How to fix “We can't open 'message.msg'” in Outlook
This means Outlook could not get exclusive access to the .msg file. Usually the same file is already open, the file is blocked or read-only, or it sits in a folder you cannot fully access. Jump to your situation below or work through the methods in order.
By Neeraj Singh ~7 min Updated Jun 2026 94% found this helpful
Error message
We can't open 'message.msg'. It's possible the file is already open, or you don't have permission to access it. Check the file permissions for the document or drive and try again.
Summary
This Outlook error means the program could not open the .msg file because something is holding it or blocking access. The most common cause is a file lock: Classic Outlook keeps a handle on a .msg you already opened, so opening the same file again fails until you close it or restart Outlook. The next most common causes are a file that Windows has blocked because it was downloaded from the internet, a read-only or permission-restricted folder such as a network share or a synced OneDrive location, or antivirus briefly locking the file. Start by restarting Outlook to clear the lock, then unblock the file and copy it to a local folder you own. If none of that works the .msg itself may be damaged, in which case open it with a viewer or save a fresh copy from the original email.
What this error means
Outlook opens a saved message (.msg) by taking a lock on the file while it reads it. When it cannot get that lock, or cannot read the file at all, it shows “We can't open” and points at the two usual reasons: the file is already open, or you do not have permission to access it.
So this is almost always an access problem, not a problem with the message itself. A leftover lock from a previous open, a file Windows has flagged as blocked, a read-only attribute, or a restrictive folder will all produce it. Only when access is fine and the error persists should you suspect the .msg file is actually damaged.
Common causes
Classic Outlook still holds a lock on the same .msg you opened a moment ago.
Windows blocked the file because it was downloaded from the internet or email.
The file or its folder is read-only, for example on a CD, ISO or network share.
The .msg is in a synced OneDrive or SharePoint folder that is locked or online-only.
Your account does not have permission on the folder or drive holding the file.
Antivirus or a backup tool is scanning and briefly locking the file.
The .msg file is corrupt or was only partially saved or downloaded.
Expert insight
“Nine times out of ten this is a lock, not a corruption. Someone double-clicks the same saved email twice, Outlook still has the first copy open, and the second attempt is refused. The fastest fix is boring but it works: close Outlook completely, reopen it, then open the file once. The other big one is the blocked-file flag on anything pulled off the internet, a single click on Unblock in the file properties clears it. I only start thinking the .msg is damaged after access is clean and it still will not open, and even then a quick copy from the original email usually saves the day.”
Manager, Tech Support & Operations · 19+ years fixing Windows and system errors
✓ How to fix it
Method 1
Restart Outlook to clear the lock
1Close every Outlook window, then fully exit. If it lingers, end the OUTLOOK.EXE task in Task Manager.
2Reopen Outlook, then open the .msg once rather than double-clicking it repeatedly.
3If you had the same file open already, close that window first, the second open is what triggers the lock.
Method 2
Unblock a downloaded file
1Right-click the .msg in File Explorer and choose Properties.
2On the General tab, if you see a Security note at the bottom, tick Unblock and click OK.
3This clears the Mark of the Web that Windows adds to files from the internet or email, then try opening it again.
Method 3
Copy the file to a local folder
1If the .msg sits on a network share, a CD or ISO, or a synced OneDrive folder, copy it to a local folder such as Documents.
2For OneDrive, make sure the file is downloaded and not online-only, the cloud icon should show it is on this device.
3Open the local copy. A read-only source location is a common cause of this error.
Method 4
Check read-only and folder permissions
1Right-click the file, choose Properties, and on the General tab clear the Read-only attribute if it is set.
2On the Security tab, confirm your user account has at least Read access to the file and its folder.
3If you cannot change permissions, move the file to a folder you own, such as your Desktop.
Method 5
Pause antivirus or add an exclusion
1A security tool scanning the file can hold it open just long enough to block Outlook.
2Temporarily pause on-access scanning, or add the folder to your antivirus exclusions, then retry.
3Re-enable scanning once the file opens.
Method 6
If the file is corrupt, recover it
1If access is fine and it still will not open, the .msg may be damaged or only partly saved.
2Open the original email and save a fresh copy, or drag the message to the desktop again to recreate the .msg.
3As a quick check, open the file in a free .msg viewer to confirm whether the content is readable at all.
Method 7
Repair Office as a last resort
1If many .msg files fail the same way, repair the Office installation.
2Open Control Panel, go to Programs and Features, select Microsoft 365 or Office and choose Change, then Quick Repair.
3Run Online Repair if Quick Repair does not help, then reopen the file.
A leftover lock is the single most common cause, so try a full Outlook restart before anything else. If the file came from the internet or an email attachment, the Unblock checkbox in the file properties fixes it in one click. Treat “corrupt file” as the last explanation, not the first, because access problems look identical and are far more common.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Outlook say it can't open my .msg file?
Because it could not get access to the file. Usually the same file is already open in Outlook, the file is blocked or read-only, or it sits in a folder you do not have permission to use.
How do I clear the file lock?
Close all Outlook windows and exit completely, ending the OUTLOOK.EXE task if needed, then reopen Outlook and open the file once. The lock is left over from a previous open.
What does the Unblock checkbox do?
Files downloaded from the internet or email carry a Mark of the Web that can stop Outlook opening them. Ticking Unblock in the file's Properties removes that flag.
The file is on OneDrive, why won't it open?
Online-only or locked cloud files can refuse to open. Make sure the file is downloaded to this device, or copy it to a local folder first, then open the local copy.
Is my .msg file corrupt?
Probably not. Access problems produce the same error and are far more common. Only suspect corruption after access is clean and the file still will not open, then re-save it from the original email.
How do I stop this happening again?
Open saved messages once rather than repeatedly, unblock downloaded files, and keep .msg files in a local folder you own rather than on a read-only share or online-only cloud storage.
Still not working?
If the .msg still will not open after clearing the lock, unblocking and copying it locally, the file is likely damaged. Save a fresh copy from the original email if you still have it, or open the file in a dedicated .msg viewer to rescue the contents. You can also submit your error to us for a tailored fix.
