How to Convert EML to TXT Format: Expert Solutions Explained

  Kumar Raj
Written By Kumar Raj
Anuraag Singh
Approved By Anuraag Singh  
Modified On October 22nd, 2025
Reading Time 5 Minutes Reading

Use of emails is one of the most common & important forms of communication for professional purposes. However, some users don’t want to view emails in their email client; they just want raw email data in text format. So, if you want to convert EML to TXT, in this article, we’ll discover how to effectively export EML files to TXT format without depending on any email client & can easily access the conversation anytime.

Understanding EML & TXT File Formats

Before walking through the solutions, let’s know these file formats:

  • Email message files, also known as EML files which are designed by many clients like Mozilla Thunderbird, MS Outlook, WLM, and others. This file format saves the complete body of the email, which contains the sender, subject, body & attachments.
  • Whereas a text file, which is also known as TXT format, is a plain text file which can be opened via any text editor like Notepad++, Sublime, etc. It contains text which is unstructured & unformatted, which is compatible with every operating system.

Conversion of .eml file to .txt format ensures that the user can read the email content without opening an email client.

Why Need to Convert EML to TXT Format?

There are many reasons that users want to export EML files to TXT:

  • Data Portability: These text files are very light in weight, so they can be shared & transferred easily.
  • Documentation Purpose: Converting email files to text format helps to maintain conversations for business, legal, or other personal use.
  • Backup & Archive: Because of its small size, it’s easy to store & organise as a text format for long-term archiving.
  • Universal Accessibility: This TXT file can be opened on any text editing platform on any device without installing extra software.
  • Readability: You can read or view your email content even when you don’t have an email client.

Read: How to Convert EML to HTML File

Advanced Methods to Convert EML to TXT File Format

In the following section, we’ll explain to you the best solutions which will be needed for conversion of .eml file to .txt format. Let’s walk through the ways.

  • Using a Professional Tool
  • Try MS Outlook
  • Use Mozilla Thunderbird

Let’s dive into the explanation one by one

#1 Using a Professional Tool to Export EML Files to TXT

If you want your result faster, accurate & with reliable software, then we recommend using an automated solution instead of using any manual methods. It’s SysTools EML Converter Tool, which is the most trusted & secure software that allows users to effectively convert .eml files to .txt format without losing any data integrity & structure. Moreover, this advanced utility offers a feature to preview the selected EML files.

 
Know more features like:

  • Can easily transfer EML to TXT along with multiple file formats.
  • Compatible with both Windows & mac operating systems.
  • Preserves all email content, including structure, metadata, & other formatting.
  • Effectively, suppose with different email clients like MS Outlook.
  • After using this, there is no requirement for the installation of any client.

Steps to Easily Convert EML to TXT File Format

  1. Download & install the software as mentioned earlier on your respective system.
  2. 1

  3. Click on EML file folders on your left side panel.
  4. 2

  5. Press on Export option for conversion of .eml file to .txt format.
  6. 3

  7. Tap on Advanced Settings, which includes date filter, subject, etc., if required.
  8. 4

  9. Give your location path for your output .txt file by pressing on Browse Button.
  10. 5

  11. Now, hit the Export button to start the conversion process.
  12. 6

#2 Try MS Outlook

Steps:

  1. Launch MS Outlook & import by dragging & dropping the EML files.
  2. To open the selected emails, just Double-click on them.
  3. Navigate to File > Save As.
  4. Select Text File Format (.txt).
  5. Choose the Destination Path or Folder & finally click Save.
Pros:

  • It’s best when the user occasionally converts email files.
  • Free & easy for transforming a few email data.
Cons:

  • This method is very time-consuming for bulk transformation.
  • Outlook needs to be installed on the system.
  • Minor human errors may happen while export EML Files to TXT.

#3 Use Mozilla Thunderbird

Steps:

  1. Install & open Mozilla Thunderbird on your system.
  2. Select EML messages that you want to export.
  3. Choose Save As > File by right-clicking on the conversation.
  4. In Save As Type, select TXT files.
  5. Search for a Folder or New Folder where you want to store your resultant file.

Mostly, whether it’s Outlook, Thunderbird, in fact Windows Live Mail, they have similar working steps with common pros & cons.

Advanced Tips to Manage Converted TXT Files

After exporting EML files, it’s necessary to make them organised for immediate access.

  • Make different or separate folders according to filters like date or sender.
  • You can name them again with their relevant identity.
  • Also, try to use a text editor like Notepad++ for easier navigation.
  • Always regularly back up all your exported files.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve discussed the best methods for conversion of .eml to .txt files without any data loss or error. Whether you’re using manual methods by using MS Outlook or any other email client, it’s a very time-consuming process with a lot of risk of human errors or data loss. So, instead of using these methods. We recommend using the best .eml to .txt Converting Tool, which is more reliable, trusted & secure. Try using this dedicated software to convert EML to TXT file with its demo version.

  Kumar Raj

By Kumar Raj

Kumar Raj has more than 14 plus years of expertise in migration technology. He likes to create, edit, and optimize web material on topics conversion of email data, and migration of email data. For the majority of the past ten years, he has been a devoted fan of the technology scene.