How to Open RPMSG File in Gmail?
If you are not sure how to open an RPMSG File in Gmail, don’t worry, I also had to deal with the same problem, so I know exactly what to do in such scenarios.
To help you out, I have prepared this write-up. It will act as your guide for unlocking the content hidden in RPMSG files.
No longer will you have to struggle to read important emails embedded inside rights-protected messages that you get on your Gmail account. Let us first see what exactly the RPMSG is.
What is the RPMSG file That Users Struggle to Open In Gmail?
RPMSG is nothing but a special category of email message file. It stands for Rights Protected Message. These files are made and encrypted by Microsoft Purview Message Encryption service through Outlook (Microsoft’s proprietary email service).
Senders use this service to protect sensitive messages from unauthorized viewing. What this does essentially is apply a second layer of security on top.
A sender can put restrictions on
- Forwarding the email
- Copying the content
- Printing the message
These types of messages are most useful when a sender wants the message to stay leak-proof.
Also Read: How to Create Labels in Gmail?
This Information Rights Management (IRM) facility is made available to all paid subscribers of the M365 cloud.
When a Gmail user receives such a message, the content is not readily apparent. Rather, there is a cryptic message. In the following format.
Sender Name (email@address) has sent you a protected message.
A small lock icon, below which there is a button that says “Read the message”
There is also a “message.rpmsg” attachment. If you download and try to view it through a text reader like Notepad, all you will see is gibberish. Now, let us see what might be preventing Gmail users from viewing the .rpmsg file.
Why Can’t Gmail Users Open RPMSG File Directly?
The reason is the structure of the .rpmsg. It is encrypted with the most advanced security protocols. Microsoft, in its documentation, states that it uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) in Cipher Block Chaining mode (CBC) with a 256-bit key (AES256-CBC) to encrypt RPMSG files.
Also Read: How to Change Font Size in Yahoo Mail? Free & Easy Methods
Moreover, RPMSG is not something that Gmail understands natively. The RPMSG is built upon the MSG file, which is the primary and proprietary text carrier of Outlook data.
Plus, this is not something that happens by accident; the sender has deliberately chosen to encrypt/block interaction with the message they sent you. Regardless, if you are the intended recipient, then you can open and see what’s in those messages. Check the Steps below.
Read RPMSG File in Gmail Via Gmail Authentication?
Here are the steps:
Step 1. Log in to Gmail and open the message.
Step 2. Click on the big blue (Read the message) button in the middle of the message box.
Step 3. A new tab opens with two distinct options. Click on “Sign in to Google”.
Step 4. This will open yet another Tab with a list of all Google accounts currently in use in your browser. Be careful and select the account that received the message.
Step 5. This will reload the page, and you will see that Microsoft is asking to access some data. Click Continue.
Step 7. If the authentication is valid, you will see the decrypted message.
Open and See Message Contents Using One-Time Passcode
Steps 1 through 3 remain the same for this authentication method. During Step 3, instead of Google, you have to select Sign in with a One-time passcode.
Step 4. Go back to the tab where you have kept the Gmail inbox. You will receive a new email with an 8-digit code. Copy it.
Step 5. Press Ctrl + Tab or use the cursor to return to the Authentication tab. Paste the passcode in the intended field.
Step 6. Hit Continue. You can choose to check the “This is a private computer…” checkbox, which will allow you to see new messages without the otp for 12 hours.
Step 7. If the OTP is correct, you will see the decrypted message.
Alternative Strategies to Open RPMSG in Gmail
If the Gmail web app does not work after trying multiple times, you can try to connect your Gmail account to the Outlook client.
Then open the .rpmsg file extension from there. This same exercise can be repeated for Outlook Classic as well as the Outlook Mobile app.
If nothing works as the sender to resend the message this time without any encryption. If they agree, you will be able to view the message contents.
Conclusion
So now you know how to open an RPMSG File in Gmail. The process isn’t difficult; it’s just different. Getting a new login screen asking you to verify credentials is an unusual way of viewing emails. That’s why people did not proceed and thus weren’t able to see the data. We explained here how certain sender criteria are responsible for these messages and that there is no security flaw. Plus, if you are an admin with many regular MASG files that you want to push into a Google Workspace environment, choose the SysTools MSG to Google Workspace Convertor Tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I reuse the OTP to read the .rpmsg file again?
No, the One-Time passcode expires as soon as you use it. Moreover, even if you dont use it immediately, the one-time passcodes are only valid for 30 minutes. After which, they expire automatically.
Q. I opted for the OTP method, but haven’t received any what to do?
You have 2 options: either wait for the message to arrive or go back to your inbox, click on the Read button again, but this time use the Google account authentication method. Don’t type any random numbers otherwise, you will see this error.
Q. What happens if I select the wrong Gmail account during verification?
You will still be taken to the permissions page, but after that, instead of the message, you will see a screen, “Sorry, we can’t display the message right now.”
So to avoid this sort of error, I recommend that you either create a new browser profile or use an incognito/private tab to access Gmail.
Q. Can I download and read the .rpmsg attachment directly?
No, you can download, but if you try to open that file with a text reader like Notepad, all you will see is a bunch of gibberish.
