How to install Mutt email client in Ubuntu?

Mutt is a simple free and open-source text-based email client for Unix-like systems. Being text-based, it requires fewer system resources and can run on older systems.

Mutt was originally developed by Michael Elkins in 1995. Now if you are a fan of using a terminal then you can try this as well.

In this article, I will discuss how to install and use the Mutt email client on Ubuntu.

Features of Mutt terminal-based email client

The key features of Mutt are –

• Small and efficient
• Text-based user interface
• It is highly configurable with keybinding and macros support
• Supports regular expression for searching emails
• Supports PGP and MIME
• It supports various protocols including POP3, SMTP, IMAP, etc.

How to install Mutt in Ubuntu

Mutt is available in the default repository of Ubuntu. Before installing it on your system first run the given command to make sure the packages on your system are updated.

sudo apt update

Next, use the given command to install the Mutt email client on your Ubuntu system –

sudo apt install mutt

Press y and then enter when it asks for your confirmation.

Configuring Mutt email client

Before you can send or receive emails first you have to configure your email account to Mutt. Follow the given steps to configure it –

mkdir -p ~/.mutt/cache/headers

mkdir ~/.mutt/cache/bodies

touch ~/.mutt/certificates

Next, create the Mutt configuration file –

touch ~/.mutt/muttrc

Now open this file using a text editor –

sudo nano ~/.mutt/muttrc

Add the following lines to this file –

set realname = "Test Email"
set from = "<gmail_username>@gmail.com"
set use_from = yes
set envelope_from = yes

set smtp_url = "smtps://<gmail_username>@gmail.com@smtp.gmail.com:465/"
set smtp_pass = "<password>"
set imap_user = "<gmail_username>@gmail.com"
set imap_pass = "<password>"
set folder = "imaps://imap.gmail.com:993"
set spoolfile = "+INBOX"
set ssl_force_tls = yes

bind index G imap-fetch-mail
set editor = "nano"
set charset = "utf-8"
set record = ''

Don’t forget to use your own username and password.

Now save this file by pressing ctrl+s and then exit from the editor by using ctrl+x.

Using Mutt on Ubuntu

Once you are done configuring mutt now you can start using it. Use the following command to load your inbox on your terminal.

mutt

Once you press enter after entering the command first it will authenticate using your email and password if successfully authenticated you will be able to see your emails.

To send a new email just press m and provide the information that it asks to compose your email finally press y to send it.

OR you can directly use the given command in your terminal to send an email –

mutt -s "Test Email" Email of recipient

If you want to send an attachment with your email then use the command as given below –

mutt  -s "Subject" -a <path of  attachment file> -c <email address of CC>  Email address of recipient

Now for more information, you can check the man page of mutt command by running  –

man mutt

Conclusion

I hope you have successfully installed and configured the Mutt email client on your system. Now if you have a query then write us in the comments below.