OpenAnyFile
What is a .oft file?
Outlook Item Template is an email and contacts format developed by Microsoft, first released in 1997. It is usually created by Microsoft Outlook.
Structurally an Outlook .msg saved as a template — subject, body and recipients are read the same way.
File details
| Full name | Outlook Item Template |
|---|---|
| Category | Email & contacts |
| MIME type | application/vnd.ms-outlook |
| Signature (magic bytes) | D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1 |
| Developer | Microsoft |
| Introduced | 1997 |
| Opens with | Outlook message reader |
| Uploaded? | No — read locally in your browser |
How to open a .oft file
OpenAnyFile routes .oft files to its Outlook message reader, which shows subject, sender, recipients and the message body.
- Drop your .oft file on the box above, click it to choose the file, or paste it with Ctrl+V.
- The real format is detected from the file's first bytes — not just its name.
- The file opens in the Outlook message reader.
- Use fullscreen for a closer look, check its checksums, or download it back unchanged.
What works — and what does not
Works
Viewing and inspecting: subject, sender, recipients and the message body. Size, type, signature and checksums are always shown.
Does not work
Editing and saving back. OpenAnyFile is a viewer, not an editor — for changes you still need the original app.
Is it safe to open a .oft file online?
Here, yes — because nothing is uploaded. Most "online viewers" send your file to their server. OpenAnyFile reads it with your browser's File API and decodes it on your own device, so there is no copy anywhere else. You can check: open your browser's network tab while opening a file — no upload appears.
Questions about .oft files
Can I open a .oft file without installing software?
Yes. OpenAnyFile opens .oft files in your browser using its Outlook message reader. You get subject, sender, recipients and the message body, with nothing installed and no account.
How do I know a file is really a .oft file?
Check its first bytes instead of its name. A genuine OFT file begins with D0 CF 11 E0 A1 B1 1A E1. OpenAnyFile shows the detected type, so a renamed file is easy to spot.
Is my .oft file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read locally by your browser and never sent to a server — it even works offline once the page has loaded.
Does it work on phones?
Yes — on Android and iPhone, in any modern browser. You can also install OpenAnyFile as an app.
Related formats
Other formats from the same family:
Format facts checked and page updated on September 25, 2026.