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# How do I view EML email documents in ContractHero?

*The screenshots in this article show the German interface. The English label is given first, with the German label in square brackets.*

When you add contract correspondence to a contract as an email file (**.eml** format), ContractHero displays it directly in the document area as a **preview** — you see the subject, sender, date and message text without having to open the file separately in Outlook or another email client.

## Your benefit

Contract negotiations, side agreements and important clarifications often happen by email. If those emails belong to a contract, you also need them directly in your contract management — not as an external file that nobody wants to open:

* **Contract history in one place.** Emails, PDFs and amendments sit together with the contract rather than scattered across several systems.
* **Fast access during an audit.** Auditors can see immediately what was negotiated on a contract — without having to open somebody else's email account.
* **Smooth hand-over.** External advisers or auditors can read the email chain without having to open `.eml` files themselves.

## How it works

**1. Save the email as an .eml file**

In Outlook: select the email → **File → Save as [Datei → Speichern unter]** → format **Outlook Message Format (.msg) [Outlook-Nachrichtenformat (.msg)]** or **HTML/EML**. Other mail clients (Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Gmail export) usually offer a similar function. For the preview in ContractHero, the **.eml** format is the most reliable.

**2. Upload the file to ContractHero**

Open the contract.


![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/1/2/5/2/12522a019f980500/screenshot-2026-06-18-at-14573_43jx0t.png)


Open the **Documents [Dokumente]** area on the right → **“+ Add document” [„+ Dokument hinzufügen“]** → select the file or drag and drop it into the area.

**3. The preview is created automatically**

The `.eml` file appears in the document list with the format label **EML**. Click the document and you will see the preview with:

* the email's **subject**
* **sender** and **recipient**
* **date and time**
* the **message text** in reading mode

This means you and your team can view the email directly, without downloading it and opening it in an external program.

## Typical use cases

* Documenting **negotiation emails** relating to the main contract — who agreed to what, and when?
* **Clarification emails** with the counterparty — clarifications that are not in the contract itself.
* Filing **incoming confirmations** (e.g. from an insurer or bank) with the contract as evidence.
* **Termination emails** and the confirmations of their receipt — important for deadlines and later audits.
* **Hand-overs when responsibilities change** — the successor sees the full communication, not just the final documents.

## Frequently asked questions

**Which mail formats are supported?**
The reliable preview works with **.eml** files — the standard email format. Other formats (e.g. `.msg` from Outlook) can differ in file structure and may first have to be converted to `.eml`.

**Are the email's attachments displayed as well?**
The preview shows the message text. Depending on the file structure, attachments can be included in the download — the preview itself does not show them inline.

**Is the email searchable in full text?**
Yes — if your organisation has enabled **full-text search (OCR) [Volltextsuche (OCR)]**, the content of `.eml` documents is also taken into account in the index (see Related articles, on full-text search).

**Can the AI contract analysis extract data from `.eml` emails?**
The AI analysis is optimised for contract documents. `.eml` emails serve primarily for **documentation and evidence**, not for automatic data extraction.

**Are the emails stored in a data-protection-compliant way?**
As soon as you upload an `.eml` file to a contract, the same visibility logic applies as for all other contract documents: anyone who is allowed to see the contract also sees the attached emails. Where content is sensitive, make sure the contract permissions are set accordingly.

**Can I file `.eml` files automatically from the Outlook import?**
The Outlook import saves the **contract PDF attached to the email** in the new contract. If you also want to archive the email itself, upload the `.eml` separately as a document (see Related articles, on the Outlook import).

**What happens to images or graphics in the mail body?**
Inline images are displayed in the preview as far as possible. With complex HTML emails (e.g. newsletters with elaborate layouts) the layout can differ — but the body text remains readable.

**How large can an `.eml` file be?**
The same size limits apply as for other documents (currently **256 MB** per file). With very large email threads, loading the preview can take a few seconds.

## Good to know

* **`.eml` is an open standard.** Unlike `.msg` (proprietary to Outlook), `.eml` is a documented, cross-platform standard. For archiving and compliance purposes, `.eml` is therefore the more robust choice.
* **Check for personal data before uploading.** Emails often contain personal data (signatures, private phone numbers). Before making them visible to a wide group of readers, plan in a quick visual check.
* **Clear naming saves you searching later.** “Negotiation\_Clause-5\_2026-03.eml” is more helpful than “RE: FW: FW: Contract.eml”. You and your colleagues will find the email thread again more quickly.
* **Documented in the activity [Aktivität].** The upload appears in the contract's change log [Änderungsprotokoll] — who added which email, and when, can be traced.
* **For legally relevant emails: add a PDF as well.** If the email needs to stand up in court, we recommend also saving a PDF print-out of it — that is universally readable, even when no mail client is to hand.

## Not using this feature yet, or would you like to make more of it?

Your Customer Success Manager will show you how to integrate `.eml` documents sensibly into your contract workflow — 15 minutes is usually enough. Get in touch with us via the web chat or by email to support@contracthero.com.

## Related articles

* Importing contracts into ContractHero via Outlook email
* How can contracts be uploaded by email?