Opening .msg or .eml templates in Outlook Mobile on iOS

Hello @Tyler Grant, 

Thank you for posting your question on Microsoft Q&A forum. 

To find the root cause for your issue, can I ask what is your iOS version? To check your iOS version, go to Settings > General > About and look for Software Version. 

• If you're using an older iOS version, consider updating to the latest version for better compatibility. 
• Use “Request Desktop Site” in Safari for full Outlook Web functionality. 
• If you encounter issues, try using Microsoft Edge on iOS, which may handle Outlook Web more smoothly. 

I was able to test on iOS 18.4 and 18.6 version and I can open the .eml but not the .msg template. 

Aside from opening the .msg or .eml templates, you can consider using this workaround workflow for your team: 

Using Shared Drafts as Email Templates in Outlook Mobile 

Step 1: Create a Shared Mailbox or Folder 

In Outlook Desktop or Web: 

• Go to your mailbox. 
• Create a new folder called something like Email Templates. 
• If you want multiple people to access it, consider using a Shared Mailbox or a Microsoft 365 Group. 

Set Permissions: 

• Ensure all team members have read/write access to the folder or shared mailbox. 
• You can do this via Outlook Web or the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. 

Step 2: Create Template Drafts 

• Open Outlook on your desktop or web. 
• Compose a new email with the desired template content. 
• Instead of sending, save it as a draft. 
• Move the draft to the Email Templates folder or keep it in the shared mailbox’s Drafts folder. 
• Repeat for each template you want to create. 

Tip: Use clear subject lines like: 

• Template - Client Follow-Up 
• Template - Project Update 
• Template - Meeting Summary 

Step 3: Access and Use Templates on iPad 

• Open Outlook Mobile on your iPad. 
• Navigate to the shared mailbox or template folder. 
• Tap on the desired draft/template. 
• Tap Forward or Reply, then edit the content as needed. 
• Send the email. 

This avoids the need to copy/paste from Word and keeps everything within Outlook. 

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Thank you Tamara! I am on iPadOS 26 and I have also tested it with another user on 18.6. Neither worked for us but we did not try using Web. Honestly, I am not exactly sure how we would get the template file from the download folder and open in Outlook web or mobile. I don't see a "Open With" option. When opening in safari it just shows a blank white screen with the file name.

From our current processes, it would be ideal to use Outlook web as it is able to work better with our workflow which is frequently offline.

I will try your shared outlook folder approach and get back on if this is a viable option.

Thanks!

Please see screen shot attached. When we open the link to our outlook template (either .msg or .eml) on the iPad, the file downloads. When you open the file from within safari downloads, or from the file explorer on the ipad, it opens in safari with a non-functional screen and only the file name. We have this same process for opening word documents but these seem to work just fine for us. 20250812_115759000_iOS.jpg

I am still working on your workaround. We have a team of around 400 who come and go so managing a group could be difficult. I like the idea of a universal link to the template that those in our org can access and open in outlook mobile. Still experimenting though....

Hi @Tyler Grant, 

Thank you for your detailed response. 

Based on your description, this issue is likely due to how your device support these types of files. I've been searching and found that Microsoft does provide a third party tool that support these files, you can find it at Business Apps – Microsoft AppSource. This third-party solution works across Outlook desktop, web, and mobile (including touch-enabled devices). 

Features include: 

• Fillable fields (text boxes, dropdowns, date pickers) 
• Prefilled recipients and subject lines 
• Integration with SharePoint, OneDrive, and Excel 
• Secure sharing across teams with role-based access 

Please exercise caution when downloading and using third-party tools, even those provided by Microsoft. Always test the tool in a controlled environment to ensure it works as expected before deploying it to your users. 

In the meantime, if you have any feedback about my workaround method, please feel free to reply. I understand that your testing can take some time, don't worry, I'm here to assist with any further question.

Thank you for your cooperation so far!