HT201773: If your email contains a winmail.dat attachment

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MMAnton

Q: winmail.dat file doesn't open

Apple says to ignore winmail.dat files, but these are REAL files and I'm not able to open them.  My husband can easily open the data file or photo, whatever is being sent at an attachment, on his Android phone but I cannot open them on either my iPad or IPhone.  It has happened a number of times with photos and files, so it's not a one-time occurrence.  This has to be a problem with Apple products and it needs to be addressed.  Thank you.

iPhone 6, iOS 8.4

Posted on Jul 10, 2015 8:32 PM

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Q: winmail.dat file doesn't open

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  • by Ethmoid,Helpful

    Ethmoid Ethmoid Jul 11, 2015 1:28 AM in response to MMAnton
    Level 6 (11,262 points)
    Jul 11, 2015 1:28 AM in response to MMAnton

    This is because it is a Microsoft/Windows application and no, of course your iPhone/iPad will not be able to open it.

     

    To be able to open that you would probably need either a Windows phone or an Android.

     

    Anyway, why are you posting here on a user to user technical support forum where nobody can do anything?

     

    Tell Apple directly, but not here, but they are not likely to do anything in a hurry!

     

    If you want to open Windows files, then either use an Android phone, a Windows phone or a PC, but not a Mac.

  • by MMAnton,

    MMAnton MMAnton Jul 11, 2015 9:48 AM in response to Ethmoid
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 11, 2015 9:48 AM in response to Ethmoid

    I sincerely appreciate your response, Ethmoid.  Please understand that some people are not as technically adept as you certainly are, so to say "of course" and "why are you posting here" truly makes me feel like an idiot.  I am a person of advanced age who is definitely no dummy, however I did not grow up with computers.  I have learned how to text but I wouldn't know how to do FaceTime or other things that may come easily to you.  I'm trying and learning.  Apple provides this forum as an opportunity to encourage conversation among the community and as a "user" I might seek help from people who have a better understanding of technical issues.  Now that I see the impediment is not a problem with my Apple devices and is definitely not something I am doing wrong, I will follow up with Apple Support and encourage an eventual fix to this issue.  Have a great weekend and thank you for taking the time to respond to my question.