Those who use PEC (Certified Electronic Mail) often receive attachments with the .p7m extension — digitally signed documents that normal programs do not open. In this guide we see how to open a .p7m attachment from the PEC in a simple way.
Why PEC sends .p7m files
The PEC guarantees that a message is sent and delivered with legal value. But to also guarantee who signed the document and that it has not been modified, the attachment is digitally signed and becomes a .p7m file (a PKCS#7 envelope enclosing the original document).
Typical .p7m attachments via PEC are:
- electronic invoices and credit notes;
- acts and communications of the Public Administration;
- contracts and signed legal documents.
How to save the .p7m attachment from the PEC
Before opening it, save the file on your device:
1. Open the PEC message from webmail or from mail client.
2. Locate the attachment with the extension .p7m (or `.xml.p7m`).
3. Download/Save the attachment to your computer or phone.
Open the .p7m attachment with P7M Viewer
Once the file is saved:
1. Open the Open .p7m tool of P7M Viewer.
2. Drag the attachment, or tap Choose File.
3. View the document or download it in its original format.
If the attachment is an electronic invoice, it is shown in readable form; if it's a signed PDF, you get the clean PDF.
Open the PEC .p7m from your phone
Do you receive the PEC on your smartphone? Save the attachment and open it with the site, or with the free P7M Viewer app for Android, convenient for opening and sharing documents on the fly.
Frequently asked questions
The PEC is already certified, why is the attachment signed? The PEC guarantees delivery; the .p7m signature guarantees authorship and integrity of the document: two complementary levels.
Can I open it directly from the webmail? Usually not: most webmails don't have a built-in viewer, so it needs to be downloaded and opened.
Is opening the attachment free? Yes, opening a single .p7m file is free.
In summary
To open a .p7m attachment from the PEC, save the file and upload it to P7M Viewer: in a few seconds you can view or download the original document, for free and from any device.
