Trusted Solution for Windows Live Mail Attachments Not Showing Error

Unable to view attachments with emails in Windows Live Mail application. This article will help you to solve Windows Live Mail attachment not showing error on Windows 10, 8, 7 versions.

Windows Live Mail is an email application that could be set up freely as provided by Microsoft. However, the support services from Microsoft for Windows Live Mail closed down after Windows 7 versions. Hence, Windows 8, Windows 9, Windows 10, and the other latest versions do not allow to open Windows Live Mail or its attachments.

So, the reason for not opening the attachments in Windows Live Mail for versions after Windows 7 was that Microsoft wanted its users to switch to another mail application i.e. Outlook which is accessible on versions of Windows OS.

Methods to Fix Windows Live Mail Attachments Not Showing Error

1. Attachments Not Showing in Windows Live Mail Manually
2. Alternate Solution Windows 10, 8 Users Can Move to Outlook Mail Application

Manual Method to Fix Windows Live Mail Attachments Not Showing Error

The manual method involves a set of steps to be followed requiring only manual efforts and no cost involved.
There are three manual methods that can help in showing up attachments in Windows Live Mail:

1. Use the Repair Function
2. Change Security Settings
3. Uninstall and then install Windows Essentials Back

Let’s begin one by one!

Method 1: – Use Repair Function to Fix Attachments Not Showing Error

The following are the steps in order to fix the problem of not showing up attachments:

• In the Windows search bar, type Control and then open Control Panel.
• Click on ‘Programs’.
• Under Programs, click on ‘Uninstall a Program.
• In the ‘Currently installed programs list, search for ‘Windows Live Essentials’ and then double click on it.
• Click on ‘Repair all Windows Live programs.
• Once done then, restart your computer for settings to take effect.

Method 2: – Change Security Settings and Fix Attachments Not Showing Error

The following are the steps in order to resolve the issue of attachments not showing using ‘Security Settings:

• Open the Windows Live Mail
• Once the Windows Live Mail gets opened then go to ‘Home’ and then ‘Junk’
• Locate the ‘Safety options’ tab and then click on it
• Go to the ‘Security tab and then click on ‘Next
• Uncheck the box corresponding to ‘Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus
• Click on the ‘Apply’ button to confirm

Method 3: – Uninstall and Install Windows Essentials Back to Fix Error

The following are the steps to uninstall and then install Windows Essentials:

• Go to ‘Control Panel’
• Under the Category View, select ‘Uninstall a program
• Double click on ‘Windows Essentials’
• Click on ‘Remove one or more Windows Live programs
• Select the program that you want to uninstall and then click on ‘Uninstall’
• Go to ‘Recovery Manager
• Click on ‘Software Program Reinstallation’
• Click on the ‘Next button
• Check the ‘Factory installed programs list’ for the Windows Live Mail to reinstall
• If Windows Live Mail is not here then click on ‘The program is not in the list
• Click on ‘Next’ and follow the instructions to reinstall the program

Limitations of Manual Method

• It is a complex and lengthy process
• There is no assurance of attachment recovery
• It is a time-consuming process
• If you are using Windows 8 or above versions then Windows Live Mail cannot be accessed at all

Alternate Solution: Windows Live Mail Not Showing Attachments Move to Other Application

Windows Live Mail is a discontinued application. It will create many other problems as well. Microsoft suggests its users move to the Outlook application. Outlook is a widely used and easy-to-manage mail application with enhanced features.

There is only one problem, you cannot directly migrate your Windows live mail data into your new mail application. For this, you need a third-party SysTools Windows Live Mail to PST Converter application that can make your WLM data readable to Microsoft’s new mail application.

Steps to Export Windows Live Mail Email Data:

Perform these steps if you want to migrate your old data into a new mail application. If you don’t need your old data then skip these steps.

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Step-1: – Install and Launch Software. Click ‘Open’ to add EML files from the local hard drive.

Step-2: – You can select ‘Auto detect the storage location’ or ‘Browse for the storage location’ for EML files. Then, click on the ‘Add File’ button. Once the location of Windows Live Mail supporting EML files has been selected then click on ‘Add File’. The scanning of files would begin and once completed then a message will be displayed as ‘Scanning completed successfully.

Step-3: – The software would load the EML files into the software window. Select the folder which contains Windows Live Mail emails and so, you will be able to see them on the right pane.

The emails can be viewed in multiple forms like Normal Mail View, Hex, Properties, Message Header, MIME, HTML, RTF, and Attachments. The software allows viewing of emails in two modes: Horizontal and Vertical.

Step-4: – Now, you can check the emails and click on the ‘Export Selected’ button for email conversion. Complete WLM emails conversion, click on the ‘Export’ button under the menu bar.

Step-5: – After that, Select the export type as ‘PST’. Click on ‘Advanced Settings’.

In the opened window, select ‘PST Split Option’ and choose the file size. In ‘Date Filter Option’, mention ‘From Date’ and ‘To Date’ to set the date range for which export needs to be done.

Select the categories as Mails, Calendar, and Contacts whichever you want to backup. Then, click on the ‘Save’ button. Select the folders from where you want to export the emails. Select all the folders for complete conversion.

Then, click on the ‘Browse’ button to provide the destination for the resultant converted email files. Now, click on ‘Maintain Folder Hierarchy’, ‘Don’t Export Empty Folder’, and ‘Ignore System Folders’ as desired. Then, click on the ‘Export’ button.

Step-6: – The export process would start and once it is completed then a message appears as ‘Export process completed successfully. Then, click on the ‘OK button.

Note: – Get step by step guide to import Windows Live Mail email to Outlook all versions.

Final Thoughts

In the above blog, a brief on Windows Live Mail, the reasons for Windows Live Mail attachments not showing and the suitable or alternative methods have been discussed. Since Microsoft has discontinued Windows Live Mail from Windows 8 version onwards.

It becomes necessary to convert Windows Live Mail emails from the default storage location to PST format. So, instead of fixing Windows Live Mail not showing attachments, you can go with an alternate solution.