[Python] Reading Outlook mail in Python or Powershell

I have been trying to read the content of mails in Outlook from both Python and Powershell, but for every version of code I have tried, I can't access the properties I want.

I can get the com-objects and I can access the subject from each. But I need to get the body and receivers. In Powershell the properties are $null, and in Python I get:

com_error(-2147467260, 'Åtgärden avbröts', None, None)

I have tried:

• having Outlook opened
• one or no mail selected in Outlook
• saving a mail seperately and reading that specific file

I have read many articles explaining how to access the files, but none of them worked, and never found a proper explanation for what might be the problem.

Unfortunately I can not use MS Graph or the older Powershell modules for accessing Exchange to access the inbox and mail.

This is the latest version I tried.


import win32com.client

outlook = win32com.client.Dispatch("Outlook.Application").GetNamespace("MAPI")

for f in outlook.Folders('my@mail.se').Folders:
if f.Name == "Inkorg":
try:
items = f.Items.Restrict("[MessageClass] = 'IPM.Note'")
items.Sort("[ReceivedTime]", True)
count = items.Count
print(f"Found {count} items in 'Inkorg' folder.")
for i in range(1, count + 1):
try:
item = items.Item(i)
# Filter only mail items
if item.Class == 43: # olMailItem = 43
print(f"Subject: {item.Subject}")
sender = item.SenderName if item.SenderName else "Sender not found"
html_body = item.HTMLBody if item.HTMLBody else "HTMLBody not found"
print(f"Sender: {sender}")
print(f"Body (HTML):\n{html_body[:200]}...")
except Exception as e:
print(f"Error accessing item {i}: {e}")
except Exception as e:
print(f"Error accessing folder '{f.Name}': {e}")

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