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View .eml files on iPhone

When I travel, I load my travel documents into Dropbox so I can have easy access on my iPhone. Most documents display fine but I am unable to view .eml, (Windows email files), on my iPhone or iPad. I think that I used to be able to view this type of file on IOS devices but no longer. .eml files can be easily viewed on a Windows laptop or Android device. Am I doing something wrong?

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Mark

Please note that Dropbox no longer claims to support opening *.eml files as per its help section: https://help.dropbox.com/files-folders/preview

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Mariedb

Hi there!

Thanks for writing in about this. You should be able to view .eml files in your Dropbox account Would you ba able to send through a link of a file that you are not able to view so that I can test this on my side?

Sharing a link to a file or folder from your iOS device can easily be accomplished by selecting the sharing icon swiping left to right while in the file list view. You can access the sharing icon while viewing files.

You can see more details here:

https://help.dropbox.com/files-folders/view-only-access

Thanks in advance!

Stephan K.12

Hi Marie,

I got the same problem like Bob E. I saved the E-Mail from the Apple Mail program on my Mac in the Dropbox folder and it's impossible to take a look at the Mail on my iPhone. Can you tell me how you solved this?

Kind regards

Stephan

Tom_H

@Stephan @Bob

I use Klammer to open my mail files.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/klammer/id386777877?mt=8

It is a paid app, so if you don't think .99¢ is worth it, you may wish to look elsewhere. It can also open various Windows email file types according to the app store. I however cannot speak to that as I have not used it for that purpose.

It has some lower reviews as of late, on the app store, but I personally have no issue opening mail files with it from Dropbox. Some of the reviews say it only supports open via url. Yes you will see that if working directly within Klammer. The trick is to start in Dropbox first.

To open them, locate the email in the Dropbox app.

Try to open it, it will fail.

Tap the sharing sheet icon.

Tap open in other app icon.

Tap copy to Klammer

Klammer opens with the email displayed.

If you wish to remove that email from Klammer, tap documents, top left corner, tap inbox, tap edit, select the message, tap delete selected. * I often remove them from Klammer as it has no security settings of it own and I don't want emails just sitting it its inbox with no protection.

I am in no way affiliated with the developer, just a user like yourself whom grew tired of not being able to open mail files on my iOS device.

Best of luck,

Tom

ps. It has a Mac counter part in the Mac App Store if you also need to open Windows mail files from there. I have never used the Mac version.

pps. There may be other's out there but Klammer has never let me down and it does what I need.

Stephan K.12

Hey Tom,

thanks for your reply but I find it very circumstantial to view a common file format this way.

So, for the developers: Please integrate this function into the dropbox app!!!!

Thank you very much and kind regards

Stephan

Mariedb

Hi there!

Thanks for the feature request, I'll definitely pass this on to our team.

Apologies for the confusion in my message above. You can save .eml files to your Dropbox and then open it in a third party app.

Thanks for all the useful tips everyone!

Adrian L.1

Much the same request Marie. .eml files from Altavista (iPad/iPhone) move into the specified Dropbox directory OK but it would be so good to read them natively. Huge on the wish list!

Con C.1

Much like Adrian L. A BIG BIG WISH LIST PLEASE.

Adrian L.1

Should've said AltaMail (not Altavista) but the wish remains the same. Thanks for making it happen - when it does!

Con C.1

Hi Adrian L, it seems to me that Klammer can do, that which Dropbox cannot. Obvious choice " talk to Klammer. PS I've no association. Just wish this one was sorted.

Still my BIG, BIG wish list.

Still a maybe.

andrea m.24

Hallo. More than one year went by since last comment on this topic. I'm experiencing the same issue.

I save email message from Mail to dropbox using an iMac. I'm then able to locate the files through my iPhone or iPad, but they are not accessible, I can't open them, no way.

This is not normal, as Mail IS a native Apple application, and 2.eml" is a native Apple format.

What is it, is it a bug or is it me, or my version of Dropbox?

Thanks, please let me know.

Eddy H.1

Hello all, same problem here (still). Should be working without third partyprogs. Also rtf-files won't open.

grtz

Roger S.28

I am also having the same issue as the O.P saving windows emails but unable to open them and in view of other people having the same issue surprised that the Dropbox team have not resolved this yet.

Mark

Please note that Dropbox no longer claims to support opening *.eml files as per its help section: https://help.dropbox.com/files-folders/preview

Rich

no longer claims

Did it ever? As far as I know, a third-party app has always been required.

Mark

I based the post on the fact Marie didnt mention the need for any third party app - I, however, always thought you did.

Tom H.

I have always had to use a 3rd party app. * Note it has been some time since my need to open one.

Oliver R.4

We use Dropbox as company working on Macs and this issue is a major headache. As we save all project related files in a special "tree" on DB we are forced to save them as rtf and all attachments such as pdf, jpg etc. separately. This means lot of work time is used to work around such a "simple problem". I think it is kind of arrogant from DB not to solve this problem. We will check when do the next research (end of the year) and if we find another provide we will definitely go away from Dropbox.

Nasha

When the dropbox presents itself as the best online archive, even for MAC users, then Dropbox has to find a solution to this serious failure.
- So I save a file and then I do not see?
- It can not be!

nextbeat

Dropbox team: I need to view .eml files created by apple mail in dropbox on my iPhone. Please make filetype support high priority!!!!

[This thread is now closed by moderators due to inactivity. If you're experiencing a similar behavior, feel free to start a new discussion in the Dropbox Community here.]