# Neomutt Commander > Read, search, organise, and draft emails using neomutt — a terminal IMAP client. List inbox, search, read HTML email via w3m, mark read/unread, manage folders, archive messages, and compose drafts. If sending is not enabled or approved, always save as draft instead. - Skill: `logicalsapien/neomutt-commander` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add logicalsapien/neomutt-commander` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/logicalsapien/neomutt-commander/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Web & Frontend - Author: LogicalSapien (https://skillmd.com/u/logicalsapien) - Updated: 2026-09-10 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/logicalsapien/neomutt-commander --- # Neomutt Commander Use when the user wants to read, search, or organise their email inbox, read message content, manage folders, archive messages, or draft a reply or new message — all from the terminal via IMAP. Works with Gmail, Fastmail, Outlook, and any IMAP provider. > **If sending is not explicitly enabled or approved by the user, always save outgoing messages as a draft instead of sending.** ## Prerequisites Install neomutt and w3m (HTML email renderer): ```bash # macOS brew install neomutt w3m # Ubuntu / Debian sudo apt install neomutt w3m ``` ## Configuration Create `~/.config/neomutt/neomuttrc` (or `~/.neomuttrc`): ``` set imap_user = "user@gmail.com" set imap_pass = "*****" set folder = "imaps://imap.gmail.com:993" set spoolfile = "+INBOX" set ssl_force_tls = yes set imap_keepalive = 300 set mail_check = 60 set postponed = "+[Gmail]/Drafts" set sort = reverse-date # HTML handling auto_view text/html alternative_order text/plain text/html ``` For other providers change `imap.gmail.com:993` and `[Gmail]/Drafts` to match your server. For Gmail, `imap_pass` should be an **App Password** (Google Account → Security → 2-Step Verification → App Passwords). Create `~/.config/neomutt/mailcap` so w3m renders HTML parts: ``` text/html; w3m -I %{charset} -T text/html; copiousoutput; ``` ## Open neomutt ```bash neomutt ``` Opens the inbox. To open a specific folder directly: ```bash neomutt -f imaps://imap.gmail.com/INBOX neomutt -f imaps://imap.gmail.com/[Gmail]/All%20Mail # Gmail — All Mail neomutt -f imaps://imap.fastmail.com/INBOX # Fastmail example ``` ## Navigate the inbox | Key | Action | |---|---| | `j` / `k` | Move down / up | | `Enter` | Open message | | `q` | Back / quit | | `?` | Full keybinding help | ## Search messages | Key | Pattern | Example | |---|---|---| | `/` | Search visible list by subject/sender | `/invoice` | | `l` | Limit view to a pattern | `l ~f boss@example.com` | | `l .` | Clear limit (show all) | | Search pattern syntax: `~f ` · `~s ` · `~b ` · `~d ` ## Read a message Press `Enter` on a message. HTML parts render automatically via w3m. | Key | Action | |---|---| | `Space` / `-` | Page down / up | | `h` | Toggle headers | | `v` | View MIME attachments | | `q` | Return to index | ## Mark as read / unread | Key | Action | |---|---| | Automatic | Message is marked read when opened | | `N` | Toggle unread on selected message | | `t` | Tag message; then `;N` to mark tagged set | ## Archive a message Move the message out of INBOX into your archive folder: ``` s → type folder name → Enter ``` On **Gmail** the archive folder is `[Gmail]/All Mail`. Add a macro for one-key archiving: ``` macro index A "=[Gmail]/All Mail" "Archive" ``` ## Manage folders / labels Folders in IMAP, labels in Gmail — same thing. Move or copy a message: ``` C → type folder name → Enter # Copy (message stays in current folder too) s → type folder name → Enter # Move (removes from current folder) ``` ## Compose a new message ``` m ``` Fill in `To:`, `Subject:`, write body, then: | Key | Action | |---|---| | `Ctrl-X` (in editor) | Finish editing and go to send screen | | `y` | **Send** (only if sending is approved) | | `P` | **Postpone — saves to the drafts folder** | | `q` | Abort / discard | > **Default behaviour: press `P` to postpone (save draft) unless the user has explicitly asked to send.** ## Resume a draft ```bash neomutt -f imaps://imap.gmail.com/[Gmail]/Drafts # Gmail neomutt -f imaps://imap.fastmail.com/Drafts # Fastmail / generic ``` Open the draft and press `e` to edit, then `y` to send or `P` to re-postpone. ## Quit ``` q → confirm with y ```