
Mutt is a text-based email client that's perfect for those who prefer a simple and efficient way to manage their emails. It's available for Linux and Unix-like systems.
To install Mutt, you can simply use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can use the command `sudo apt-get install mutt`.
Mutt's basic usage involves navigating through your email inbox using a series of keyboard shortcuts. You can use the `j` and `k` keys to scroll through your emails, and the `o` key to open an email in a new window.
To view the contents of an email, press the `v` key. This will open the email in a pager, allowing you to scroll through its contents.
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What Is Mutt?
Mutt is a command-line email client that's been around since 1997.
It's designed to be a simple yet powerful email client that can handle multiple email accounts.
Mutt is written in C and is known for its efficiency, making it a great choice for those with limited system resources.
Mutt's interface is text-based, which can take some getting used to, but it's also highly customizable.
One of Mutt's key features is its ability to handle multiple email accounts, making it a great choice for those who need to manage multiple email addresses.
Mutt also has a built-in address book and can handle encryption, making it a secure option for email management.
Getting Started
To get started with mutt, press the 'm' key. This will initiate the process.
You'll be prompted to enter your email ID in the To: section. Simply type it in.
Next, enter the subject of your email. The editor you've set up in the muttrc file should appear, allowing you to type the body of your email. Save the changes and quit.
You'll then be presented with a screen asking for confirmation to send the email. Press 'y' to send it.
Here's a step-by-step guide to confirm:
- Press 'm' to initiate the process
- Enter your email ID in the To: section
- Enter the subject and type the body of your email
- Save the changes and quit
- Press 'y' to confirm sending the email
Installation
Installing Mutt is a straightforward process. You can install it using your distribution's package manager, and it's often available in the package repositories of most Linux distributions.
If you're using a Linux derivative like Linux Mint, you can install Mutt with a simple command. However, if you're using VirtualBox, you might want to consider installing Mutt locally to save on disk space.
To install Mutt locally, start by changing into the directory where you initialized Mutt. In my case, it was my home directory, /home/maria. Next, determine which email attachment you want to send to the other user.
To install Mutt and the necessary packages, use your package manager. Note that Mutt needs Python for OAuth2 support, so make sure you have Python 3.7 or later installed. You'll also need the Gnu Privacy Guard (GPG) package to generate keys.
Here are the specific packages you'll need:
- mutt
- python38 or python39 (for OAuth2 support)
- GPG (Gnu Privacy Guard)
- pinentry (for key generation)
Configuration
To configure Mutt, you'll need to know about its configuration files. The main configuration file for Mutt is /etc/Muttrc, where you can make global changes for all users. This is where you can set up email account credentials, display preferences, and keybindings.
For user-specific configurations, you can create a file in the user's home directory, such as ~/.muttrc or ~/.mutt/muttrc. To print the help menu of "mutt", simply specify the "-h" option with it.
Mutt also allows you to customize settings like your email account credentials and display preferences in the configuration file. To change the sender's name and email, you'll need to create a file in the user's home directory.
You can create a configuration file at ~/.mutt/muttrc and insert specific lines to set up Mutt with OAuth2. The script will ask you a series of questions to complete the configuration.
Here's a summary of Mutt's configuration files:
- Main Configuration File: /etc/Muttrc
- User Configuration File: ~/.muttrc or ~/.mutt/muttrc
Remember, the configuration file is where you can set up your email account credentials, display preferences, and keybindings.
Reading and Sending Emails
To send an email with an attachment using Mutt, you'll need to run a command in Terminal that opens the Mutt interface in a text editor. I've sent a text file called email_attachment.txt to local user magdala with a dummy text.
In the Mutt interface, you'll see the email content at the top of the window, and you can edit it if needed. To send the email, simply hit the y key.
Curious to learn more? Check out: Emailing a Text
Reading Emails
Reading emails is a straightforward process with Mutt. To read emails of the user you're currently logged in, simply run "mutt" on the terminal.
You can also specify which mail file to read if you want to access the emails of a specific user. For example, to read the emails of John as root, use the "-f" option with the mutt command.
Using the "-R" option allows you to open a mailbox in read-only mode, which is a good idea if you're accessing someone else's emails.
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Sending Emails via Command
To send an email locally to another user, you can use the mutt email client in Linux. You can run the command `mutt` in Terminal to open up the mutt interface.
In the mutt interface, you can hit the `y` key to send the email to the user. This will display "Mail sent" at the bottom of the window, and then you'll be taken back to the Terminal command prompt.
You can also use the `mutt` command to send a test email to a specific email address. For example, the command `mutt -s "Test Email" [email protected]` will open up an interface to confirm the recipient's email address and subject of the mail.
In this interface, you can press `t` to change the recipient's email address, `c` to change the Cc address, `a` to attach files, `q` to quit, and `y` to send the email. If you press `y`, mutt will show the status of sending the mail below the interface.
To send emails with attachments using mutt, you can use the `-a` option with the `mutt` command. This will allow you to attach files to the email.
Here are the common keys to use in the mutt interface:
- t: Change the recipient's email address
- c: Change the Cc address
- a: Attach files as attachments
- q: Quit from the interface
- y: Send the email
Adding CC and BCC
Adding CC and BCC is a useful feature when sending emails.
You can add Cc and Bcc with the mutt command to your email with the “-c” and “-b” option.
Using these options allows you to send emails to multiple recipients.
For example, you can send an email to [email protected] and put [email protected] as the Cc address and [email protected] as Bcc.
Email Attachments
You can send emails with attachments using the mutt email client.
To send an email locally to another user with an attachment, you'll need to use the mutt command in the Terminal.
You can attach a file to an email by running the command with the file name specified, like this: mutt -a email_attachment.txt.
This will open up the mutt interface in the nano text editor, where you can compose your email and add the attachment.
To send the email, hit the y key, and at the bottom of the window, "Mail sent" will appear, taking you back to the Terminal command prompt.
You can also use the "-a" option with the mutt command to send emails with attachments, as shown in the snapshot.
The attachment will be visible at the bottom of the email composition window, giving you a clear view of what's being sent.
Usage
Mutt offers a lightweight and efficient way to send and manage emails directly from the terminal.
Its text-based interface is customizable, allowing users to tailor their experience to their preferences. This makes it a valuable tool for users who prefer working in a command-line environment.
You can test the configuration by running Mutt, which should be connected to your email account, allowing you to send and receive email messages through the command line.
Usage of File
Mutt offers a lightweight and efficient way to send and manage emails directly from the terminal.
Its text-based interface makes it a valuable tool for users who prefer working in a command-line environment.
Mutt's customizable configuration allows users to tailor their email experience to their needs.
Each tutorial at TecMint is created by a team of experienced Linux system administrators.
This ensures that the tutorials meet TecMint's high-quality standards.
Mutt's support for multiple protocols enables users to manage emails across different platforms.
Mutt's text-based interface is a key feature that sets it apart from other email clients.
Run

To run Mutt, you'll need to connect it to your email account, allowing you to send and receive emails through the command line.
Mutt should be connected to your Gmail account, so you should be able to send and receive email messages through the command line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does mutt work with gmail?
Yes, Mutt can be set up to work with Gmail, but configuration requires additional steps including generating GPG keys and obtaining OAuth2 credentials.
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