An EML file is a saved email message file that contains the message headers, sender and recipient information, subject, body content, formatting, and sometimes attachments.

How do I save an EML file from Gmail?

Open the email in Gmail, click the three-dot More menu, choose Download message, and Gmail will download the email as an .eml file.

Can Outlook save emails as EML files?

New Outlook and Outlook on the web support More actions → Save as for EML. Classic Outlook may save MSG instead. Renaming MSG to EML does not convert it.

How to Save an EML File from Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail & More

What is an EML file?

An EML file is a saved email message. It can include the sender, recipient, subject line, message body, formatting, images, headers, and sometimes attachments. Many email apps use EML files because they preserve the message in a portable format.

For ScreenshotEmails, an EML file is useful when you want to capture an email you received in Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, Yahoo Mail, Thunderbird, Proton Mail, or another inbox, but you do not have direct access to the original HTML code.

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The basic EML workflow

Most providers use slightly different menus, but the overall process is usually the same.

Open the email

Start by opening the individual message you want to save, not just selecting it in your inbox list.

Find export

Look for options like Download message, Save As, Export, View source, or View raw message.

Save as .eml

Download the message directly, or save the raw message source with the .eml file extension.

Screenshot it

Upload the EML file to ScreenshotEmails and export a clean full-length screenshot.

How to save EML files by email provider

Use the steps below for the most common inboxes and email clients.

📩 Gmail

Open the email you want to save.
Click the three-dot More menu in the email toolbar.
Select Download message.
Gmail downloads the email as an .eml file.

📨 Outlook Desktop

Open or select the message in Outlook.
Use File then Save As for message export options.
Some Outlook versions save as MSG by default.
Dragging a message may also create MSG. For EML, open the message in new Outlook or Outlook on the web and choose More actions → Save as.

🌐 Outlook.com

Open the message in Outlook on the web.
Click the three-dot More actions menu.
Choose Save as to download the message.
Save the downloaded .eml file to your device.

🍎 Apple Mail

Select the email in the Mail app on Mac.
Click File in the menu bar.
Select Save As and choose a folder.
You can also drag the email to your desktop to save it.

💜 Yahoo Mail

Open the message in Yahoo Mail.
Click the three-dot More menu.
Select View raw message when available.
Save the raw message content with a .eml extension.

🦊 Thunderbird

Right-click the email you want to save.
Select Save As.
Choose your destination folder and filename.
Save the message as a mail file with the .eml format.

🔒 Proton Mail

Open the email you want to export.
Click the three-dot More options menu.
Choose Export when available.
The message downloads as an .eml file.

📁 Other email apps

Look for Download, Export, Save As, or View source.
If raw source opens in a browser tab, save it as plain text.
Use the .eml extension when saving the file.
Then upload it to ScreenshotEmails.

🖼️ Next step

Open ScreenshotEmails.
Drop your .eml file into the upload box.
Preview the email in desktop or mobile size.
Download your full-length screenshot.

Why save an email as an EML file?

Saving an email as an EML file gives you a portable copy of a specific message. That can be helpful for archiving important receipts, saving confirmations, keeping a record of client approvals, moving email between apps, or sharing a message outside your normal inbox.

EML files are also useful for creating screenshots of emails you received. If you cannot access the raw HTML, downloading the email as an EML file gives ScreenshotEmails a file it can render and capture.

Example of saving an EML file from Gmail

Confirm that you saved the right format

The filename should end in .eml. An Outlook .msg file is a different format; changing its extension does not convert it. If your Outlook version does not offer EML, use new Outlook or Outlook on the web for that message.

When exporting raw source from another provider, save the complete message, including its body, as plain text. A page containing only message headers is not a complete saved email.

Choose what to do with the saved file

Read the EML file, convert it to PNG, or extract its HTML body. Keep the original EML when you need message headers or attachments.

Related guides

Want to capture the email after saving it? Visit the email screenshot tool. Working with email code directly? Read how to screenshot HTML emails. Want to reuse email code? See how to convert EML to HTML.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about saving EML files and using them for screenshots.

Is an EML file the same as an email?

An EML file is a saved copy of an individual email message. It can preserve the subject, sender, recipient, body, formatting, and other message data.

Can Gmail download EML files?

Yes. Open the message in Gmail, click the three-dot More menu, and choose Download message.

Can Outlook export EML files?

New Outlook and Outlook on the web support saving messages as EML through More actions → Save as. Classic Outlook may save MSG instead; renaming MSG to EML does not convert it.

Can I screenshot an EML file?

Yes. Upload the EML file to ScreenshotEmails, preview the email, and download a full-length screenshot.

Do EML files include attachments?

They can include attachments, depending on the email provider and export method. Screenshot results focus on rendering the visible email content.

Is ScreenshotEmails free?

Yes. ScreenshotEmails is free to use and does not require signup or installation.