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What getmail does
getmail is a mail retriever designed to collect messages from one or more accounts on mail servers and make them available on a local machine. Its typical workflow is:
Remote POP3 or IMAP account → getmail → optional external filter or classifier → local Maildir, mboxrd, or MDA.
Because it delivers locally, getmail does not need to submit each retrieved message through SMTP. That makes it useful when the goal is to consolidate remote inboxes on a Unix or Linux host, rather than to send mail. The official getmail6 documentation describes its retrieval and delivery capabilities.
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Supported protocols and delivery options
Remote mailbox protocols
getmail supports POP3, POP3 over SSL, IMAP4, IMAP4 over SSL, and SDPS. It supports both single-user mailboxes and multidrop or domain mailbox modes. Protocol availability does not guarantee a particular provider will permit access: the server must allow the relevant protocol and authentication method.
Local delivery targets
- Maildir: a directory-based mailbox format.
- mboxrd: an mbox variant supported by getmail.
- External MDA: a mail-delivery program you configure. An external program can also perform filtering, classification, or annotation.
getmail can track previously retrieved messages so it can retrieve only new mail on subsequent runs. Review its configuration and the remote server’s behavior before relying on a particular deletion policy; deletion behavior depends on the configured options and mailbox protocol.
Install getmail6
getmail6 is distributed as Python software. The project documents installation with pip, and some Linux distributions may package it independently. The PyPI project page listed version 6.20.1 as uploaded on August 18, 2026; that date identifies the listed release, not a promise that every distribution provides the same version.
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Install the package in the Python environment you intend to use:
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Check which command-line tools are available in that environment. The project lists
getmail,getmail_maildir,getmail_mbox,getmail_fetch, andgetmail-gmail-xoauth-tokens. Availability can depend on how the package was installed and whether its executable directory is on yourPATH.
getmail6 exposes command-line tools; it is not presented by the project as a general-purpose Python API. See the getmail6 package page for package details.
Configure a mailbox
1. Create a private configuration directory
The documented default is ~/.config/getmail/, based on $XDG_CONFIG_HOME; the legacy location ~/.getmail/ is also supported. Restrict access to the directory and its configuration files because they can contain account details.
For example, to use the default location:
mkdir -p ~/.config/getmail
chmod 700 ~/.config/getmail
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Use the configuration guide’s structure: a [retriever] section describing the remote mailbox, a [destination] section describing local delivery, and an [options] section for retrieval behavior. The exact settings depend on the server protocol, authentication, mailbox mode, and delivery target; consult the getmail configuration guide for the supported fields and syntax.
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3. Protect credentials
Do not leave a password-bearing configuration readable by other local users. Where appropriate, getmail supports password-command methods; use the documented method that fits your environment rather than placing a reusable secret in an exposed file.
4. Run and verify retrieval
Run the appropriate getmail command with the configuration you created, then verify that messages arrive in the intended Maildir, mboxrd file, or MDA-managed mailbox. Test with a mailbox where you can safely check the result before scheduling unattended retrieval.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When to consider getmail
getmail is a plausible fit when you administer a Unix or Linux system, need to collect one or more remote POP3 or IMAP mailboxes, and want direct local delivery to a supported target. Before choosing it, check these practical constraints:
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- The mail provider permits the protocol and authentication method you plan to use.
- Your destination is Maildir, mboxrd, or an MDA you can configure and maintain.
- You are comfortable managing a text configuration file and protecting credentials.
- You have decided how retrieval state and any server-side message deletion should behave.
- Your Python installation or distribution package is available in the environment where retrieval will run.
getmail and getmail6 are licensed under GPL version 2 only. The Gmail XOAUTH token helper has a separate Apache 2.0 notice; see the project documentation for the applicable notices.
getmail versus fetchmail
Whether getmail is preferable to fetchmail depends on your server, authentication, delivery, and operating-system requirements. The available documentation establishes getmail’s capabilities, but does not support a full side-by-side comparison or a general verdict about which retriever is better. Compare the tools against the same mailbox and deployment needs:
Quick Recap
- Supported protocols and authentication methods
- Delivery targets, including Maildir, mboxrd, or an external MDA
- Single-user and multidrop support
- Message-state tracking and deletion behavior
- Configuration complexity and operational maintenance
- Python runtime and operating-system fit
- Direct local delivery versus SMTP-based handoff
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