How To Save Outlook Email With Attachments – Attachment Preserving Save Methods

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Preserving an email with its attachments intact requires using Outlook’s export or drag-and-drop features. If you’ve ever needed to archive a important message or share a full conversation with files, you might wonder how to save outlook email with attachments without losing any data. This guide walks you through every reliable method, from built-in tools to quick workarounds.

Outlook stores emails and their attached files in a single item. But saving that item as a complete package isn’t always straightforward. Many users try to save just the message or download attachments separately, then lose the connection between them. This article fixes that.

How To Save Outlook Email With Attachments

The most direct way to save an email and all its attachments together is to use the “Save As” command in Outlook. This method works for both classic Outlook and the new Outlook for Windows. It creates a single file that contains the message body, headers, and every attached file.

Method 1: Using Save As To Create An Outlook Message File

This method saves the email as an .msg file. An .msg file is a Outlook item format that preserves everything. You can open it later in Outlook or even in some other email clients.

  1. Open Outlook and navigate to the email you want to save.
  2. Double-click the email to open it in its own window. Do not just select it in the reading pane.
  3. In the open message window, click “File” in the top-left corner.
  4. Select “Save As” from the menu.
  5. Choose a folder on your computer where you want to store the file.
  6. In the “Save as type” dropdown, make sure “Outlook Message Format – Unicode (*.msg)” is selected.
  7. Click “Save.”

That’s it. The email and all its attachments are now saved in one file. To view the attachments later, simply double-click the .msg file. Outlook will open it, and you can double-click any attachment to open or save it.

Method 2: Drag And Drop To Desktop Or Folder

If you prefer a faster method, drag and drop works great. This also creates an .msg file, but it takes fewer clicks.

  1. Open Outlook and find the email.
  2. Click and hold the email in your message list.
  3. Drag it to your desktop or any folder in File Explorer.
  4. Release the mouse button. A new .msg file appears.

This method is perfect for quickly saving a single email. It preserves all attachments inside the file. Just be careful not to drop the email into another folder inside Outlook, or it will just move the email.

Method 3: Save Emails With Attachments Using The New Outlook

The new Outlook for Windows has a slightly different interface. But the process is similar.

  1. Open the email by double-clicking it.
  2. Click the three dots (…) in the toolbar of the open message.
  3. Select “Save As” from the dropdown menu.
  4. Choose a location and click “Save.”

In the new Outlook, you can also right-click the email in the message list and choose “Save As.” This works the same way. The file format is still .msg, and all attachments are included.

Alternative Methods For Saving Emails With Attachments

Sometimes you need to save emails in a format that other people can open without Outlook. Or you might want to save multiple emails at once. Here are some alternative methods.

Export To A PST File

A PST file is a Outlook data file. It can hold many emails, folders, and attachments. This is ideal for backing up a whole folder or archiving old messages.

  1. In Outlook, go to “File” > “Open & Export” > “Import/Export.”
  2. Select “Export to a file” and click “Next.”
  3. Choose “Outlook Data File (.pst)” and click “Next.”
  4. Select the folder that contains the emails you want to save.
  5. Check “Include subfolders” if needed.
  6. Click “Next,” choose a location for the PST file, and click “Finish.”

All emails and attachments in that folder are saved in the PST file. To access them later, use “File” > “Open & Export” > “Open Outlook Data File.”

Print To PDF

If you need to share the email content with someone who does not use Outlook, printing to PDF is a good option. But note: this method does not save the actual attachments as separate files. It only saves the text of the email and maybe a icon for the attachment.

  1. Open the email in its own window.
  2. Click “File” > “Print.”
  3. Select “Microsoft Print to PDF” as your printer.
  4. Choose “Memo style” or “Table style” for the print format.
  5. Click “Print” and save the PDF.

This method is best for records or legal purposes where the attachment content is not needed. If you need the actual files, use the .msg or PST methods instead.

Forward The Email To A Cloud Service

Some people save emails by forwarding them to a cloud email service like Gmail or Outlook.com. This works, but it has limitations. Large attachments may be blocked or compressed. Also, the original email headers may be changed.

  1. Create a new email in Outlook.
  2. Attach the original email as an attachment. To do this, drag the email from your message list into the body of the new email.
  3. Address the email to your cloud email address.
  4. Send it.

When you open the forwarded email in your cloud service, you will see the original email as an .msg attachment. You can download it and open it in Outlook. This method is not ideal for everyday use, but it works in a pinch.

How To Save Multiple Emails With Attachments At Once

If you have many emails to save, doing them one by one is tedious. Here are two ways to batch save emails with attachments.

Use The Export Feature For A Whole Folder

As mentioned earlier, exporting a folder to a PST file saves all emails and attachments in one go. This is the most efficient method for bulk saving.

  1. Go to “File” > “Open & Export” > “Import/Export.”
  2. Select “Export to a file” and choose “Outlook Data File (.pst).”
  3. Select the folder you want to export.
  4. Choose a location and finish the export.

You can also use this method to export your entire mailbox. Just select the top-level folder (usually your email address) and check “Include subfolders.”

Use A Third-Party Tool

Several third-party tools can save Outlook emails with attachments in bulk. Tools like SysTools Outlook PST Viewer or Stellar Converter for Outlook can export multiple emails to various formats. These tools often support saving to PDF, MSG, EML, or even cloud services.

Be cautious when using third-party tools. Only download from reputable sources. Check reviews and ensure the tool does not access your email data without permission.

Common Issues When Saving Emails With Attachments

Even with the right steps, you might run into problems. Here are some common issues and how to fix them.

Attachments Are Missing After Saving

If you save an email using “Save As” but the attachments do not appear, you might have saved the email from the reading pane. Always open the email in its own window before saving. The reading pane does not always include full attachment data.

File Size Is Too Large

Emails with large attachments can create .msg files that are hundreds of megabytes. This can cause Outlook to slow down or fail to save. Try removing large attachments before saving, or use a PST file to store multiple large emails.

Cannot Open The Saved .Msg File

If you cannot open a .msg file, it might be corrupted or saved in a incompatible format. Make sure you saved it as “Outlook Message Format – Unicode (*.msg).” Also, ensure you have Outlook or a compatible email client installed.

Tips For Organizing Saved Emails

Once you know how to save outlook email with attachments, you need to keep them organized. Here are some tips.

  • Create a folder structure on your computer that matches your Outlook folders.
  • Rename .msg files with descriptive names, like “ProjectReport_2024-01-15.msg.”
  • Use date prefixes so files sort chronologically.
  • Backup your saved emails to an external drive or cloud storage.
  • Delete old or duplicate saved emails to save space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I save an Outlook email with attachments as a PDF?

Yes, but the attachments will not be saved as separate files. Only the email text and attachment icons appear in the PDF. To preserve attachments, use the .msg format.

How do I save an email with attachments in Outlook for Mac?

In Outlook for Mac, open the email and go to “File” > “Save As.” Choose “Outlook Message (.emlx)” format. This saves the email and attachments together. You can also drag the email to the desktop.

What is the difference between .msg and .eml files?

An .msg file is a Outlook-specific format that preserves all Outlook properties. An .eml file is a generic email format used by many email clients. .eml files can also save attachments, but some Outlook features may be lost.

Can I save multiple emails with attachments at once without using a PST file?

Yes, you can select multiple emails in Outlook and drag them to a folder. This creates multiple .msg files. However, this method can be slow for hundreds of emails. A PST export is faster for large batches.

Why does my saved .msg file show the attachment as a link instead of a file?

This usually happens if the attachment was a cloud link (like a OneDrive link) rather than a actual file attached to the email. To save the actual file, you need to download it from the link first.

Final Thoughts On Saving Outlook Emails With Attachments

Knowing how to save outlook email with attachments is a essential skill for anyone who uses Outlook for work or personal communication. The .msg format is your best friend. It keeps everything together in one file that you can store, share, or archive.

For single emails, use the “Save As” method or drag and drop. For bulk saving, export to a PST file. And if you need a universal format, consider printing to PDF or using a third-party tool. Always test your saved files to make sure the attachments are intact.

With these methods, you will never lose an important email or its attached files again. Start saving your emails today and keep your digital life organized.