This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

How do I view the HTML code of an email I received?

  • 5 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Robertk1

more options

There must be a way to view the HTML code of an email, but I can't find it!

I need this to create a template for outgoing email in my CMS.

Help is appreciated!

There must be a way to view the HTML code of an email, but I can't find it! I need this to create a template for outgoing email in my CMS. Help is appreciated!

Chosen solution

Well, that's the simple way, using what is already to hand. You can see everything, which is both good and bad. And usually you need only what is between <body> and </body> - that's not so hard to find is it?

Otherwise you need an HTML source viewer. There are two I know of.

One is built into the Stationery add-on: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/stationery/

The other can be found here: https://freeshell.de/~kaosmos/edithtml-en.html

Both are designed to help you when composing an email message, not for dissecting one in your Inbox. So to use these, you'll need to select the message, select Edit As New Message and in the composition window use your chosen add-on to get at its source.

I find both a bit cramped compared with the ctrl+u source view.

I'd suggest that regardless of how you go about accessing the source, you should copy-and-paste it into a competent text editor, such as Notepad++, which understands xml/html and can do syntax highlighting and proper layout for you.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (5)

more options

Select it, ctrl+u.

more options

What command do I use to VIEW the html code?

By using CTL+U I copy only what is displayed and this does not transfer well.

more options

I see the code, but this includes a lot of extra information. Is there a way to see only the code comprising the email itself or is the only solution to go through and edit the unwanted items out?

more options

Chosen Solution

Well, that's the simple way, using what is already to hand. You can see everything, which is both good and bad. And usually you need only what is between <body> and </body> - that's not so hard to find is it?

Otherwise you need an HTML source viewer. There are two I know of.

One is built into the Stationery add-on: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/stationery/

The other can be found here: https://freeshell.de/~kaosmos/edithtml-en.html

Both are designed to help you when composing an email message, not for dissecting one in your Inbox. So to use these, you'll need to select the message, select Edit As New Message and in the composition window use your chosen add-on to get at its source.

I find both a bit cramped compared with the ctrl+u source view.

I'd suggest that regardless of how you go about accessing the source, you should copy-and-paste it into a competent text editor, such as Notepad++, which understands xml/html and can do syntax highlighting and proper layout for you.

Modified by Zenos

more options

Excellent response .... this is exactly what I needed.

Thanks!