msg-parser
This module enables reading, parsing and converting Microsoft Outlook MSG E-Mail files.
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need to parse Outlook MSG files in a stable, unchanging context—the low install friction and permissive license make it straightforward to add. No, if you require active maintenance, support for recent Python versions, or compatibility with the latest Outlook formats; the dormant status since 2019 means no bug fixes or feature updates will arrive. Suitable for legacy systems or one-off conversion tasks, risky for new production code.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Low friction install with a single pure-Python dependency (olefile).
- Maintenance is dormant—last release was 2019-12-14 and no commits since 2024-12-07—so expect no active bug fixes or feature updates, though the codebase remains available.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD (permissive) — BSD license is permissive, allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; you must retain the license notice in distributions.
last release 2019-12-14 (2435 days) · last repo commit 2024-12-07 · 60 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 302,982 downloads/mo, #7,816 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install msg_parser
from msg_parser import MsOxMessage
msg_obj = MsOxMessage('path/to/file.msg')
json_string = msg_obj.get_message_as_json()- Whether the package works reliably with modern Python versions beyond 3.7, given classifiers list only up to 3.7.
- Current state of olefile dependency and whether it has unresolved issues affecting msg_parser.
- Whether nested MSG/EML attachment handling covers all real-world Outlook versions and edge cases.
What it is and what it does
msg_parser is a Python library for reading and extracting data from Microsoft Outlook MSG email files. It parses the binary MSG format (which uses the OLE compound document structure via its olefile dependency) and exposes message properties, attachments, and body content. You can use it as a command-line tool to convert MSG files to EML or JSON, or import it in Python code to programmatically extract email data. The library runs on Linux without requiring Windows libraries, making it useful for server-side email processing pipelines.
The package is in pre-alpha status and has been dormant since its last release in late 2019. While it handles nested attachments and offers multiple output formats, the lack of recent maintenance means you should expect no active support for new Outlook versions or Python releases beyond what was tested at that time. It is suitable for stable, legacy MSG parsing tasks but not for actively maintained production systems requiring ongoing compatibility updates.
Use it for
- Batch convert Outlook MSG files to EML or JSON format for archival or migration purposes.
- Extract email metadata and body content from MSG files in server-side email processing workflows.
- Parse MSG attachments programmatically to automate email data extraction in Linux environments.
- Convert nested MSG/EML attachments within emails to a standardized format for analysis.
- Build email ingestion pipelines that read Outlook exports without requiring Windows or Outlook libraries.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need to parse Outlook MSG files in a stable, unchanging context—the low install friction and permissive license make it straightforward to add.
No, if you require active maintenance, support for recent Python versions, or compatibility with the latest Outlook formats; the dormant status since 2019 means no bug fixes or feature updates will arrive. Suitable for legacy systems or one-off conversion tasks, risky for new production code.
Install
msg-parser on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction install with a single pure-Python dependency (olefile). Maintenance is dormant—last release was 2019-12-14 and no commits since 2024-12-07—so expect no active bug fixes or feature updates, though the codebase remains available.
License in practice
BSD license is permissive, allowing commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; you must retain the license notice in distributions.
Quickstart
pip install msg_parser
from msg_parser import MsOxMessage
msg_obj = MsOxMessage('path/to/file.msg')
json_string = msg_obj.get_message_as_json()Verify before relying
- Whether the package works reliably with modern Python versions beyond 3.7, given classifiers list only up to 3.7.
- Current state of olefile dependency and whether it has unresolved issues affecting msg_parser.
- Whether nested MSG/EML attachment handling covers all real-world Outlook versions and edge cases.
Package facts
| License | BSD permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.4 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packageolefile |
| Maintenance | Dormant 2,435 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 302,982 / month, #7,816 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 2 - Pre-AlphaIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: BSD LicenseNatural Language :: EnglishProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonTopic :: Communications |
Evidence: msg_parser-1.2.0-py2.py3-none-any.whl
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See also python-oxmsg · mail-parser · extract-msg · eml-parser · rtfparse · RTFDE · docling · tnefparse · mailsuite · mcap-ros2-support