Open RPMSG File

RPMSG files are used to store e-mail messages in encrypted format. E-mail messages in RPMSG files could not be opened without decryption by software designed for it. But even after decryption RPMSG file could not be read by everyone. Only designated recipients are allowed to view a message encoded inside the RPMSG file. Microsoft Outlook software which is the primary software which uses this format can decode the RPMSG file and recognize and enforce permissions. If you receive an RPMSG file and on the recipients list, then you will be able to view what is inside it. If you are not on the permission list, you will not be able to open it. Besides viewing permissions RPMSG file restricts forwarding and copying permissions.

The best software to view RPMSG file is Microsoft Outlook. You can either download it as part of Microsoft 365 or Microsoft 365 subscriptions. When you receive a message in RPSMG format Microsoft Outlook automatically parses it and enforces viewing and forwarding permissions encoded in it.

If you do not want to install Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Office 365 software, you can still view RPMSG files online by going to outlook.com and signing in with your corporate account (the one which has permissions to view the RPMSG file). Another way to view RPMSG file is to download Microsoft Azure Information Protection client. This tool allows viewing RPMSG encrypted messages and files by using your corporate account and without the need of Microsoft Outlook. Still, in order to use this tool you will need to either sign in or create RMS (rights management service) account with Microsoft Azure in accordance with "User Guide: View protected files with the Azure Information Protection unified labeling client".

RPMSG files are stores as compound binary files and are not plain text. You cannot view them with text editor and only specialized software described above can open RPMSG files.

Following Microsoft products have support for RPMSG files:

RPMSG File helpful links and resources

• Azure RPMSG Viewer
• How to View protected files (including RPMSG) with Azure
• Rights-Managed Email Object Protocol

Converting RPMSG files to PDF

Since RPMSG is an encrypted format it is not possible to convert it using online conversion, extraction or viewer tools. Prior to conversion you need to extract content in RPMSG file using either Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Azure Information Protection Client. You will need to login with your e-mail account to one of these applications and depending on your permissions to the the e-mail message encrypted in RPMSG file you will be able to view and print it (certain messages in RPMSG format may prevent printing in their permissions). Below is the process of converting RPMSG file to PDF.

Convert to PDF with Microsoft Outlook

• Download and install Microsoft Outlook
• Login with your e-mail account which has permissions to view the message stored in RPMSG file
• Select File->Print from the main Microsoft Outlook menu.
• Select "Save Print Output as" and choose folder where to place resulting PDF file

Convert to PDF with Microsoft Azure Information Protection Client

• Download and install Microsoft Azure Information Protection Client from https://portal.azurerms.com/#/download
• Launch the Microsoft Azure Information Protection Client and login to it with your e-mail account which has permissions to view the message stored in RPMSG file
• Select File->Print from the main Microsoft Outlook menu. Note that it may be disabled if you do not have printing permissions to the document.
• Select "Save Print Output as" and choose folder where to place resulting PDF file

Convert RPMSG to DOC or DOCX File

Similarly in order to print or convert RPMSG file to PDF you need to first decrypt information in it using either Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Azure Information Protection Client. Depending of the settings in IRM (Information Rights Management) system on the server you will be able to copy or save contents of the file to different formats including DOC and DOCX. In case of Microsoft Outlook you can choose File->Save As and then select Word Document (*.docx) from the drop down list. In case of Microsoft Azure Information Protection Client you can copy contents of the e-mail and paste it to the Microsoft Word and from there save it as DOCX file.

Information Rights Management and RPMSG files

Information Rights Management or IRM is a set of technologies which enable to set various permissions and content protection settings to the documents created and consumed by employees in organization. IRM enabled infrastructure prevents that important information could not be shared accidentally outside or to inappropriate audience.

RPMSG file is a container file for emails with IRM technologies from Microsoft. It supports wider spectrum of content protection features which prevent sensitive information from being read, printed, forwarded, or copied.