Getting started

Requirements

• Node.js ≥ 22
• An IMAP mailbox, and credentials for it. Where the provider offers app passwords, use one: it is scoped to this server and revocable on its own.

Run it

IMAP_HOST=imap.example.net IMAP_USER=me@example.net IMAP_PASSWORD=… \
  npx -y @ni-c/imap-mcp

That is a read-only server: IMAP_READ_ONLY defaults to true, so the five mailbox write tools are not registered at all. Add IMAP_READ_ONLY=false when you want them — see Configuration.

Without credentials the server still starts and lists its tools, so registries and inspectors can introspect it; every call then fails with setup instructions instead of reaching the mailbox.

The first question worth asking

Anything new in my mail?

list_new_messages answers it with its own IMAP keyword rather than the \Seen flag, so it does not depend on whether you have read the mail yourself — and reading it here does not mark it read in your own client.