[Tip] How to Enable .eml (Email) File Previews in Windows 10 Explorer

As most Windows 10 users are aware, we can preview a variety of file types in the Preview Pane of a Windows Explorer window (also known as This PC), which is very useful. If you use Windows Live Mail, you can also preview .eml (email) files.

But as Windows Live Mail is no longer supported by Microsoft (more info), many users no longer use that program and have lost this ability to preview .eml files in Explorer. If you are one of those people, you will know that the only way to preview a saved email is to open it in another email program such as the Microsoft Mail app. That’s not a very practical solution, especially if you have lots of emails to look through. The internet is full of complaints about this and many people want to get this feature back again.

Thanks to our reader “Slinky Grafix” who compiled and shared this tutorial which will help Windows 10 users regain the ability to preview ‘.eml’ files within the Explorer Preview Pane. He stumbled upon a useful tool written by a Microsoft guy Stephen Toub and having experimented with it, he was able to successfully restore the preview option.

enable_eml_email_files_preview_windows_10_explorer-1457816

If you also want to restore .eml file preview functionality in Windows 10 Explorer’s Preview Pane, following steps will help you:

1. Visit following link and download PreviewHandlerEditor.zip file:

Download Preview Handler Association Handler

2. Extract the Zip file using 7-Zip or any other file archive utility to a location of your choice, then run the tool by double clicking PreviewHandlerEditor.exe file.

3. Scroll down in the drop down box and locate “Microsoft Windows Mail Mime Preview Handler“.

enable_microsoft_windows_mail_mime_preview_handler-3612111

PS: There might be two instances shown as above, select the first one.

4. Uncheck the “Only show classes associated with this handler” option and then scroll down to locate .eml option. Check the checkbox given for .eml filetype.

enable_eml_email_file_preview_handler-1950724

5. That’s it. Close the program and locate a saved email (.eml) file. Clicking on a saved email will now show a preview in Windows Explorer Preview Pane.

Bonus Tip:

If you can’t see the Preview Pane, you can enable it by clicking the “Preview Pane” button present in “View” tab on ribbon in any explorer window. You can also use the “Alt+P” hotkey to quickly show/hide the Preview Pane in Explorer window.

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