Skip to content
BrainRoad BrainRoad
Documentation Menu

Email Setup

Connect your agent to your email account for reading and sending messages.

On this page

How Email Connection Works

Your agent connects to your email account using standard IMAP and SMTP protocols. IMAP handles reading incoming messages. SMTP handles sending replies and composing new emails. These are the same protocols every email client uses, so the connection works with virtually any email provider.

How to Connect Email

Email setup happens after your agent finishes onboarding. Open the Console and run:

openclaw channels add

Then select Email, or configure it directly:

openclaw configure --section channels

You will be prompted to enter your email server details:

  • IMAP server and port (for receiving email).
  • SMTP server and port (for sending email).
  • Email address and password (or app-specific password).

The console tests the connection and tells you if there are any credential or server configuration errors.

Common Providers

For Gmail, use imap.gmail.com (port 993) and smtp.gmail.com (port 587). You will need to generate an app-specific password in your Google Account security settings, since Gmail does not allow direct password authentication.

For Outlook/Microsoft 365, use outlook.office365.com for both IMAP (port 993) and SMTP (port 587). Use your full email address and account password.

For custom domains, check with your email host for the correct IMAP and SMTP server addresses and ports.

After Setup

Your agent monitors your inbox for new messages and can compose and send replies. It reads incoming email as it arrives and processes it according to the instructions and templates you have configured.

If your email password changes or the server rejects the connection, the Activity feed will show authentication errors. Repeat the setup process above to update your credentials.

Reconfiguring Email

To update your email settings later, open the Console and run:

openclaw configure --section channels.email

You can change any of your IMAP/SMTP settings or credentials at any time.