Configuration Reference

This page collects the configuration surfaces used by the CLI, Python API, and MCP server.

Configure provider credentials through environment variables, CLI flags, Python config, or the Gmail auth helper. MailAtlas uses those credentials for the receive or send command that needs them.

Email workspace resolution

MailAtlas stores email documents, assets, exports, receive state, and sent-message records in one email workspace.

Resolution order:

1. --root
2. MAILATLAS_HOME
3. Project config from .mailatlas.toml or pyproject.toml
4. Fallback .mailatlas

export MAILATLAS_HOME="$PWD/.mailatlas"
mailatlas list
mailatlas --root ./other-mailatlas list

Project config

MailAtlas can read a local .mailatlas.toml file:

root = ".mailatlas"

It can also read pyproject.toml:

[tool.mailatlas]
root = ".mailatlas"

PDF export

PDF export uses local Chrome or Chromium. If MailAtlas cannot find the browser on the default path, set:

export MAILATLAS_PDF_BROWSER="/path/to/chrome-or-chromium"

IMAP receive variables

Variable	Purpose
MAILATLAS_IMAP_HOST	IMAP hostname.
MAILATLAS_IMAP_PORT	IMAP TLS port. Defaults to 993.
MAILATLAS_IMAP_USERNAME	Mailbox username.
MAILATLAS_IMAP_PASSWORD	Password or app password for password auth.
MAILATLAS_IMAP_ACCESS_TOKEN	OAuth access token for XOAUTH2 auth.

Use either password auth or OAuth token auth, not both.

IMAP credentials are used to open the mailbox connection for the receive command. MailAtlas stores receive cursor state in the workspace so later runs can continue from the same mailbox.

SMTP variables

Variable	Purpose
MAILATLAS_SEND_PROVIDER	Set to smtp to use SMTP by default.
MAILATLAS_SMTP_HOST	SMTP hostname.
MAILATLAS_SMTP_PORT	SMTP port. Defaults to 587.
MAILATLAS_SMTP_USERNAME	SMTP username.
MAILATLAS_SMTP_PASSWORD	SMTP password or app password.
MAILATLAS_SMTP_STARTTLS	Enable or disable STARTTLS.
MAILATLAS_SMTP_SSL	Enable or disable SMTP over SSL.

Cloudflare variables

Variable	Purpose
MAILATLAS_SEND_PROVIDER	Set to cloudflare to use Cloudflare by default.
MAILATLAS_CLOUDFLARE_ACCOUNT_ID	Cloudflare account ID.
MAILATLAS_CLOUDFLARE_API_TOKEN	Cloudflare API token.
MAILATLAS_CLOUDFLARE_API_BASE	Optional API base override for tests or compatible gateways.

Gmail send variables

Variable	Purpose
MAILATLAS_SEND_PROVIDER	Set to gmail to use Gmail by default.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_ACCESS_TOKEN	Short-lived Gmail API access token.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_API_BASE	Optional Gmail API base override.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_USER_ID	Gmail API user ID. Defaults to me.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_TOKEN_FILE	Explicit local token file path.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_TOKEN_STORE	Gmail token store: auto, keychain, file, or a token file path.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_CLIENT_ID	OAuth client ID for mailatlas auth gmail.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_CLIENT_SECRET	OAuth client secret for mailatlas auth gmail.

Gmail receive variables

Variable	Purpose
MAILATLAS_RECEIVE_PROVIDER	Receive provider. Supported values are gmail and imap.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_ACCESS_TOKEN	Short-lived Gmail API access token.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_API_BASE	Optional Gmail API base override.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_USER_ID	Gmail API user ID. Defaults to me.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_RECEIVE_LABEL	Gmail label for receive. Defaults to INBOX.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_RECEIVE_QUERY	Optional Gmail search query.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_RECEIVE_LIMIT	Maximum messages to fetch in one pass. Defaults to 50.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_INCLUDE_SPAM_TRASH	Include Gmail spam and trash in receive list calls.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_TOKEN_FILE	Explicit local token file path.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_TOKEN_STORE	Gmail token store: auto, keychain, file, or a token file path.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_CLIENT_ID	OAuth client ID for mailatlas auth gmail.
MAILATLAS_GMAIL_CLIENT_SECRET	OAuth client secret for mailatlas auth gmail.

Local CLI workflows can use mailatlas auth gmail --capability receive. Backend applications should store refresh tokens in their own encrypted credential store and pass short-lived access tokens to MailAtlas.

Background receive variables

Variable	Purpose
MAILATLAS_RECEIVE_INTERVAL_SECONDS	Polling interval for mailatlas receive watch. Defaults to 60.
MAILATLAS_RECEIVE_MAX_RUNS	Optional max run count for watch mode.

MCP variables

Variable	Purpose
MAILATLAS_MCP_ALLOW_SEND	Set to 1 to expose the live send tool.
MAILATLAS_MCP_ALLOW_RECEIVE	Set to 1 to expose mailbox receive tools.
MAILATLAS_MCP_RECEIVE_ON_READ	Set to 1 to run one receive pass before document list reads.
MAILATLAS_MCP_RECEIVE_BACKGROUND	Set to 1 to start a background receive loop with the MCP server process.
MAILATLAS_MCP_AUTO_RECEIVE	Convenience alias for receive-on-read. Prefer the explicit receive variables above.

The MCP server starts with read/export/draft tools. Set the send or receive gates only for clients that are allowed to contact providers.

Next step

• Use CLI Overview for commands that consume these values.
• Use Security and Privacy for handling workspaces and credentials.
• Use Troubleshooting for common setup failures.