachment in the list does not mean the viewer can edit that attachment's own format. Save the file and use a suitable app when needed.

Open and check the actual attachments before deciding whether you also need a PDF of the email. Individual attachment saving is free; saving every attachment in one operation is Pro.

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