| name | email-management |
| description | This skill should be used when the user asks to "help me get to inbox zero", "build a repeatable triage program", "coordinate a multi-week cleanup across mailboxes", "set up sustained email habits", or "I'm drowning in email" and needs a multi-week umbrella program coordinating triage, taxonomy, cleanup, drafting, and analytics, not a single pass. Uses get_inbox_overview, search_emails, move_email, update_email_status, manage_trash, and get_statistics; routes single-purpose work to the narrow sibling skill instead. Do NOT use for tooling-only onboarding (see apple-mail-operator), a single 5–10 minute read-first scan (inbox-triage), a one-shot bulk move/archive/delete campaign (email-archive-cleanup), folder-architecture redesign without execution (mailbox-taxonomy), Mail filter prose only (mail-rules-advisor), or drafting voice capture (email-style-profile before email-drafting). |
Email Management
Sustained inbox organization for Apple Mail: repeatable processing habits plus Inbox Zero programs that combine reading, queues, guarded moves/trash, and analytics. Prefer narrow sibling skills (mailbox-taxonomy, email-archive-cleanup, mail-rules-advisor, email-drafting, apple-mail-operator) when the user intent is clearly one-shot or specialized; use this umbrella when they want coordinated multi-week cleanup or habitual discipline.
Recent-first processing (required for reply queues)
See recent-first-triage.md. Even in multi-week programs, daily action starts from the newest human mail in small batches (3 to 5). Widen recent_days or pull older threads only after the current recent window is cleared or the user names a specific older item.
Large-inbox pre-flight (required when inbox > ~5,000 messages)
See large-inbox-rules.md for the canonical pre-flight checklist. On large Exchange profiles, also exchange-account-patterns.md.
full_inbox_export is disabled
full_inbox_export returns a structured UNBOUNDED_EXPORT_DISABLED error and runs no AppleScript. For the rare full-inbox case (annual cleanup, complete audit, compliance archive, or pre-migration snapshot), page bounded export_emails(scope="entire_mailbox", mailbox=..., max_emails=50, offset=N) slices instead. For everything else, pass a bounded recent_days / max_emails and let the structured UNBOUNDED_SCAN_REQUIRED error guide a narrower query.
Before drafting
Umbrella programs may end in replies. Load email-drafting and follow pre-draft-verification.md before any reply_to_email call.
Paper/R&R mail with author briefs: after triage, follow research-project-tracking.md so empirical work lands in the Research issue tracker, not only in mail drafts.
When To Use This Skill
Use when the request is about reducing inbox volume through habitual processing, combining analytics with guarded moves/trash, or coaching an Inbox Zero cadence that may span multiple skill handoffs.
Do NOT use for:
- Composing or replying to a specific message; route to
email-drafting (reply_to_email(message_id=...) for thread replies).
- A brief read-first scan; see
inbox-triage.
- Saving attachments; see
email-attachments.
- Pure Mail MCP setup / timeouts; see
apple-mail-operator.
- Designing folder ontology without agreeing execution path;
mailbox-taxonomy (then email-archive-cleanup once moves ship).
For finding a single specific email, call search_emails() directly without invoking this skill.
Performance Defaults To Know
Internalize these before constructing any tool call. The defaults exist to keep AppleScript queries fast on large Exchange inboxes.
search_emails defaults to the last 48 hours on the configured default account and scans at most 50 messages per call regardless of limit or window size. Pass recent_days=7 or recent_days=30 to widen. recent_days=0 is refused with code: UNBOUNDED_SCAN_REQUIRED; for more than one call's worth, page with offset rather than reaching for full_inbox_export, which is disabled (UNBOUNDED_EXPORT_DISABLED).list_inbox_emails defaults to the 50 most-recent emails, and 50 is also the hard per-call ceiling regardless of max_emails. For triage and drafting, pass max_emails=5 (up to 8) per batch; see recent-first-triage.md. max_emails=0 is refused with code: UNBOUNDED_SCAN_REQUIRED; full_inbox_export is disabled, so use a bounded max_emails and page with repeated calls for the rare full walk.- Cross-account scans cost time on large Exchange inboxes. Pass
all_accounts=True only when truly needed; otherwise let the DEFAULT_MAIL_ACCOUNT environment variable keep things scoped.
When in doubt, run a narrow query first and widen only if results are insufficient.
Decision Tree
| Request signal | Route to |
|---|
| "Help me get to inbox zero" / "daily habits" | This skill |
| "How does this MCP work?" / timeouts | apple-mail-operator |
| "What came in today / needs reply NOW" | inbox-triage |
| "Design folder layout / taxonomy brainstorm" | mailbox-taxonomy |
| Staged archival / bulk deletes with dry runs | email-archive-cleanup |
| Newsletter noise; propose Mail rules prose | mail-rules-advisor |
| Compose / drafts | email-drafting (+ email-style-profile beforehand) |
| Attachments extraction | email-attachments |
| Single lookup | Prefer apple-mail-operator cheat sheet vs loading this umbrella |
Templates are examples, not the skill contract. Copy-paste workflows under templates/ and examples/ must follow templates/search-patterns.md (discovery → ids → action). When in doubt, route to the narrow sibling skill above.
Destructive Operations: Safety Caps
The MCP server enforces conservative defaults. Confirm with the user before raising any cap.
| Operation | Default cap | When to confirm with user |
|---|
manage_trash(action="move_to_trash") | 5 messages | Any time max_deletes exceeds 20 |
manage_trash(action="delete_permanent") | 5 messages | Always; this is irreversible |
manage_trash(action="empty_trash") | hard confirm via confirm_empty=True | Always |
move_email | 50 messages | Any bulk move (max_moves > 10); use explicit max_moves=1 for single-message filing |
update_email_status | 10 messages | Any bulk update (max_updates > 50) |
Pattern: identify candidates with search_emails(), preview the count and sample, confirm the user's intent, then run the destructive call with an explicit cap.
Core Principles
- Start every workflow with
get_inbox_overview() to understand current state before acting.
- Prefer batch operations with explicit caps over message-by-message changes.
- Treat the inbox as a processing queue, not as storage; archive or delete once a decision is made.
- Search beats sort for most retrieval needs; keep folder structure shallow (two to three levels max).
- Confirm destructive actions before executing, and prefer reversible operations (move to trash) over permanent ones.
- Respect the configured default account; only widen to all accounts when single-account scope is demonstrably incomplete.
- Cite expected counts to the user before any bulk action so they can intervene if a query has matched more than intended.
Workflow: Daily Inbox Triage
Goal: process inbox to zero or near-zero in 15 to 30 minutes. For a 5–10 minute scan only, use the inbox-triage skill instead.
- Get overview:
get_inbox_overview() to see unread counts, recent messages, and suggested actions.
- Surface priorities:
get_needs_response(days_back=2, max_results=20, output_format="json") for likely replies; defaults already exclude rows with was_replied_to=true or has_draft=true and report skipped_replied_count / skipped_drafted_count. Use each row's numeric message_id for downstream reads, replies, moves, and status updates; keep internet_message_id only for replied-header correlation. Optionally use get_awaiting_reply(days_back=7) for follow-ups you sent. Use keyword search_emails only when the user names a topic.
- Drill down: after list/search returns a
message_id, use get_email_by_id(account="...", message_id=...) for full content; do not re-search by subject.
- Decide per message using the four-option rule: respond, defer, file, or delete.
- For responses, defer to
email-drafting → reply_to_email(message_id=...) for thread replies; compose_email only for new standalone mail.
- To defer, flag with
update_email_status(action="flag", message_ids=["..."]).
- To file, use
move_email(message_ids=["..."], to_mailbox="...", dry_run=True) then execute.
- To delete, use
manage_trash(action="move_to_trash", message_ids=["..."]) with an explicit cap.
- Mark processed batches read:
update_email_status(action="mark_read", message_ids=[...]).
- End the session by re-running
get_inbox_overview() to confirm the queue is drained.
Tips:
- Process by sender or topic, not strictly chronologically.
- Apply the 2-minute rule: if a reply is short, do it now rather than deferring.
- Do not organize what can be found later by search.
Workflow: Weekly Email Organization
Goal: keep folder structure healthy and archive aging messages.
- Review structure:
list_mailboxes(include_counts=True).
- Identify clutter: mailboxes with more than 1,000 messages or with a high unread ratio.
- Analyze patterns:
get_statistics(scope="account_overview") plus get_top_senders(). For per-folder volume, prefer list_mailboxes(include_counts=True); when calling get_statistics(scope="mailbox_breakdown"), pass explicit mailbox=; omitting it scopes to the default Inbox in code. Full guidance lives in references/analytics.md.
- Adjust folders: collaborate with
mailbox-taxonomy for naming; create net-new folders with create_mailbox after explicit confirmation (rename/delete heavy work still occurs in Mail UI when needed).
- Bulk-organize by sender or date (ID-first; see
email-archive-cleanup):
- Prefer
search_emails(sender_exact="person@example.com", recent_days=30) or search_emails(sender_domain="example.com", recent_days=30) when the exact sender/domain is known; use fuzzy sender="..." only for discovery when the address is uncertain.
search_emails(sender_exact="...", recent_days=30) → collect message_ids → move_email(message_ids=[...], to_mailbox="...", dry_run=True) → execute.- Action tools do not target by
sender=; collect ids with search_emails(sender_exact="...", ...) or search_emails(sender_domain="...", ...), then call move_email(message_ids=[...]).
- Archive read mail older than 30 days into
Archive/<year>.
Human-Sender Screen applies to every archive move in this workflow. Before any id from steps 5 or 6 reaches move_email(dry_run=True, ...), apply the Human-Sender Screen in email-archive-cleanup's SKILL.md (section "Human-Sender Screen"); drop human-looking or ambiguous senders from the candidate list and archive only the confidently automated or promotional subset. This umbrella skill does not carry its own copy of the screen; all archive execution defers to email-archive-cleanup and inherits its screen, so the safety guarantee holds no matter which skill the user entered through.
Detailed safe bulk operations are documented in references/bulk-cleanup.md.
Workflow: Achieving Inbox Zero
Goal: drain the inbox by processing every message exactly once.
- Survey:
get_inbox_overview() and get_statistics(scope="account_overview") to size the problem.
- Process top-down with the five-D framework on each message:
- Delete: spam, expired notifications;
manage_trash(action="move_to_trash", message_ids=[...]).
- Delegate: forward; use
email-drafting (forward_email tool) after user confirms recipients.
- Defer: flag and move to a "Follow Up" mailbox.
- Do: respond now if under two minutes; use
email-drafting → reply_to_email(message_id=...) for thread replies; compose_email only for new standalone mail. Never auto-send under --draft-safe. compose_email, create_rich_email_draft, and manage_drafts(action="create") are standalone-only and refuse Re:/Fwd: subjects or quoted bodies unless standalone_confirmed=True.
- File:
move_email(message_ids=[...], to_mailbox="...") for reference material.
- Keep folders sparing: an "Action Required", "Waiting For", and "Reference" trio handles most cases.
- Maintain daily; Inbox Zero is a habit, not a one-time event.
Mindset:
- Every message needs a decision.
- Touch each message once when possible.
- The inbox is a queue, not an archive.
Tool Selection Guidelines
| Goal | Tool | Notes |
|---|
| Inbox snapshot | get_inbox_overview() | Always the first call |
| Daily 5-min scan | inbox-triage skill | Uses needs-response + list, not full cleanup |
| Likely need reply | get_needs_response(days_back=2, output_format="json") | Fast subject-only by default; excludes already-replied/already-drafted rows unless include_already_replied=True / include_drafted=True; JSON message_id is the numeric Mail id for actions |
| Follow-ups you sent | get_awaiting_reply(days_back=7) | Optional daily check |
| Full dashboard | inbox_dashboard() | Heavier, richer view |
| Find a specific email | search_emails(subject_keyword="...") | Defaults to last 48 hours |
| Read one message by id | get_email_by_id(account="...", message_id="...") | After search/list returns an id |
| Search by sender | search_emails(sender_exact="person@example.com") or search_emails(sender_domain="example.com") | Use fuzzy sender="..." only when the address is uncertain |
| Search email bodies | search_emails(body_text="...", allow_body_scan=True) | Slower; requires explicit opt-in |
| Cross-account search | search_emails(account=None, all_accounts=True) | Costly on Exchange; use sparingly |
| Recent inbox listing | list_inbox_emails(max_emails=50, read_status="unread", include_content=False) | Default cap is 50; read_status="unread" is the cheapest pass on a large inbox. Legacy include_read=False still works but deprecated. |
| View a conversation | get_email_thread(account="...", message_id="...") | Discovery-only: if no id yet, run bounded search_emails or list_inbox_emails first, then pass returned message_id |
| Move messages | move_email(message_ids=[...], max_moves=N) | ID-first; filter scans need allow_filter_scan=True |
| Flag / mark read | update_email_status(action="...", message_ids=[...]) | ID-first; default cap 10 |
| Move to trash / delete | manage_trash(action="...", message_ids=[...]) | See references/bulk-cleanup.md |
| Analytics | get_statistics() and get_top_senders() | See references/analytics.md |
| Export for backup | export_emails(message_ids=[...]) or export_emails(scope="...", mailbox="...") | Prefer reviewed ids for batches; run before any large delete. Use format="eml" when raw source headers and MIME are needed; see references/bulk-cleanup.md for attachment and timeout limits. |
| Sync stale account | synchronize_account(account="...", confirm_sync=True) | Only after the user explicitly accepts that Mail may fetch a large backlog |
Common Scenarios
"I'm overwhelmed by my inbox"
- Size the problem:
get_inbox_overview() and get_statistics(scope="account_overview").
- Identify the worst senders:
get_top_senders(top_n=10).
- Adopt the Daily Triage workflow above for 15 to 30 minutes per day.
- Unsubscribe from non-essential senders identified in step 2.
- Build the minimum folder structure ("Action Required", "Waiting For", "Reference", "Archive").
- Aim for sustainable progress; do not attempt a one-shot cleanup of a 10,000-message backlog.
"I can't find an important email"
- Start with
search_emails(subject_keyword="...") on the default account and default 48-hour window.
- Widen the time window: add
recent_days=30. If the tool returns code: UNBOUNDED_SCAN_REQUIRED, follow the remediation.fallback_tool field. Usually a wider recent_days covers it; for older history, page with offset across bounded calls rather than reaching for full_inbox_export, which is disabled.
- Widen the scope: add
all_accounts=True to search every configured account.
- Search the body:
search_emails(body_text="...", allow_body_scan=True, recent_days=30) before asking to run a full scan.
- Filter by attachment if relevant:
search_emails(has_attachments=True, ...).
- Check Trash explicitly:
search_emails(mailbox="Trash", recent_days=30, ...). For a true full Trash walk, page bounded search_emails(mailbox="Trash", limit=50, offset=N) calls; full_inbox_export is disabled and never the tool for this.
"I want to organize emails by project"
- Review current layout:
list_mailboxes(include_counts=True).
- Create project folders in Apple Mail (or via
create_mailbox if the user confirms).
- Find project messages:
search_emails(subject_keyword="ProjectName", recent_days=30), widening only after review.
- Bulk move: collect ids from step 3, then
move_email(message_ids=[...], to_mailbox="Projects/ProjectName", dry_run=True) then execute.
- Add sender-based moves for team members on the same project.
"I need to follow up on emails"
- Flag the message:
update_email_status(action="flag", message_ids=["..."], max_updates=1).
- Optionally move flagged items into a dedicated "Follow Up" mailbox for visibility.
- Schedule a recurring weekly review of the flagged set with a bounded date window; do not use full scans in recurring workflows.
- Clear the flag once handled:
update_email_status(action="unflag", message_ids=["..."]).
"Too many emails from one sender"
- Confirm volume:
get_statistics(scope="sender_stats", sender="...").
- Find the messages:
search_emails(sender_exact="...", recent_days=30) or search_emails(sender_domain="...", recent_days=30). If the user wants every message from this sender across all time, page with offset across bounded calls rather than ratcheting recent_days indefinitely; full_inbox_export is disabled and not an option.
- If unwanted, run the cleanup sequence from
references/bulk-cleanup.md.
- If wanted but noisy, create a dedicated folder and bulk-move with
message_ids from step 2 (email-archive-cleanup workflow).
- If the sender is a newsletter, surface it via
get_top_senders() and unsubscribe in Apple Mail.
Additional Resources
Reference Files
references/analytics.md: Email analytics, statistics scopes, and using get_top_senders for noise diagnosis.references/bulk-cleanup.md: Safe bulk cleanup operations with confirmation patterns.references/thread-management.md: Working with reconstructed email threads.
Examples
The examples/ directory contains worked walkthroughs:
examples/email-triage.mdexamples/folder-organization.mdexamples/inbox-zero-workflow.md
Templates
The templates/ directory holds reusable query and workflow templates referenced by the examples.
