Written by Jennifer Walsh. Reviewed for technical accuracy by Shubham Dixit, Independent Expert in Email Forensics and Data File Conversion. Updated 18 September 2026.
Shubham is an independent external reviewer and not an employee of PCDOTS.
Quick answer. MSG is Outlook’s email file, and Word means a .doc or .docx document. Outlook can’t save a MSG straight to Word, so you save the email as HTML or text, then open it in Word and save as .docx. For many files, a converter or a short Python script does it in bulk. Text keeps it simple, HTML keeps the formatting.
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Why is there no direct MSG to Word option?
MSG is Outlook’s format for a single email. Word means a .doc or .docx document you can edit, print and share. Classic Outlook can’t save an email straight to Word.
People convert MSG to Word to edit an email, annotate with notes or comments, print or archive a copy, merge messages into one report or read old mail without Outlook installed.
So converting MSG to Word takes two short moves. You save the email as HTML or text, then open that file in Word and save it as .docx. HTML keeps the formatting, images and headers. Text gives you plain content.
This works in classic Outlook. The new Outlook does not support saving a message as a Word document, which Microsoft confirms, so you use classic Outlook or one of the routes below.
MSG reaches Word through an HTML or text file, then Word saves the .docx.
“There’s no button that turns a MSG into a Word file in one move, and that surprises people. Outlook saves the email as HTML or text, and Word opens that and saves the .docx. My tip is always save as HTML, not text, because HTML carries the formatting, the images and the From and To headers, while text strips all of that. Attachments never ride along, so keep those separately. For a stack of MSG files, a converter or a short Python script that writes every one straight to a .docx saves a lot of clicking.” Shubham Dixit, Data File Conversion reviewer (draft, pending approval)
How do you convert a MSG to Word for free?
You convert a MSG to Word for free in classic Outlook, with no extra software. Save the email as HTML, then open it in Word and save as .docx. Save as HTML rather than text to keep the formatting.
Here are the five steps.
- Double-click the .msg file to open the email in classic Outlook.
- Click File, then Save As, and in the Save as type list select HTML.
- Open Word, click File then Open, and select the HTML file you saved.
- Click File then Save As, then select Word Document (*.docx).
- For plain content instead, select Text Only (*.txt) in step two, which serves a MSG to text export.
When I need the formatting kept, I always save as HTML, not text, before opening it in Word. One caveat, attachments don’t go into the Word file, so save those separately from the email.
A cleaner option than HTML is MHT, also called MHTML. HTML saves the images in a separate folder next to the file, while an MHT bundles the text and images into one self-contained file that opens the same way in Word. Choose MHT in step two if you want a single tidy file.
There’s an even faster route for one email. Open the .msg in Outlook, press Ctrl+A to select everything, copy it, then paste it into a blank Word document and save as .docx. On a very long or complex email the layout can shift a little, so the HTML or MHT route stays the safest for exact formatting.
Save the MSG as HTML, open it in Word and save as .docx.
How do you convert many MSG files to Word in bulk?
You convert many MSG files to Word in bulk for free with a short Python script. The manual Save As handles one email at a time, so a loop is faster for a folder.
The extract-msg library reads the body and headers from every .msg file, and python-docx writes a .docx for every message. Point the script at your folder, and it outputs one Word file per email, no Outlook needed. It’s a few lines you can keep and run again.
How do you batch convert MSG to Word without code?
You batch convert MSG to Word without code by using a converter that exports the content in one pass. It reads the .msg files and outputs Word-ready files, so there’s no scripting and no Outlook to open.
PCDOTS MSG Converter batch-exports MSG files to Text or HTML and saves attachments in a separate folder. Open those files in Word and save as DOC or DOCX. It runs on Windows without Outlook, and the free trial exports the first 10 files, so you can check the output first. Follow these four steps.
- Install and run PCDOTS MSG Converter, then open the menu.
- Add your MSG files or a folder.
- Open Export and select Text or HTML.
- Select a destination, save, then open the files in Word and save as DOCX.
The tool route, a folder of MSG files exported for Word at once.
Here are the same four steps with the screens.
Step 1. Install and run PCDOTS MSG Converter.
Step 2. Add your MSG files or a folder.
Step 3. Open Export and select Text or HTML.
Step 4. Select a destination and save, then open in Word.
Related reading, our guides to convert a MSG file to Excel and convert MSG files to CSV. To read a file first, the free MSG viewer opens a .msg without Outlook.
Save as MHT for one tidy file, HTML for formatting or Text for plain content.
Which method should you use?
Use Outlook’s HTML route for one email, Python for a free bulk run and a converter for volume without code.
| Method | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Outlook HTML to Word | One email | Free, classic Outlook, keeps format |
| Python extract-msg | A free bulk run | Writes a .docx per email |
| MSG Converter | Volume, no code | Windows, exports Text or HTML |
Key takeaways
- Outlook can’t save a MSG straight to Word, so you go through HTML or text first.
- Save as HTML to keep formatting, images and headers. Choose Text for plain content.
- Attachments don’t go into the Word file, so save them separately.
- For bulk, Python writes a .docx per email, and a converter exports a folder without Outlook.
Frequently asked questions
Can Outlook save a MSG as a Word document directly?
No. Classic Outlook has no direct Word save. You save the email as HTML or text, open it in Word, then save as .docx. New Outlook does not support this at all.
How do I convert a MSG to Word and keep the formatting?
Save the email as HTML, not text. HTML keeps the fonts, images, links and the From, To and Subject headers when you open it in Word.
How do I convert a MSG to plain text?
In Outlook, open the email, click File then Save As, then select Text Only (*.txt). That gives you the message body as plain text.
How do I convert many MSG files to Word at once?
Use a short Python script with extract-msg and python-docx to write a .docx per email, or a converter that batch-exports the content for Word without Outlook.
Do attachments come across into the Word file?
No. The Word file holds the email body and headers only. Save any attachments separately from the message.
Can I get DOC as well as DOCX?
Yes. When you save in Word, the format list includes both Word Document (.docx) and Word 97-2003 Document (.doc).
So which way suits your emails?
Converting MSG to Word is a two-step move once you know Outlook can’t do it in one. Save the email as HTML to keep the look, or text for plain content, then open it in Word and save as .docx. For a folder of emails, a short Python script writes a .docx for every email, and a converter exports the batch without Outlook. Every route lands you an editable Word file, so which fits, one email by hand, or an entire batch at once?
