What is MSG File Extension?

MSG Data File Specifications

Developer Microsoft
File Type Encapsulated Message Item
File Category Text Files
File Hex Signature D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1
File Format .msg
Platform Microsoft Window
Supporting Application MS Outlook
MIME Type application/octet-stream
Format Type Text and Binary
Default Location User Defined
String Value DI.ait.a

Short Note of MSG Format

.msg file extension can be represented as Message, is used as the file format for Outlook email Messages.

Brief Introduction of MSG File

MSG file Extension is an email message created or saved by Microsoft Outlook and Exchange. It may contains multiple email fields, that includes the particular date, sender, receiver, subject, and message body, or contact information, appointment details, and one or more task descriptions. The .msg files are binary files that can open with the help of MS Outlook software. This file contains plain ASCII text for the header and body of message also includes the hyper links and attachments. Also, MSG data items are compatible with other programs which use Microsoft's Messaging Applications Programming Interface (MAPI). The main purpose of MSG files to store or scan the exported repository files.

Users can easily to create an .msg file through drag and drop a message, task, appointment, contact item from an MS Outlook folder in Windows Explorer. In addition, users can also dragging and dropping the MSG data items back into Outlook and it will be formatted accurately to appear the same file it did before it was exported or migrated.

MSG File Hexadecimal Signature

.msg files are Outlook Message items that are saved as binary files. Here, the sample of first 64 bytes of .MSG file shown in HEX values i.e D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1.

Structure of MSG file Format

If a message type data files used by Microsoft Outlook and Exchange Server. The internal structure of MSG file is divided into 3 parts:

email header: It contains header details/information such as sender, date, subject, and recipients, etc.

message body: It contains the main message parts like text, hyperlinks and other values.

email signature: It helps to identifies the end of a message.

Note: Exploring more informations, users can view MSG files with the help of hex editor or notepad++ programs.

Additional details related to MSG files

During accessing the emails MSG data file, there are multiple highlighted instructions are occurred. Those are mentioned below as:

Enable to navigate MSG data files

While accessing the Outlook 2013 on Desktop. Most of users found the default location of Outlook data file in .pst file extension. Thus, users want to know the actual location of MSG file. On the default location of Outlook storage file, users will find either a PST or OST file. To access the e-mail messages of Outlook in MSG file format, follow the below instruction:

  1. Launch MS Outlook application on users System
  2. Restore Down the application screen and select an email messages from Outlook at once.
  3. Drag-n-drop the selected email message to desktop of users machine. Finally users will find out the dragged e-mail message is in .msg file format.

View Encrypt Algorithm on .msg Extension

This file format helps to examine the security algorithms embedded on MSG files. Now, follow these steps as:

  1. Click on Right option on MSG file and then, select Rename.
  2. Now change the file format from .msg to .txt and press enter Key.
  3. Again, right-click on the items and choose Calculate Hash Value tab.
  4. After that, users will be able to see the encryption algorithms in list form, that are imposed on the email message.

Conclusion

MSG files are the most significant email files that can be developed by Microsoft. Also, Understanding the various aspects of file, we have presented the entire information to let the users understand about what is MSG data File and its specification details. Also, we have discussed the remarkable features of .msg file extension.