imap-smtp-email
boomsystel-code/openclaw-workspace
Read, search, and send email via IMAP/SMTP with support for Gmail, Outlook, and Chinese email providers.
What is imap-smtp-email?
This skill enables agents to interact with email accounts using standard IMAP and SMTP protocols. Use it to check for new messages, search and fetch email content, manage read/unread status, and send emails with attachments across any IMAP/SMTP server.
- Check for new and unread emails with optional time-based filtering
- Fetch full email content and download attachments by UID
- Search emails by sender, subject, date range, and read status
- Mark individual or multiple messages as read or unread
- Send emails with plain text or HTML body and file attachments
- List all available mailboxes and folders in an account
How to install imap-smtp-email
npx skills add https://github.com/boomsystel-code/openclaw-workspace --skill imap-smtp-email- IMAP and SMTP server credentials (hostname, port, username, password)
- Environment variables or .env file with IMAP_HOST, IMAP_PORT, IMAP_USER, IMAP_PASS, SMTP_HOST, SMTP_PORT, SMTP_USER, SMTP_PASS
- Node.js and npm installed
- For Gmail: App Password if 2FA is enabled; for 163.com: authorization code instead of account password
How to use imap-smtp-email
- 1.Set up environment variables in .env file with your email provider's IMAP/SMTP credentials (use the provided server table for common providers)
- 2.Run `npm install` to install dependencies
- 3.Use `node scripts/imap.js check` to verify connection and check for new emails
- 4.Use `node scripts/imap.js search` with filters to find specific emails
- 5.Use `node scripts/imap.js fetch <uid>` to retrieve full email content
- 6.Use `node scripts/imap.js download <uid>` to extract attachments
- 7.Use `node scripts/smtp.js send` with recipient, subject, and body to send emails
- 8.Use `node scripts/smtp.js test` to verify SMTP configuration
Use cases
- Monitor incoming emails and alert on new messages from specific senders
- Retrieve and process email attachments programmatically
- Search email archives by date, subject, or sender for information retrieval
- Send automated email notifications or reports with attachments
- Manage email read status across multiple messages in bulk
- Automation engineers building email workflows
- Developers integrating email functionality into agents
- System administrators managing multi-account email operations
- Anyone needing programmatic email access without third-party APIs
imap-smtp-email FAQ
Any standard IMAP/SMTP server is supported. Pre-configured examples include Gmail, Outlook, 163.com, vip.163.com, 126.com, vip.126.com, 188.com, vip.188.com, yeah.net, and QQ Mail.
Use an App Password if 2FA is enabled on your Gmail account. Set IMAP_USER and SMTP_USER to your full Gmail address, and use the generated app password for IMAP_PASS and SMTP_PASS.
163.com requires an authorization code (授权码) instead of your account password. Generate this code in your 163.com web settings under IMAP/SMTP settings, then use it for IMAP_PASS and SMTP_PASS.
Yes. Use comma-separated email addresses in the --to flag, and optionally add --cc and --bcc flags for additional recipients.
Set IMAP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false or SMTP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false in your .env file to disable certificate validation for self-signed certs.
Full instructions (SKILL.md)
Source of truth, from boomsystel-code/openclaw-workspace.
name: imap-smtp-email description: 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.
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:
# 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 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.
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.
node scripts/imap.js fetch <uid> [--mailbox INBOX]
download
Download all attachments from an email, or a specific attachment.
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.
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.
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.
node scripts/imap.js list-mailboxes
SMTP Commands (Sending Email)
send
Send email via SMTP.
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:
# 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.
node scripts/smtp.js test
Dependencies
npm install
Security Notes
- Store credentials in
.env(add to.gitignore) - For Gmail: use App Password if 2FA is enabled
- 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: use App Password if 2FA enabled
TLS/SSL errors:
- Match
IMAP_TLS/SMTP_SECUREsetting to server requirements - For self-signed certs: set
IMAP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=falseorSMTP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false
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