Read mail

After synchronizing mail, your everyday reading workflow is local and fast.

List Inbox messages

icloud mail messages list

Common filters work directly on the list:

icloud mail messages list --unread
icloud mail messages list --from billing@example.com
icloud mail messages list --query invoice

Read another synchronized folder:

icloud mail messages list --folder sent
icloud mail messages list --folder Receipts

The older icloud mail inbox command is kept as a compatibility alias; new usage should prefer mail messages list.

Open one message

Use the returned msg_… ID:

icloud mail message show msg_…

The default is intentionally concise. It gives you enough context to decide whether you need more.

Read the full body

icloud mail message show msg_… --full

Or ask for a particular representation:

icloud mail message show msg_… --format text
icloud mail message show msg_… --format html

Use --body-only when the body itself should be the only output:

icloud mail message show msg_… --full --body-only > message.txt

Inspect headers or metadata

icloud mail message show msg_… --headers
icloud mail message show msg_… --metadata-only
icloud mail message show msg_… --verbose

--verbose is useful for diagnostics and advanced message details; it is not intended as the normal reading mode.

Export exact EML

Stream the exact stored message:

icloud mail message raw msg_… > message.eml

Or use the file-oriented export command:

icloud mail message export msg_… --output message.eml

An existing output file is not overwritten unless you explicitly add --force.

Pagination

Message lists are bounded. If a result includes a next_cursor, continue the same query with:

icloud mail messages list --limit 50 --cursor cur_…

Keep the rest of the query the same. A cursor belongs to the query that created it.

JSON

icloud mail messages list --json
icloud mail message show msg_… --json
icloud mail message show msg_… --full --json

Default JSON is still intentionally bounded; full bodies are included only when you explicitly request the matching content mode.

Attachments and conversations

For files inside a message, continue with Attachments.

For a conversation view across related messages, use Conversations and threads.