Tips to open MSO file

Can't open the MSO file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open MSO files as well as a list of programs that support MSO files.

MSO file extension

File Name Inline E-mail Attachment
File Developer Microsoft
File Category Misc Files

The MSO file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the MSO files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the MSO file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 2
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is MSO file?

The .MSO file is the attachment file. It applies to messages generated in Microsoft Word 2000. An attachment in this format means that its content does not function as a separate file, but is attached as the body of the message (eg a graphic logo pasted into the body of an email). The attachment does not appear in the programs of the Microsoft Outlook family. However, it will be visible to other programs that do not support this technology. Despite the fact that the attachment is visible, its content will be displayed correctly.

How to open MSO file?

An often recurring problem with Inline E-mail Attachment is that MSO is not associated with the correct program file. Thus, when you open MSO, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the MSO file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Microsoft Outlook

The first step is to check if the computer has the Microsoft Outlook program installed. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Microsoft Outlook in it. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Later in this article you will find a list of programs that can open MSO files.

Step 2. Create association of Microsoft Outlook with MSO files

However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the MSO file to open in the Microsoft Outlook application, but you can set it manually. This option is available from the level of Properties of a specific file available in the context menu. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the Microsoft Outlook application as the default for handling the MSO file.

Step 3. Update Microsoft Outlook to the latest version

If, despite the association of the Microsoft Outlook program with the Inline E-mail Attachment file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Microsoft Corporation page and install.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the MSO file

The problem may also be with the file itself if the above steps don't work. File problems can be divided into the following:

The MSO file may be unusually small compared to the original file. Usually this applies to MSO files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the MSO file that we want to open. However, remember that not every infected MSO file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the MSO file. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for this. Repairing is very dependent on the file type. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged MSO files. You can restore the file from a backup or use Microsoft help.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file MSO except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. Copying the MSO file to another location will fix the problem.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes you have to wait for the session to the file MSO to close. However, some background programs may block the MSO file while scanning. If this does not work either, restart the device.