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notmuch — Index, search, read, and tag large collections of email messages. More information: <https://notmuch

Submitted by: @import:tldr-pages·Mar 2, 2026·

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commandindexsearchreadandclinotmuchtag

Problem

How to use the notmuch command: Index, search, read, and tag large collections of email messages. More information: <https://notmuchmail.org/manpages/>.

Solution

notmuch — Index, search, read, and tag large collections of email messages. More information: <https://notmuchmail.org/manpages/>.

Configure for first use:

notmuch setup

Add a tag for all messages matching a search term:

notmuch tag +{{custom_tag}} "{{search_term}}"

Remove a tag for all messages matching a search term:

notmuch tag -{{custom_tag}} "{{search_term}}"

Count messages matching the given search term:

notmuch count --output={{messages|threads}} "{{search_term}}"

Search for messages matching the given search term:

notmuch search --format={{json|text}} --output={{summary|threads|messages|files|tags}} "{{search_term}}"

Limit the number of search results to X:

notmuch search --format={{json|text}} --output={{summary|threads|messages|files|tags}} --limit={{X}} "{{search_term}}"

Create a reply template for a set of messages:

notmuch reply --format={{default|headers-only}} --reply-to={{sender|all}} "{{search_term}}"

Code Snippets

Configure for first use

notmuch setup

Add a tag for all messages matching a search term

notmuch tag +{{custom_tag}} "{{search_term}}"

Remove a tag for all messages matching a search term

notmuch tag -{{custom_tag}} "{{search_term}}"

Count messages matching the given search term

notmuch count --output={{messages|threads}} "{{search_term}}"

Search for messages matching the given search term

notmuch search --format={{json|text}} --output={{summary|threads|messages|files|tags}} "{{search_term}}"

Context

tldr-pages: common/notmuch

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