MSG File Documentation

Overview

Feature Value
Format Type Compound File Binary Format (CFBF)
Primary Use Email message storage
Developed By Microsoft
MIME Type application/vnd.ms-outlook
File Extension .msg
ASCII Signature D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1
Supports Encryption Yes
Supports Compression No
Can Contain Attachments Yes
Can Contain HTML Content Yes
Can Contain Plain Text Yes
Can Contain Rich Text (RTF) Yes
Can Include Embedded Objects Yes
Supports Unicode Yes
Typical Usage Saving individual Outlook messages outside of Outlook software
Structured Storage Stores data in streams and storages hierarchy
Properties Storage Contains message properties like subject, sender, receiver, etc.
Interchangeable with EML Files Only when converted, due to different formats
Usability Can be opened or created by multiple Microsoft applications
Customizable Yes, via MAPI properties