imap-smtp-email
Read and send email via IMAP/SMTP. Check for new/unread messages, fetch content, search mailboxes, mark as read/unread, and send emails with attachments. Works with any IMAP/SMTP server including Gmail, Outlook, 163.com, vip.163.com, 126.com, vip.126.com, 188.com, and vip.188.com.
Best use case
imap-smtp-email is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Read and send email via IMAP/SMTP. Check for new/unread messages, fetch content, search mailboxes, mark as read/unread, and send emails with attachments. Works with any IMAP/SMTP server including Gmail, Outlook, 163.com, vip.163.com, 126.com, vip.126.com, 188.com, and vip.188.com.
Teams using imap-smtp-email should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/imap-smtp-email/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How imap-smtp-email Compares
| Feature / Agent | imap-smtp-email | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Read and send email via IMAP/SMTP. Check for new/unread messages, fetch content, search mailboxes, mark as read/unread, and send emails with attachments. Works with any IMAP/SMTP server including Gmail, Outlook, 163.com, vip.163.com, 126.com, vip.126.com, 188.com, and vip.188.com.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
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SKILL.md Source
# IMAP/SMTP Email Tool Read, search, and manage email via IMAP protocol. Send email via SMTP. Supports Gmail, Outlook, 163.com, vip.163.com, 126.com, vip.126.com, 188.com, vip.188.com, and any standard IMAP/SMTP server. ## Configuration Create `.env` in the skill folder or set environment variables: ```bash # IMAP Configuration (receiving email) IMAP_HOST=imap.gmail.com # Server hostname IMAP_PORT=993 # Server port IMAP_USER=your@email.com IMAP_PASS=your_password IMAP_TLS=true # Use TLS/SSL connection IMAP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=true # Set to false for self-signed certs IMAP_MAILBOX=INBOX # Default mailbox # SMTP Configuration (sending email) SMTP_HOST=smtp.gmail.com # SMTP server hostname SMTP_PORT=587 # SMTP port (587 for STARTTLS, 465 for SSL) SMTP_SECURE=false # true for SSL (465), false for STARTTLS (587) SMTP_USER=your@gmail.com # Your email address SMTP_PASS=your_password # Your password or app password SMTP_FROM=your@gmail.com # Default sender email (optional) SMTP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=true # Set to false for self-signed certs ``` ## Common Email Servers | Provider | IMAP Host | IMAP Port | SMTP Host | SMTP Port | |----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------| | 163.com | imap.163.com | 993 | smtp.163.com | 465 | | vip.163.com | imap.vip.163.com | 993 | smtp.vip.163.com | 465 | | 126.com | imap.126.com | 993 | smtp.126.com | 465 | | vip.126.com | imap.vip.126.com | 993 | smtp.vip.126.com | 465 | | 188.com | imap.188.com | 993 | smtp.188.com | 465 | | vip.188.com | imap.vip.188.com | 993 | smtp.vip.188.com | 465 | | yeah.net | imap.yeah.net | 993 | smtp.yeah.net | 465 | | Gmail | imap.gmail.com | 993 | smtp.gmail.com | 587 | | Outlook | outlook.office365.com | 993 | smtp.office365.com | 587 | | QQ Mail | imap.qq.com | 993 | smtp.qq.com | 587 | **Important for Gmail:** - Gmail does **not** accept your regular account password - You must generate an **App Password**: https://myaccount.google.com/apppasswords - Use the generated 16-character App Password as `IMAP_PASS` / `SMTP_PASS` - Requires Google Account with 2-Step Verification enabled **Important for 163.com:** - Use **authorization code** (授权码), not account password - Enable IMAP/SMTP in web settings first ## IMAP Commands (Receiving Email) ### check Check for new/unread emails. ```bash node scripts/imap.js check [--limit 10] [--mailbox INBOX] [--recent 2h] ``` Options: - `--limit <n>`: Max results (default: 10) - `--mailbox <name>`: Mailbox to check (default: INBOX) - `--recent <time>`: Only show emails from last X time (e.g., 30m, 2h, 7d) ### fetch Fetch full email content by UID. ```bash node scripts/imap.js fetch <uid> [--mailbox INBOX] ``` ### download Download all attachments from an email, or a specific attachment. ```bash node scripts/imap.js download <uid> [--mailbox INBOX] [--dir <path>] [--file <filename>] ``` Options: - `--mailbox <name>`: Mailbox (default: INBOX) - `--dir <path>`: Output directory (default: current directory) - `--file <filename>`: Download only the specified attachment (default: download all) ### search Search emails with filters. ```bash node scripts/imap.js search [options] Options: --unseen Only unread messages --seen Only read messages --from <email> From address contains --subject <text> Subject contains --recent <time> From last X time (e.g., 30m, 2h, 7d) --since <date> After date (YYYY-MM-DD) --before <date> Before date (YYYY-MM-DD) --limit <n> Max results (default: 20) --mailbox <name> Mailbox to search (default: INBOX) ``` ### mark-read / mark-unread Mark message(s) as read or unread. ```bash node scripts/imap.js mark-read <uid> [uid2 uid3...] node scripts/imap.js mark-unread <uid> [uid2 uid3...] ``` ### list-mailboxes List all available mailboxes/folders. ```bash node scripts/imap.js list-mailboxes ``` ## SMTP Commands (Sending Email) ### send Send email via SMTP. ```bash node scripts/smtp.js send --to <email> --subject <text> [options] ``` **Required:** - `--to <email>`: Recipient (comma-separated for multiple) - `--subject <text>`: Email subject, or `--subject-file <file>` **Optional:** - `--body <text>`: Plain text body - `--html`: Send body as HTML - `--body-file <file>`: Read body from file - `--html-file <file>`: Read HTML from file - `--cc <email>`: CC recipients - `--bcc <email>`: BCC recipients - `--attach <file>`: Attachments (comma-separated) - `--from <email>`: Override default sender **Examples:** ```bash # Simple text email node scripts/smtp.js send --to recipient@example.com --subject "Hello" --body "World" # HTML email node scripts/smtp.js send --to recipient@example.com --subject "Newsletter" --html --body "<h1>Welcome</h1>" # Email with attachment node scripts/smtp.js send --to recipient@example.com --subject "Report" --body "Please find attached" --attach report.pdf # Multiple recipients node scripts/smtp.js send --to "a@example.com,b@example.com" --cc "c@example.com" --subject "Update" --body "Team update" ``` ### test Test SMTP connection by sending a test email to yourself. ```bash node scripts/smtp.js test ``` ## Dependencies ```bash npm install ``` ## Security Notes - Store credentials in `.env` (add to `.gitignore`) - **Gmail**: regular password is rejected — generate an App Password at https://myaccount.google.com/apppasswords - For 163.com: use authorization code (授权码), not account password ## Troubleshooting **Connection timeout:** - Verify server is running and accessible - Check host/port configuration **Authentication failed:** - Verify username (usually full email address) - Check password is correct - For 163.com: use authorization code, not account password - For Gmail: regular password won't work — generate an App Password at https://myaccount.google.com/apppasswords **TLS/SSL errors:** - Match `IMAP_TLS`/`SMTP_SECURE` setting to server requirements - For self-signed certs: set `IMAP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false` or `SMTP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false`
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