version: "1.0.1" 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

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_SECURE setting to server requirements
• For self-signed certs: set IMAP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false or SMTP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false