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How to Convert OLM File to MSG? Step-by-Step Guide

  Mohit Jha
Published By Mohit Jha
Nimisha Ramesh
Approved By Nimisha Ramesh
Published On September 23rd, 2026
Reading Time 8 Minutes Reading

Do you have an OLM file and want to have your emails in MSG format? You might need that if you want to save each email message as a separate file, transfer specific messages to a Windows Outlook profile, or simply share a few emails without giving access to the whole email archive. Since OLM and MSG are two completely different file formats, you cannot convert them in Outlook. Therefore, many people are looking for a method to convert olm file to msg that will not make them guess what features are supported and what is not.

In this guide, you will find out how to convert olm file to msg on Mac or Windows. First, we will look at whether there is an option to do this manually on either system and what problems you may encounter. Furthermore, you will see step-by-step instructions on different software-guided methods for Mac and Windows. Altogether, you will find a solution that works for you.

Table of Contents

  1.  Article Overview
  2. Why Users May Need to Convert OLM File to MSG?
  3. Can a User Convert OLM File to MSG Manually?
  4. How to Convert OLM File to MSG Using a Dedicated Converter Tool?
  5. Why Using the OLM to MSG Converter is the Best Approach?
  6. Conclusion
  7. FAQs

Why Users May Need to Convert OLM File to MSG?

There can be several reasons to convert olm file to msg instead of storing emails inside the original OLM archive.

  • MSG file format stores an e-mail message as a separate file which is beneficial for sharing and storing.
  • It allows you to save only specific messages without having to save the whole mailbox.
  • Individual MSG files can be linked with a particular project, case, or customer record.
  • Such information as the sender, recipient, subject, message, and attachments of the letter may be stored with the help of the message.
  • MSG format is usually used by Microsoft Outlook on Windows OS.
  • Separate files of letters allow you to store important messages separately.

For these reasons, many users often search for an olm to msg converter that can read the OLM archive files and export the required emails in the MSG format.

Can a User Convert OLM File to MSG Manually?

While Outlook on Mac can import an OLM archive, it has no native means of exporting such an archive to MSG files. This implies that one can’t just open an OLM file in Outlook and save all its data as MSG files. If you need to convert olm file to msg on Mac, you have to look for an appropriate converter.

In the case of Windows, Outlook does not support OLM files at all, which means that you cannot open them, let alone convert olm file to msg on Windows. So, you don’t worry there are other available options to convert OLM files to MSG format.

  • There are several issues with Outlook-built-in conversion options:
  • Outlook for Mac does not offer a possibility to directly export OLM file data as MSG files.
  • Outlook for Windows does not support OLM files at all.
  • In addition, the manual workarounds described above may be associated with some hassle, especially in case you have dozens or hundreds of e-mails to convert.

Using a dedicated olm to msg converter may prove to be a more efficient solution.

How to Convert OLM File to MSG Using a Dedicated Converter Tool?

When the direct Outlook path is unavailable, a dedicated olm to msg converter can do your entire job for you. In FreeViewer’s dedicated converter software, MSG is one of the output formats for both its Windows and Mac versions. In the Mac edition, it’s possible to convert OLM to MSG and some other formats.

Below you can see the separate instructions for each OS.

Convert OLM File to MSG on Mac Using FreeViewer’s Converter

First of all, you need to download and install FreeViewer’s Mac OLM Converter on your Mac. By clicking on the download button at the end of this paragraph, you will obtain a software package from which you need to extract the .dmg file. After you have installed the application on your computer, follow these simple steps to convert olm file to msg:

Step 1: Launch the program and click on “Add File/Folder(s)”:

Step 2: Now, select your required OLM file or folder from your Mac’s file system:

Step 3: Then click on the “Next” button:

Step 4: Select MSG from the list of available export formats and click on the “Browse” button to select the location where you want to save the converted files and click “Export”.

This olm to msg converter for Mac is useful in such cases when you need to somehow exploit the OLM data in a way that is not necessarily associated with a direct Outlook export. According to the product page, Mac version of OLM Converter supports MSG as well as EML, EMLX, MBOX, CSV, TXT, HTML, VCF, ICS, PDF formats.

Convert OLM File to MSG on Windows Using FreeViewer’s Converter

First, download and install the Windows version on your PC. Click the download button below, then follow the steps to convert olm file to msg.

Step 1: Launch FreeViewer’s OLM to PST Converter. This tool also allows you to convert olm files to MSG. Click on ‘Add File’ to upload the OLM file from your system.

Step 2: Locate the OLM file, select it, and click ‘Open’.

Step 3: Now, click on ‘Add File’ to start the scanning process.


Step 4: After scanning is complete, preview the OLM mailbox data on the screen.


Step 5: Choose MSG as the desired output format and click ‘Export’ to save the converted files.

If you are looking for an olm to msg converter for Windows, using this method is the best approach and also it allows previewing of OLM mailbox data before exporting.

Why Using the OLM to MSG Converter is the Best Approach?

A dedicated converter can save time when the native outlook approach does not offer the desired output.

  • It offers a direct solution to convert into MSG format rather than forcing Outlook to accommodate the unsupported OLM workflow.
  • It is more convenient when a mailbox contains many emails.
  • Previewing the source data before export enables one to ensure what is being converted.
  • The desired output format may be selected rather than leaving the data in its original archive format.
  • The Windows and Mac versions allow users to follow a platform specific process
  • Other formats are available for when they are needed later.

If your main purpose is to convert olm file to msg without dealing with unsupported manual Outlook steps, an olm to msg converter do the job easily.

Conclusion

Converting an OLM file to MSG is particular to a platform as neither Outlook for Mac nor Outlook for Windows provides an inbuilt export option to MSG format. Outlook for Mac indeed allows importing OLM files, but Windows does not recognize that file format.
This brings us to the conclusion that one cannot convert OLM files to MSG within Outlook. Instead, you may need to look towards a third-party converter, especially with regard to large mailbox items as a solution is generally better there. FreeViewer also has both Mac and Windows versions, with MSG being in the list of export formats available on both platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Can I convert an OLM file to MSG on Windows?

Ans: Not directly using Outlook for Windows as Microsoft does not support OLM data files, which means that you need an alternate way to convert olm file to msg on Windows.

Q2. Can I convert an OLM file to MSG on Mac?

Ans: Outlook for Mac can import OLM archives, but Microsoft does not have a native option to export that OLM archive directly to MSG, so if MSG is your required output, an olm to msg converter is the best approach .

Q3. Is there an OLM to MSG converter for Mac?

Ans: Yes, as FreeViewer’s Mac version lists MSG as one of the supported output formats and has a separate workflow for Mac users.

Q4. Can I convert multiple OLM emails to MSG?

Ans: If you have many emails, then it’s more practical to use a dedicated olm to msg converter because by using it you can save a lot of time and don’t have to rely on a manual Outlook workflow for every single message.

Q5. Is the same OLM to MSG converter available for Windows?

Ans: Yes, FreeViewer offers a separate Windows version.

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