imap-email
Read and manage email via IMAP (ProtonMail Bridge, Gmail, etc.). Check for new/unread messages, fetch content, search mailboxes, and mark as read/unread. Works with any IMAP server including ProtonMail Bridge.
Best use case
imap-email is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Read and manage email via IMAP (ProtonMail Bridge, Gmail, etc.). Check for new/unread messages, fetch content, search mailboxes, and mark as read/unread. Works with any IMAP server including ProtonMail Bridge.
Teams using imap-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-email/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How imap-email Compares
| Feature / Agent | imap-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 manage email via IMAP (ProtonMail Bridge, Gmail, etc.). Check for new/unread messages, fetch content, search mailboxes, and mark as read/unread. Works with any IMAP server including ProtonMail Bridge.
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.
Related Guides
AI Agents for Marketing
Discover AI agents for marketing workflows, from SEO and content production to campaign research, outreach, and analytics.
Best AI Agents for Marketing
A curated list of the best AI agents and skills for marketing teams focused on SEO, content systems, outreach, and campaign execution.
AI Agent for Cold Email Generation
Discover AI agent skills for cold email generation, outreach copy, lead personalization, CRM support, and sales-adjacent messaging workflows.
SKILL.md Source
# IMAP Email Reader Read, search, and manage email via IMAP protocol. Supports ProtonMail Bridge, Gmail IMAP, and any standard IMAP server. ## Quick Start **Check for new emails:** ```bash node skills/imap-email/scripts/imap.js check ``` **Fetch specific email:** ```bash node skills/imap-email/scripts/imap.js fetch <uid> ``` **Mark as read:** ```bash node skills/imap-email/scripts/imap.js mark-read <uid> ``` **Search mailbox:** ```bash node skills/imap-email/scripts/imap.js search --from "sender@example.com" --unseen ``` ## Configuration Create `.env` in the skill folder or set environment variables: ```bash IMAP_HOST=127.0.0.1 # Server hostname IMAP_PORT=1143 # Server port IMAP_USER=your@email.com IMAP_PASS=your_password IMAP_TLS=false # Use TLS/SSL connection IMAP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false # Set to false for self-signed certs (optional) IMAP_MAILBOX=INBOX # Default mailbox ``` **ProtonMail Bridge setup:** - Install and run ProtonMail Bridge - Use `127.0.0.1:1143` for IMAP - Password is generated by Bridge (not your ProtonMail password) - TLS: Use `false` (Bridge uses STARTTLS) - `REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED`: Set to `false` (Bridge uses self-signed cert) **Gmail IMAP setup:** - Host: `imap.gmail.com` - Port: `993` - TLS: `true` - Enable "Less secure app access" or use App Password - `REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED`: Omit or set to `true` (default) ## Commands ### check Check for unread/new emails in mailbox. ```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) Returns JSON array of messages with: - uid, from, subject, date, snippet, flags ### fetch Fetch full email content by UID. ```bash node scripts/imap.js fetch <uid> [--mailbox INBOX] ``` Returns JSON with full body (text + HTML). ### 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) ``` Time format examples: - `30m` = last 30 minutes - `2h` = last 2 hours - `7d` = last 7 days ### 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 ``` ## Cron Integration Set up periodic email checking with Clawdbot cron: ```bash # Check email every 15 minutes, deliver to iMessage clawdbot cron add \ --name "email-check" \ --cron "*/15 * * * *" \ --session isolated \ --message "Check for new ProtonMail emails and summarize them" \ --deliver \ --channel imessage \ --to "+15085600825" ``` Inside the isolated session, the agent can run: ```bash node /Users/mike/clawd/skills/imap-email/scripts/imap.js check --limit 5 ``` ## Workflow Examples **Morning email digest:** 1. Run `check --limit 10 --recent 12h` 2. Summarize unread emails from overnight 3. Deliver summary to preferred channel **Check recent emails from specific sender:** 1. Run `search --from "important@company.com" --recent 24h` 2. Fetch full content if needed 3. Mark as read after processing **Hourly urgent email check:** 1. Run `search --recent 1h --unseen` 2. Filter for important keywords 3. Extract action items 4. Deliver notification if urgent **Weekly digest:** 1. Run `search --recent 7d --limit 20` 2. Summarize activity 3. Generate weekly report ## Dependencies Install in skill folder: ```bash cd skills/imap-email npm install imap-simple dotenv ``` Or install globally: ```bash npm install -g imap-simple dotenv ``` ## Security Notes - Store credentials in `.env` (add to `.gitignore`) - ProtonMail Bridge password is NOT your account password - Bridge must be running for ProtonMail IMAP access - Consider using app-specific passwords for Gmail ## Troubleshooting **Connection timeout:** - Verify IMAP server is running and accessible - Check host/port configuration - Test with: `telnet <host> <port>` **Authentication failed:** - Verify username (usually full email address) - Check password is correct - For ProtonMail Bridge: use Bridge-generated password, not account password - For Gmail: use App Password if 2FA is enabled **TLS/SSL errors:** - Match `IMAP_TLS` setting to server requirements (true for SSL, false for STARTTLS) - For self-signed certs (e.g., ProtonMail Bridge): set `IMAP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false` - Check port matches TLS setting (993 for SSL, 143 for STARTTLS) **Empty results:** - Verify mailbox name (case-sensitive) - Check search criteria - List mailboxes with `list-mailboxes`
Related Skills
morning-email-rollup
Daily morning rollup of important emails and calendar events at 8am with AI-generated summaries
email-sequence
When the user wants to create or optimize an email sequence, drip campaign, automated email flow, or lifecycle email program. Also use when the user mentions "email sequence," "drip campaign," "nurture sequence," "onboarding emails," "welcome sequence," "re-engagement emails," "email automation," or "lifecycle emails." For in-app onboarding, see onboarding-cro.
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.
Email management and automation. Send, read, search, and organize emails across multiple providers.
email-management-expert
Expert email management assistant for Apple Mail. Use this when the user mentions inbox management, email organization, email triage, inbox zero, organizing emails, managing mail folders, email productivity, checking emails, or email workflow optimization. Provides intelligent workflows and best practices for efficient email handling.
email-best-practices
Use when building email features, emails going to spam, high bounce rates, setting up SPF/DKIM/DMARC authentication, implementing email capture, ensuring compliance (CAN-SPAM, GDPR, CASL), handling webhooks, retry logic, or deciding transactional vs marketing.
portfolio-watcher
Monitor stock/crypto holdings, get price alerts, track portfolio performance
portainer
Control Docker containers and stacks via Portainer API. List containers, start/stop/restart, view logs, and redeploy stacks from git.
portable-tools
Build cross-device tools without hardcoding paths or account names
polymarket
Trade prediction markets on Polymarket. Analyze odds, place bets, track positions, automate alerts, and maximize returns from event outcomes. Covers sports, politics, entertainment, and more.
polymarket-traiding-bot
No description provided.
polymarket-analysis
Analyze Polymarket prediction markets for trading edges. Pair Cost arbitrage, whale tracking, sentiment analysis, momentum signals, user profile tracking. No execution.