🤖 n8n-nodes-imap-ai

AI-Agent Ready IMAP Node for n8n with Enhanced Automation Capabilities & AI Tool Support

This is an advanced, AI-agent optimized IMAP node for n8n that provides comprehensive email and mailbox management with intelligent $fromAI() integration and full AI Tool support for n8n AI Agents.

🙏 Built upon the excellent foundation of n8n-nodes-imap by Vasily Maslyukov

🌟 Features

🤖 NEW: AI Tool Support

Full compatibility with n8n AI Agents as intelligent tools!

• ✅ usableAsTool: true - Automatically available as AI Agent Tool
• ✅ aiEnabled: true - Enhanced AI integration
• ✅ Two Node Variants:
  • IMAP AI: Classic node with $fromAI() support
  • IMAP Tool: Optimized for AI Agent tool usage
• ✅ Intelligent Parameter Descriptions: AI-friendly field explanations for tool usage
• ✅ Auto-Discovery: AI Agents can automatically discover and use IMAP operations

✅ Complete Email Operations (7 AI-Ready Operations)

• EmailGetList: Intelligent email search with AI-generated queries
• EmailSetFlags: AI-driven flag management with bulk operations
• EmailMove: Smart email organization and routing
• EmailDownload: AI-controlled email archiving with flexible output
• EmailCopy: Intelligent email duplication and backup
• EmailDownloadAttachment: Automatic attachment management
• EmailCreateDraft: AI-based draft creation with intelligent content

✅ Complete Mailbox Operations (8 AI-Ready Operations)

• MailboxCreate: Intelligent folder creation with AI parameters
• MailboxDelete: AI-safe deletion with mandatory confirmation
• MailboxGetList: Enhanced folder analysis with statistics
• MailboxGetQuota: Intelligent storage monitoring with analytics
• MailboxGetStatus: Advanced folder monitoring with activity metrics
• MailboxRename: AI-driven folder standardization
• MailboxSubscribe: Intelligent folder visibility management
• MailboxMove: Advanced folder reorganization and hierarchy restructuring

🚀 AI-Agent Integration

🔧 Using as AI Tool

AI Agents can automatically discover and use the IMAP Tool node for:

• 📧 Automated Email Processing: AI agents can read, search, and organize emails
• 🗂️ Intelligent Folder Management: Create, rename, and organize mailbox folders
• 🔍 Smart Email Search: AI-driven email discovery and filtering
• 📋 Email Analytics: Get mailbox statistics and quota information
• 🏷️ Flag Management: Automatically mark emails as read, important, etc.

Example AI Agent Usage:

AI Agent: "Check my inbox for urgent emails from the last 24 hours"
→ Uses IMAP Tool with EmailGetList operation
→ Automatically applies search criteria and time filters
→ Returns structured email data for further processing

💡 Traditional $fromAI() Integration

Every operation includes $fromAI() integration for manual AI-agent automation:

// Example: AI-driven email search
{
  "searchQuery": "={{ $fromAI('search_query', 'Email search criteria') }}",
  "mailboxPath": "={{ $fromAI('target_folder', 'Mailbox to search in') }}"
}

Enhanced Features for AI Workflows:

• Intelligent Parameter Descriptions: AI-friendly field explanations
• Enhanced Metadata: Rich response data for AI decision-making
• Safety Mechanisms: Confirmation requirements for destructive operations
• Bulk Operations: Efficient mass email processing
• Error Handling: Clear error messages for AI debugging

📦 Installation

Via n8n Community Nodes

1. Open your n8n instance
2. Go to Settings → Community Nodes
3. Install: n8n-nodes-imap-ai
4. Restart n8n

Via npm

npm install n8n-nodes-imap-ai

🔧 Configuration

1. Create IMAP Credentials:

   • Host: Your IMAP server (e.g., imap.gmail.com)
   • Port: Usually 993 for SSL
   • Username: Your email address
   • Password: Your email password or app-specific password
   • SSL: Enable for secure connection

2. Use in Workflows:

   • Add "IMAP AI" node to your workflow
   • Select your IMAP credentials
   • Choose operation (Email or Mailbox)
   • Configure AI-enhanced parameters

🤖 AI-Agent Examples

Smart Email Organization

// AI automatically categorizes and moves emails
{
  "operation": "move",
  "emailIds": "={{ $fromAI('email_ids', 'IDs of emails to organize') }}",
  "targetFolder": "={{ $fromAI('target_folder', 'Destination folder based on email content') }}"
}

Intelligent Folder Management

// AI creates folders based on email patterns
{
  "operation": "createMailbox",
  "mailboxName": "={{ $fromAI('folder_name', 'Folder name based on email categorization') }}",
  "topLevelMailbox": "={{ $fromAI('is_top_level', 'Whether to create as top-level folder') }}"
}

Automated Cleanup

// AI identifies and archives old emails
{
  "operation": "downloadAndArchive", 
  "searchCriteria": "={{ $fromAI('cleanup_criteria', 'Criteria for emails to archive') }}",
  "outputFormat": "eml"
}

📊 Use Cases

• Email Automation: Automated email processing and routing
• Content Analysis: AI-driven email categorization and insights
• Backup & Archiving: Intelligent email backup strategies
• Cleanup Operations: Smart mailbox maintenance and organization
• Integration Workflows: Connect email data with other systems

🛡️ Security Features

• Safe Deletion: Mandatory confirmation for destructive operations
• Credential Protection: Secure IMAP authentication
• Error Handling: Comprehensive error reporting
• Audit Trail: Enhanced logging for operations

🙏 Acknowledgments

This project is built upon the excellent foundation of the original n8n-nodes-imap by Vasily Maslyukov.

What's New in the AI-Enhanced Version:

• ✅ Complete $fromAI() integration across all 15 operations
• ✅ 2 new mailbox operations (MailboxSubscribe, MailboxMove)
• ✅ Enhanced metadata for AI decision-making
• ✅ Improved safety mechanisms and error handling
• ✅ AI-friendly parameter descriptions and placeholders
• ✅ Modular architecture with shared utilities

Original Project:

• Original Author: Vasily Maslyukov
• Original Repository: n8n-nodes-imap
• Original npm Package: n8n-nodes-imap

🔗 Links

• This Repository: GitHub
• npm Package: n8n-nodes-imap-ai
• Original Project: n8n-nodes-imap
• Author: Niko Terschawetz

📝 License

MIT License - See LICENSE file for details.

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit issues and pull requests.

Made with ❤️ for the n8n and AI automation community
Special thanks to Vasily Maslyukov for the original foundation! 🙏