# aerc

> Terminal email client written in Go with IMAP, JMAP, Maildir and notmuch backends and an embedded terminal for editing.

aerc is a full-screen terminal email client with tabs, vim-style keybindings and an embedded terminal that runs the editor and other programs inside the interface. It reads IMAP, JMAP, Maildir and notmuch mailboxes, opens mbox files read-only, and sends over SMTP or a sendmail command. It suits developers who review patches by email, with built-in commands for applying and replying to patch series.

- Type: Email client
- Interface: Full-screen terminal interface
- Systems: Runs on Linux, macOS and BSD, on Windows through WSL, on Android through Termux.
- Language: Go
- License: MIT (MIT)
- Latest version: 0.22.0
- Background: Continuation of the original aerc by Drew DeVault
- Maintained: yes
- Website: https://aerc-mail.org/
- Source: https://git.sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc
- Documentation: https://man.sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/

## Install

### Linux

Native.

- apt: `sudo apt install aerc`
- dnf: `sudo dnf install aerc`
- pacman: `sudo pacman -S aerc`

### macOS

Native.

- Homebrew: `brew install aerc`

### Windows

Through WSL. No native Windows build; runs in WSL.

- WSL: `sudo apt install aerc`

### BSD

Native.

- FreeBSD pkg: `pkg install aerc`
- OpenBSD: `pkg_add aerc`

### Android

Through Termux.

- Termux: `pkg install aerc`

## Protocols

- IMAP: Yes
- POP3: No
- SMTP: Yes
- JMAP: Yes
- Maildir: Yes
- mbox: Yes
- notmuch: Yes

## Features

- OpenPGP: Yes
- S/MIME: No
- OAuth2 sign-in: Yes
- Threads: Yes
- Search: built-in; server-side for IMAP and JMAP; notmuch queries
- HTML mail: via filters, w3m by default
- Mouse: Yes
- Multiple accounts: Yes
- Offline use: with mbsync or OfflineIMAP through the Maildir backend; IMAP header cache
- Calendar: Yes
- Contacts: via address-book-cmd, e.g. khard or the bundled carddav-query
- Vim-style keys: Yes
- Configuration: INI-style files: accounts.conf, aerc.conf, binds.conf

## Pros

- Embedded terminal runs the editor and other commands inside aerc
- Built-in commands for applying and reviewing git patch series
- Supports JMAP and notmuch as well as IMAP and Maildir

## Cons

- No POP3 or S/MIME support
- mbox files open read-only
- No native Windows build

## Use aerc with Forward Email

File: `~/.config/aerc/accounts.conf (macOS: ~/Library/Preferences/aerc/accounts.conf)`

```
# Forward Email: IMAP over SSL/TLS (993), SMTP over SSL/TLS (465)
# The @ in the username is URL-encoded as %40
[Forward Email]
source            = imaps://you%40example.com@imap.forwardemail.net:993
source-cred-cmd   = pass show email/forwardemail
outgoing          = smtps://you%40example.com@smtp.forwardemail.net:465
outgoing-cred-cmd = pass show email/forwardemail
from              = Your Name <you@example.com>
default           = INBOX
copy-to           = Sent Mail
postpone          = Drafts
```

| Protocol | Server | Port | Security |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| IMAP | imap.forwardemail.net | 993 | SSL/TLS |
| POP3 | pop3.forwardemail.net | 995 | SSL/TLS |
| SMTP | smtp.forwardemail.net | 465 | SSL/TLS |
| SMTP | smtp.forwardemail.net | 587 | STARTTLS |

Username: your full alias address. Password: the one from Generate Password next to the alias. Folders: INBOX, Drafts, Sent Mail, Trash, Spam and Archive.

## Questions

### Does aerc work on Windows?

Not natively. It runs in Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). No native Windows build; runs in WSL.

### Does aerc support IMAP?

Yes, aerc connects to IMAP servers directly.

### Is aerc open source?

Yes, under the MIT.

### How do I use aerc with Forward Email?

Use the config in the Forward Email section on this page, saved as ~/.config/aerc/accounts.conf (macOS: ~/Library/Preferences/aerc/accounts.conf), and replace the address and password with your own.

## Sources

- https://aerc-mail.org/
- https://git.sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc
- https://git.sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/tree/master/item/LICENSE
- https://git.sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/tree/master/item/README.md
- https://git.sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/tree/master/item/doc/aerc-accounts.5.scd
- https://git.sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/tree/master/item/doc/aerc-imap.5.scd
- https://git.sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/tree/master/item/doc/aerc-smtp.5.scd
- https://git.sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/tree/master/item/doc/aerc-mbox.5.scd
- https://git.sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/tree/master/item/doc/aerc-config.5.scd
- https://git.sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/tree/master/item/doc/aerc.1.scd
- https://man.sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/
- https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/aerc
- https://sources.debian.org/src/aerc/
- https://packages.fedoraproject.org/pkgs/aerc/aerc/
- https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/aerc/
- https://www.freshports.org/mail/aerc/
- https://github.com/openbsd/ports/tree/master/mail/aerc
- https://github.com/termux/termux-packages/tree/master/packages/aerc
- https://github.com/forwardemail/forwardemail.net/blob/master/helpers/ensure-default-mailboxes.js