The Mutt E-Mail Client : Configuration : Defining mailboxes which receive mail
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## 3.11. Defining mailboxes which receive mail

Usage: `[un]mailboxes` [!]filename [ filename ... ]

This command specifies folders which can receive mail and which will be checked for new messages. By default, the main menu status bar displays how many of these folders have new messages.

When changing folders, pressing space will cycle through folders with new mail.

Pressing TAB in the directory browser will bring up a menu showing the files specified by the `mailboxes` command, and indicate which contain new messages. Mutt will automatically enter this mode when invoked from the command line with the `-y` option.

The ``unmailboxes'' command is used to remove a token from the list of folders which receive mail. Use ``unmailboxes *'' to remove all tokens.

Note: new mail is detected by comparing the last modification time to the last access time. Utilities like `biff` or `frm` or any other program which accesses the mailbox might cause Mutt to never detect new mail for that mailbox if they do not properly reset the access time. Backup tools are another common reason for updated access times.

Note: the filenames in the `mailboxes` command are resolved when the command is executed, so if these names contain shortcut characters (such as ``='' and ``!''), any variable definition that affect these characters (like $folder and $spoolfile) should be executed before the `mailboxes` command.

The Mutt E-Mail Client : Configuration : Defining mailboxes which receive mail
Previous: Using Multiple spool mailboxes
Next: User defined headers