The procedure for retaining an Outlook email as a .msg file involves selecting the desired message within the Outlook application, navigating to the “File” menu, choosing the “Save As” option, and then selecting “.msg” from the list of available file formats. This action creates a standalone file containing the complete email data, including headers, body, attachments, and metadata, preserving the email’s original formatting and content.
Retaining emails in this format provides several benefits. It allows for the archiving of individual messages outside of the Outlook environment, facilitating easier sharing and long-term storage. This method is valuable for legal compliance, record-keeping, and situations requiring offline access to specific email correspondence. Historically, this feature has been a standard offering in Outlook, reflecting the need for portable and self-contained email archives.