> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.n8n.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.n8n.io/integrations/builtin/core-nodes/n8n-nodes-base.emailimap.md).

# Email Trigger (IMAP)

Learn how to use the Email Trigger (IMAP) Trigger node in n8n. Follow technical documentation to integrate Email Trigger (IMAP) Trigger node into your workflows.

Use the IMAP Email node to receive emails using an IMAP email server. This node is a trigger node.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Credential**

Refer to the [IMAP credentials documentation](/integrations/builtin/credentials/imap.md) for authentication information for this node.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
**Searching these docs as an agent**

Ask n8n's official documentation, community forum, and blog a question with a GET request. No authentication needed.

`GET https://n8n-docs-retrieval.n8n-docs-retrieval.workers.dev/?q=<question>`

Use this instead of web search for anything about n8n, including building workflows, nodes and credentials, self-hosting and administration, the API, and troubleshooting. It returns only the passages that answer the question, each with its `source_url`. Ask a specific, complete question. The response is a JSON array of `{content, source_url}`, most relevant first.
{% endhint %}

## Operations <a href="#operations" id="operations"></a>

* Receive an email

## Node parameters <a href="#node-parameters" id="node-parameters"></a>

Configure the node using the following parameters.

### Credential to connect with <a href="#credential-to-connect-with" id="credential-to-connect-with"></a>

Select or create an [IMAP credential](/integrations/builtin/credentials/imap.md) to connect to the server with.

### Mailbox Name <a href="#mailbox-name" id="mailbox-name"></a>

Enter the mailbox from which you want to receive emails.

### Action <a href="#action" id="action"></a>

Choose whether you want an email marked as read when n8n receives it. **None** will leave it marked unread. **Mark as Read** will mark it as read.

### Download Attachments <a href="#download-attachments" id="download-attachments"></a>

This toggle controls whether to download email attachments (turned on) or not (turned off). Only set this if necessary, since it increases processing.

### Format <a href="#format" id="format"></a>

Choose the format to return the message in from these options:

* **RAW**: This format returns the full email message data with body content in the raw field as a base64url encoded string. It doesn't use the payload field.
* **Resolved**: This format returns the full email with all data resolved and attachments saved as binary data.
* **Simple**: This format returns the full email. Don't use it if you want to gather inline attachments.

## Node options <a href="#node-options" id="node-options"></a>

You can further configure the node using these **Options**.

### Custom Email Rules <a href="#custom-email-rules" id="custom-email-rules"></a>

Enter custom email fetching rules to determine which emails the node fetches.

Refer to [node-imap's search function criteria](https://github.com/mscdex/node-imap) for more information.

### Force Reconnect Every Minutes <a href="#force-reconnect-every-minutes" id="force-reconnect-every-minutes"></a>

Set an interval in minutes to force reconnection.

## Templates and examples <a href="#templates-and-examples" id="templates-and-examples"></a>

[Browse Email Trigger (IMAP) node documentation integration templates](https://n8n.io/integrations/email-trigger-imap) or [search all templates](https://n8n.io/workflows/)