Neomutt

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neomutt is a command-line mail client forked from mutt.

Installation

Emerge

root #emerge --ask mail-client/neomutt

USE Flags

USE flags for mail-client/neomutt A small but very powerful text-based mail client

`autocrypt`	Enable autocrypt.org support
`berkdb`	Enable BDB (Berkley DB) backend for header caching
`doc`	Add extra documentation (API, Javadoc, etc). It is recommended to enable per package instead of globally
`gdbm`	Enable GDBM (GNU dbm) backend for header caching
`gnutls`	Prefer net-libs/gnutls as SSL/TLS provider (ineffective with USE=-ssl)
`gpgme`	Build gpgme backend to support S/MIME, PGP/MIME and traditional/inline PGP
`idn`	Enable support for Internationalized Domain Names
`kerberos`	Add kerberos support
`kyotocabinet`	Enable Kyoto Cabinet database backend for header caching
`lmdb`	Enable LMDB (Lightning Memory-Mapped Database) backend for header caching
`lz4`	Add lz4 support for header cache compression
`nls`	Add Native Language Support (using gettext - GNU locale utilities)
`notmuch`	Enable support for net-mail/notmuch
`pgp-classic`	Build classic-pgp backend to support PGP/MIME and traditional/inline PGP
`qdbm`	Enable QDBM (Quicker Database Manager) database backend for header caching
`sasl`	Add support for the Simple Authentication and Security Layer
`selinux`	!!internal use only!! Security Enhanced Linux support, this must be set by the selinux profile or breakage will occur
`smime-classic`	Build classic-smime backend to support S/MIME
`ssl`	Add support for SSL/TLS connections (Secure Socket Layer / Transport Layer Security)
`test`	Enable dependencies and/or preparations necessary to run tests (usually controlled by FEATURES=test but can be toggled independently)
`tokyocabinet`	Enable Tokyo Cabinet database backend for header caching
`zlib`	Add zlib support for header cache compression
`zstd`	Add zstd support for header cache compression

Data provided by the Gentoo Package Database · Last update: 2025-04-04 11:29 More information about USE flags

Configuration

Configure Neomutt in the configuration file located in ~/.config/neomutt/neomuttrc.

Here is an example from the official github:

FILE ~/.config/neomutt/neomuttrc

##########################################################################
#   00 - Neomutt configuration
##########################################################################
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: tmpdir
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# This variable allows you to specify where NeoMutt will place its
# temporary files needed for displaying and composing messages.  If this
# variable is not set, the environment variable $TMPDIR is used.   Failing
# that, then “/tmp” is used.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set tmpdir=/tmp
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: alias_file
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# The  default  file  in  which  to  save aliases created by the
# <create-alias> function.  Entries added to this file  are  encoded  in
# the  character  set  specified  by  $con‐ fig_charset if it is set or the
# current character set otherwise.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set alias_file="~/.neomuttrc"
# set alias_file="~/.neomutt/alias"

# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Note: NeoMutt will not automatically source this file; you must
# explicitly use the “source” command for it to be executed in case this
# option points to a dedicated alias file.  
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# source "~/.neomutt/alias"
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: query_command
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# This  specifies  the  command  NeoMutt  will use to make external address
# queries.  The string may contain a “%s”, which will be substituted with
# the  query  string  the  user types.   NeoMutt  will  add quotes around
# the string substituted for “%s” automatically according to shell quoting
# rules, so you should avoid adding your own.  If no  “%s”  is found  in
# the  string,  NeoMutt will append the user's query to the end of the
# string.  See “query” for more information.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set query_command = "/usr/bin/lbdbq '%s'"
##########################################################################
#   01 - Basic personal setup
##########################################################################
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: alternates 
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# alternates  is used to inform NeoMutt about alternate addresses where you
# receive mail; you can use regular expressions (regex) to specify
# alternate  addresses.  This  affects NeoMutt's idea about messages from
# you, and messages addressed to you.  unalternates  can be used to write
# exceptions to alternates patterns. To remove a regu‐ lar expression from
# the alternates list, use the unalternates command with exactly  the same
# regex or use “*” to remove all entries.  The  optional  -group flag
# causes all of the subsequent regular expressions to be added to or
# removed from the named group.

# alternates mymailbox@domain.tld
# alternates mymailbox@work.tld
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: realname 
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# This variable specifies what “real” or “personal” name should be used
# when sending mes‐ sages.  If not specified, then the user's “real name”
# will  be  read  from  /etc/passwd.   This option will not be used, if
# “$from” is set.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set realname = "Firstname Lastname"


# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: from
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# When set, this variable contains a default “from” address.  It can be
# overridden  using “my_hdr” (including from a “send-hook”) and
# $reverse_name.  This variable is ignored if $use_from is unset.  If not
# specified, then it may be read from the environment variable $EMAIL.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set from="mailbox@domain.tld"
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: alias / unalias
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# alias  defines a surrogate key for the given address(es). Each address
# will be resolved into either an email address  (user@example.com) or a
# named  email  address  (User  Name <user@example.com>).   The  address
# may be specified in either format, or in the format “user@example.com
# (User Name)”.  Note: If you want to create an alias for more than one
# address, you must  separate the addresses with a comma (“,”).  unalias
# removes  the  alias corresponding to the given key or all aliases when
# “*” is used as an argument.  The optional -group flag causes the
# address(es) to be added  to or  removed from  the named group.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# unalias *
# alias Lastname.Firstname Full Name <mailbox@domain.tld>
# alias -group Groupname Lastname.Firstname Full Name <mailbox@domain.tld>
##########################################################################
#   02 - Mailbox and folders
##########################################################################
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: mbox_type
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# The default mailbox type used when creating new folders. May be any of
# “mbox”, “MMDF”, “MH” or “Maildir”.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set mbox_type=mbox
# set mbox_type=Maildir
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: folder
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Specifies the default location of your mailboxes.  A “+” or “=” at the
# beginning  of  a pathname  will be expanded to the value of this
# variable.  Note that if you change this variable (from the default) value
# you need to make  sure  that  the  assignment  occurs before you use “+”
# or “=” for any other variables since expansion takes place when han‐
# dling the “mailboxes” command.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set folder=~/Mail
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: spoolfile
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# If your spool mailbox is in a non-default place where NeoMutt cannot find
# it,  you  can specify its location with this variable.  If not specified,
# then the environment variables $MAIL and $MAILDIR will be checked.  
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set spoolfile = ""
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: postponed
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# NeoMutt  allows you to indefinitely “postpone sending a message” which
# you are editing.  When you choose to postpone a message, NeoMutt saves it
# in  the  mailbox  specified  by this variable.  Also see the $postpone
# variable.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set postponed = "~/postponed"
# set postponed = "+Drafts"
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: record
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# This specifies the file into which your outgoing messages should be
# appended.  (This is meant as the primary method for saving a copy of your
# messages, but another way  to  do this  is using the “my_hdr” command to
# create a “Bcc:” field with your email address in it.) The value of
# $record is overridden by the $force_name and $save_name variables, and
# the “fcc-hook” command.  Also see $copy.  
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set record = "~/sent"
# set record = "+Sent"
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: trash
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# If set, this variable specifies the path of the trash folder where the
# mails marked for deletion will be moved, instead of being irremediably
# purged.  NOTE:  When you delete a message in the trash folder, it is
# really deleted, so that you have a way to clean the trash.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set trash = ""
# set trash = "+Trash"

# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: mailboxes
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# The mailboxes  specifies  folders which can receive mail and which will
# be checked for new messages. When changing folders, pressing space will
# cycle through folders with new mail.  The named-mailboxes is an
# alternative to mailboxes that allows adding a description for a mailbox.
# NeoMutt can be configured to display the description instead of the
# mailbox path.  The unmailboxes  command  is used to remove a file name
# from the list of folders which can receive mail.  If “*” is specified as
# the file name, the list is emptied.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# unmailboxes *
# mailboxes +Drafts +Sent +Spam
##########################################################################
#   03 - Compose email 
##########################################################################
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: my_hdr / unmy_hdr
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Using my_hdr, you can define headers which will be added to the messages
# you  compose.  unmy_hdr will remove the given user-defined headers.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# unmy_hdr *
# my_hdr X-Location: Europe, Germany
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: user_agent
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# When set, NeoMutt will add a “User-Agent:”  header  to  outgoing
# messages,  indicating which version of NeoMutt was used for composing
# them.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set user_agent

# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: editor
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# This variable specifies which editor is used by NeoMutt.  It defaults to
# the  value  of the  $VISUAL,  or  $EDITOR,  environment  variable, or to
# the string “vi” if neither of those are set.  The $editor string may
# contain a %s escape, which will be replaced by the name  of  the file  to
# be edited.  If the %s escape does not appear in $editor, a space and the
# name to be edited are appended.  The resulting string is then executed by
# running sh -c 'string' where string is the expansion of $editor described
# above.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set editor = "vi"
# set editor="vim -c 'set spell spelllang=de,en' -c 'set colorcolumn=72' -c 'startinsert' -c 'set tw=7    2 et' -c 'set wrap' '+/^$'"
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: edit_headers
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# This option allows you to edit the header of your outgoing messages along
# with the body of your message.  Although  the  compose menu may have
# localized header labels, the labels passed to your editor will be
# standard RFC2822 headers, (e.g. To:, Cc:, Subject:).  Headers  added  in
# your editor must also be RFC2822 headers, or one of the pseudo headers
# listed in “edit- header”.  NeoMutt will not understand localized header
# labels, just  as  it  would  not when parsing an actual email.  Note
# that changes made to the References: and Date: headers are ignored for
# interoper‐ ability reasons.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set edit_headers
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: ispell
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# How to invoke ispell (GNU's spell-checking software).
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set ispell="ispell"
# set ispell="aspell -e -c"
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: attribution
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# This is the string that will precede a message which has been included in
# a reply.  For a full listing of defined printf(3)-like sequences see the
# section on $index_format.

# set attribution = "On %d, %n wrote:"
# set attribution = "Am %{%A}, den %{%x} um %{%X} %{%Z} schrieb %F:"
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: forward_format
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# This variable controls the default subject when forwarding a message.  It
# uses the same format sequences as the $index_format variable.
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------

# set forward_format = "[%a: %s]"
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Name: signature
# -------------------------------------------------------------------------
# Specifies the filename of your signature, which is appended to all
# outgoing  messages.  If  the filename ends with a pipe (“

Configuration Scripts

Mutt Wizard

Initial setup of Neomutt can be intimidating to those who have not done it before. To make the process easier, mail-client/mutt-wizard was created. As the name suggests, it walks the user step-by-step through the process of setting up a proper muttrc file.

There might be a few errors which can be solved with the USE Flag sasl.

Set the use flag in /etc/portage/package.use, then re-emerge neomutt:

root #emerge --ask neomutt

External URLs