How to Fix Sorry the File .MSG Couldn’t Be Opened Error?

Not just you but a lot of users often get the notification “Sorry the file .MSG couldn’t be opened. This file type requires a Microsoft 365 subscription to open”. Therefore, it is one of the most prominent errors that a lot of users receive when they try to open MSG file without the authority of Microsoft 365. Thus, it obstructs the user from doing any further required activity whether it’s about view or edit MSG files. Hence, to know about this error in detail along with the manual and professional solutions to fix it, read the complete blog post patiently.

What is Sorry the File .MSG Couldn’t Be Opened Error?

MSG is a file format associated with Microsoft and 365 and thus, the error stating “Sorry the .msg file cannot open” mainly occurs when a user tries to open a particular MSG data without a subscription to Microsoft 365. Therefore, when the user gives the command to the system to run and show the MSG file data, it first checks for the active Microsoft subscription.

If the user does not own a valid license the alter showing “Sorry, the file .MSG couldn’t be opened. This file type requires a Microsoft 365 subscription to open it” appears on the screen. Thus, it limits the user’s access to the MSG file and makes them seek the right solution to either resolve it or open MSG file without Microsoft Outlook.

Reasons to Get This Error

• With new updates, the MSG file will by default open in Outlook New only which demands access to a Microsoft 365 subscription account. Therefore, if the user lacks that then also this error of Sorry the file .MSG couldn’t be opened arises.
• Another reason might be that the MSG file you want to view is corrupted and unsupportable to the Outlook email client.
• If the user has a Microsoft 365 subscription and the MSG file is still not opening then there might be a fault in Outlook itself which is required to be repaired.

Indirect Way to Fix Sorry the File .MSG Couldn’t Be Opened Error

There are different methods with which one can seamlessly resolve this error and make their MSG file easily accessible to view, read, and share in one go. Thus, to know about them in detail, read the below-shared methods.

Method 1: Change the MSG File Opener Application

1. Go to the location where MSG files are saved.
2. Right-click on any MSG file.
3. Further, click on Open With.
4. Now, choose Outlook from the list.
5. Further, click on Open and the MSG fill display in the Outlook interface without any error.

Note: Make sure not to choose Outlook (New) from the drop-down list of Open With options. Thus, the user has to choose Outlook only to fix the error “Sorry, the file .MSG couldn’t be opened. This file type requires a Microsoft 365 subscription to open”.

Method 2: Repair the Outlook Application

1. Go to the Control Panel of your device.
2. Click on the Programs link.
3. Then select Programs & Features.
4. Browse and right-click Microsoft Office/Outlook.
5. Now, click on the Change option.
6. Finally, choose the Repair option and restart once done.

Professional Solution to Resolve Sorry the File .MSG Couldn’t Be Opened Issue

The foremost problem that arises with this error is that it disallows the user to access the MSG file seamlessly. Therefore, in such a case relying on conventional methods is very risky and time-wasting as they might not be that helpful. Instead, to fix errors like these, users can seek professional help such as an MSG Converter. It is easy to use, has various saving options, and gives the desired output in the most compatible file format or email clients. Such a tool allows batch preview of MSG files with all the attachments and attributes intact. Thus, the steps to use it in order to resolve Sorry the file .MSG couldn’t be opened error are as follows:

1. Install the MSG Troubleshooter software on your device.
   
2. Choose the desired MSG files to open them.
   
3. From the file-saving options, select PDF.
   
4. Pick one saving destination and naming option.
   
5. Click on Convert to change MSG file into PDF format.
   
6. Finally, open the MSG data in the easiest to view, save, and share format.

Note: With this tool, one can also fix the corrupt MSG file or even transfer MSG files to Gmail, Yahoo, Thunderbird, Maildir, Amazon Workmail, and other prominent email clients. 

Method 2: Free Solution to Fix MSG File Cannot Open Error

Apart from the above-mentioned automated tool, one can also choose Free MSG Viewer to simply view the data saved in MSG files. However, one can also upgrade to its premium version, if required otherwise just use the freemium one. Thus, the steps to use this tool are as follows:

1. Install the tool and run it on your device.
2. Pick the MSG files or folders that you want to view.
3. Apply filters for specific results.
4. Hit the Search button and your issue is resolved positively.

Features of Automated Solutions

• It supports bulk action with data safety and accuracy.
• These tools fix the error by making them available in another file format.
• With these tools, one can easily choose the desired MSG files and filter them using advanced filters.
• They are also available in offline mode so that users’ productivity does not hamper.
• There is also a demo edition of these tools available which has the same interface and lets the user explore the features for free of cost.
• They also create summary reports so that users can keep a record of the conversion processes.
• These utilities support all the attributes of the MSG file and maintain the data originality.

Why Is the Conventional Method Unreliable to Follow?

• They do not support bulk action which wastes a lot of time and effort.
• It requires technical knowledge to perform each step correctly.
• There is no guarantee that they will work in every case to fix this issue.
• These methods are not followed and recommended by industry experts.
• Loss or alteration of data is also possible with these solutions to fix the error.

FAQs

1. Why am I seeing “No longer able to open .msg file‘?

The reasons may vary but some of the most common ones are Outdated Outlook versions, corrupted MSG files, faulty Outlook, and lack of Microsoft 365 subscription.

2. Why my MSG file is not supported in Outlook?

You might be using an old version of Outlook which does not support your MSG file format. Apart from that, if the MSG files are corrupt then also you can experience this.

3. How to resolve the MSG file not opening issue?

Simply, repair the MSG file and the Outlook you are using. Also, check the internet connection, convert UNICODE to ANSI, update Microsoft, restart the system, or convert MSG to JPG, PDF, DOC, RTF, or other standard file format.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we briefly talked about the best manual and professional methods to fix the “Sorry the File .MSG Couldn’t Be Opened” error. Therefore, after deep evaluation, we came to the conclusion that using the expert-recommended professional solution is the best option. It not only resolves this error but also helps in bulk MSG file management. Thus, it has high-end features placed in the most comprehensive interface.

Read Next: Tips And Tricks to Fix MSG File Cannot Be Associated With Outlook Error