Automate email interaction and management via standard protocols.

Install

mkdir -p .claude/skills/imap-smtp-email-sundial-org && curl -L -o skill.zip "https://agentskills.codes/api/skills/download/16168" && unzip -o skill.zip -d .claude/skills/imap-smtp-email-sundial-org && rm skill.zip

Installs to .claude/skills/imap-smtp-email-sundial-org

Activation

This is the description your AI agent reads to decide when to run this skill — the better it matches your request, the more reliably it fires.

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.
281 charsno explicit “when” triggerlonger than Claude Code's old 250-char listing cap (fine on current versions)
Beginner

Key capabilities

  • Check for new or unread emails in a specified mailbox
  • Fetch full email content by UID
  • Search emails with various filters like sender, subject, and date range
  • Mark messages as read or unread
  • Send emails via SMTP with attachments

How it works

The skill connects to IMAP and SMTP servers using provided credentials to perform email operations. It uses specific commands for checking, fetching, searching, marking, and sending emails.

Inputs & outputs

You give it
Email server credentials, search queries, email content, recipient details
You get back
Email lists, fetched email content, updated email statuses, sent emails

When to use imap-smtp-email

  • Read unread emails from the inbox
  • Send automated reports via email
  • Search mailboxes for specific topics
  • Mark emails as read programmatically

About this skill

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
[email protected]
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)
[email protected]          # Your email address
SMTP_PASS=your_password           # Your password or app password
[email protected]          # Default sender email (optional)
SMTP_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=true     # Set to false for self-signed certs

Common Email Servers

ProviderIMAP HostIMAP PortSMTP HostSMTP Port
163.comimap.163.com993smtp.163.com465
vip.163.comimap.vip.163.com993smtp.vip.163.com465
126.comimap.126.com993smtp.126.com465
vip.126.comimap.vip.126.com993smtp.vip.126.com465
188.comimap.188.com993smtp.188.com465
vip.188.comimap.vip.188.com993smtp.vip.188.com465
yeah.netimap.yeah.net993smtp.yeah.net465
Gmailimap.gmail.com993smtp.gmail.com587
Outlookoutlook.office365.com993smtp.office365.com587
QQ Mailimap.qq.com993smtp.qq.com587

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]

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 [email protected] --subject "Hello" --body "World"

# HTML email
node scripts/smtp.js send --to [email protected] --subject "Newsletter" --html --body "<h1>Welcome</h1>"

# Email with attachment
node scripts/smtp.js send --to [email protected] --subject "Report" --body "Please find attached" --attach report.pdf

# Multiple recipients
node scripts/smtp.js send --to "[email protected],[email protected]" --cc "[email protected]" --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

When not to use it

  • When IMAP/SMTP server configuration is not available
  • When credentials are not securely stored or provided

Prerequisites

IMAP_HOSTIMAP_PORTIMAP_USERIMAP_PASS

Limitations

  • The skill reads and sends email via IMAP/SMTP.
  • The skill works with any IMAP/SMTP server.

How it compares

This skill provides programmatic control over email operations via IMAP and SMTP, enabling automated email management and interaction, unlike manual email client usage.

Compared to similar skills

imap-smtp-email side by side with the closest alternatives in the catalog.

SkillInstallsUpdatedSafetyDifficulty
imap-smtp-email (this skill)06moReviewBeginner
himalaya503moReviewIntermediate
officeemail-management88moNo flagsIntermediate
gmail166moReviewBeginner

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