Perfect — neomutt + Gmail (app password) on Arch is a very solid setup. Below is a clean, modern neomutt config with Gmail-specific fixes.

1. Create a Gmail App Password (if not already done)

Google Account → Security → 2-Step Verification → App passwords

App: Mail
Device: Other
Copy the 16-character password

2. Install neomutt on Arch

sudo pacman -S neomutt ca-certificates

(Optional but recommended later)

sudo pacman -S pass gnupg

3. Create config directory

mkdir -p ~/.config/neomutt
chmod 700 ~/.config/neomutt

4. Main config: `~/.config/neomutt/neomuttrc`

############
# Identity #
############
set from = "your@gmail.com"
set realname = "Your Name"

########
# IMAP #
########
set imap_user = "your@gmail.com"
set imap_pass = "APP_PASSWORD"
set folder = "imaps://imap.gmail.com:993"
set spoolfile = "+INBOX"

########
# SMTP #
########
set smtp_url = "smtp://your@gmail.com@smtp.gmail.com:587/"
set smtp_pass = "APP_PASSWORD"
set smtp_authenticators = "login"

################
# Gmail Folders #
################
set record = "+[Gmail]/Sent Mail"
set postponed = "+[Gmail]/Drafts"
set trash = "+[Gmail]/Trash"

#################
# Gmail behavior #
#################
set move = no                  # Gmail uses labels
set imap_keepalive = 300
set imap_pipeline_depth = 1
set sleep_time = 0

#######
# TLS #
#######
set ssl_force_tls = yes

###################
# Neomutt niceties #
###################
set sidebar_visible = yes
set sidebar_width = 30
set sidebar_short_path = yes

bind index,pager \CP sidebar-prev
bind index,pager \CN sidebar-next
bind index,pager \CO sidebar-open
bind index,pager \CC sidebar-close

############
# Defaults #
############
set editor = "nvim"
set pager_index_lines = 10
set sort = threads
set strict_threads = yes

🔐 Protect credentials

chmod 600 ~/.config/neomutt/neomuttrc

5. Start neomutt

neomutt

You should see your Gmail inbox and sidebar immediately.

6. (Recommended) Use `pass` instead of plain text passwords

Store the app password

pass insert gmail/app

Replace in `neomuttrc`

set imap_pass = "`pass gmail/app`"
set smtp_pass = "`pass gmail/app`"

Neomutt will execute pass and insert the password securely.

7. Gmail-specific notes

Correct Gmail folder names

[Gmail]/Sent Mail
[Gmail]/Drafts
[Gmail]/Trash

Archive (All Mail)

[Gmail]/All Mail

Do not enable message moving

set move = no

8. Debug if something fails

Start neomutt with debug:

neomutt -d 5

Common issues:

❌ Using your normal Gmail password instead of app password
❌ Wrong folder names
❌ File permissions too open

9. Optional next steps

I can help you add:

📬 Multiple Gmail accounts
🗄️ Maildir + offline sync (isync/mbsync)
🔐 GPG signing/encryption
🎨 Themes & status line customization

Just tell me what you want next.

Alright 😄 let’s build you a proper power-user neomutt setup on Arch with everything:

✔ multiple Gmail accounts ✔ offline Maildir sync (mbsync) ✔ GPG signing & encryption ✔ sidebar, theme, statusline ✔ clean file layout you won’t hate later

This is a battle-tested setup, not a blog-post toy.

0. What you’ll end up with (overview)

~/.config/neomutt/
├── neomuttrc
├── accounts/
│   ├── gmail-main.rc
│   └── gmail-work.rc
├── colors.rc
├── statusline.rc
├── gpg.rc
└── sidebar.rc

~/.mail/
├── gmail-main/
└── gmail-work/

~/.mbsyncrc

1. Install everything (Arch)

sudo pacman -S neomutt isync pass gnupg ca-certificates

Optional but nice:

sudo pacman -S lynx w3m urlscan

2. App passwords (per account)

For each Gmail account:

Google Account → Security → 2-Step Verification → App Password
Save them using pass:

pass insert gmail/main
pass insert gmail/work

3. Offline sync with mbsync (Maildir)

`~/.mbsyncrc`

IMAPAccount gmail-main
Host imap.gmail.com
User your@gmail.com
PassCmd "pass gmail/main"
SSLType IMAPS

IMAPStore gmail-main-remote
Account gmail-main

MaildirStore gmail-main-local
Path ~/.mail/gmail-main/
Inbox ~/.mail/gmail-main/INBOX

Channel gmail-main
Master :gmail-main-remote:
Slave :gmail-main-local:
Patterns *
Create Slave
SyncState *
Remove None
Expunge None

############################

IMAPAccount gmail-work
Host imap.gmail.com
User work@gmail.com
PassCmd "pass gmail/work"
SSLType IMAPS

IMAPStore gmail-work-remote
Account gmail-work

MaildirStore gmail-work-local
Path ~/.mail/gmail-work/
Inbox ~/.mail/gmail-work/INBOX

Channel gmail-work
Master :gmail-work-remote:
Slave :gmail-work-local:
Patterns *
Create Slave
SyncState *
Remove None
Expunge None

First sync

mbsync -a

(Optional cron/systemd later.)

4. neomutt main config

`~/.config/neomutt/neomuttrc`

set mailcap_path = ~/.mailcap
set folder = ~/.mail
set header_cache = ~/.cache/neomutt
set message_cachedir = ~/.cache/neomutt

set editor = nvim
set charset = utf-8
set sort = threads
set strict_threads = yes

# Load components
source ~/.config/neomutt/sidebar.rc
source ~/.config/neomutt/colors.rc
source ~/.config/neomutt/statusline.rc
source ~/.config/neomutt/gpg.rc

# Default account
source ~/.config/neomutt/accounts/gmail-main.rc

5. Account configs (easy switching)

`accounts/gmail-main.rc`

set realname = "Your Name"
set from = "your@gmail.com"

set spoolfile = "+gmail-main/INBOX"
set record = "+gmail-main/[Gmail]/Sent Mail"
set postponed = "+gmail-main/[Gmail]/Drafts"
set trash = "+gmail-main/[Gmail]/Trash"

set smtp_url = "smtp://your@gmail.com@smtp.gmail.com:587/"
set smtp_pass = "`pass gmail/main`"
set smtp_authenticators = "login"

`accounts/gmail-work.rc`

set realname = "Your Name (Work)"
set from = "work@gmail.com"

set spoolfile = "+gmail-work/INBOX"
set record = "+gmail-work/[Gmail]/Sent Mail"
set postponed = "+gmail-work/[Gmail]/Drafts"
set trash = "+gmail-work/[Gmail]/Trash"

set smtp_url = "smtp://work@gmail.com@smtp.gmail.com:587/"
set smtp_pass = "`pass gmail/work`"
set smtp_authenticators = "login"

Switch accounts inside neomutt

macro index,pager <F2> "<enter-command>source ~/.config/neomutt/accounts/gmail-main.rc<enter>"
macro index,pager <F3> "<enter-command>source ~/.config/neomutt/accounts/gmail-work.rc<enter>"

`sidebar.rc`

set sidebar_visible = yes
set sidebar_width = 30
set sidebar_short_path = yes

bind index,pager \CP sidebar-prev
bind index,pager \CN sidebar-next
bind index,pager \CO sidebar-open
bind index,pager \CC sidebar-close

7. GPG signing & encryption

Generate a key (if needed)

gpg --full-generate-key

`gpg.rc`

set pgp_autosign = yes
set pgp_replyencrypt = yes
set pgp_timeout = 1800

set crypt_use_gpgme = yes
set crypt_autosign = yes
set crypt_replyencrypt = yes

Sign manually while composing:

p → s

Encrypt:

p → e

8. Theme & colors (clean, readable)

`colors.rc`

color normal        white black
color status        black cyan
color indicator     black yellow
color sidebar_new   yellow black
color sidebar_highlight cyan black
color quoted        green black
color quoted1       cyan black
color quoted2       blue black
color error         red black

9. Status line (useful info)

`statusline.rc`

set status_format = "[%a] %r | %f | %L msgs | %p%% | %y"

10. Daily workflow

Sync mail:

mbsync -a

Open mail:

neomutt

Switch accounts:

F2 → main
F3 → work

11. Optional next-level shit 🚀

If you want, next we can add:

🔁 systemd timer for auto-sync
🏷️ Gmail label macros
📎 attachment viewer config
🧠 notmuch integration (fast search)
🎨 true Nord / Gruvbox themes

Just tell me which rabbit hole you want first.

Neomutt manual

December 15, 2025

1. Create a Gmail App Password (if not already done)

2. Install neomutt on Arch

3. Create config directory

4. Main config: `~/.config/neomutt/neomuttrc`

5. Start neomutt

6. (Recommended) Use `pass` instead of plain text passwords

Store the app password

Replace in `neomuttrc`

7. Gmail-specific notes

8. Debug if something fails

9. Optional next steps

0. What you’ll end up with (overview)

1. Install everything (Arch)

2. App passwords (per account)

3. Offline sync with mbsync (Maildir)

`~/.mbsyncrc`

First sync

4. neomutt main config

`~/.config/neomutt/neomuttrc`

5. Account configs (easy switching)

`accounts/gmail-main.rc`

`accounts/gmail-work.rc`

Switch accounts inside neomutt

6. Sidebar

`sidebar.rc`

7. GPG signing & encryption

Generate a key (if needed)

`gpg.rc`

8. Theme & colors (clean, readable)

`colors.rc`

9. Status line (useful info)

`statusline.rc`

10. Daily workflow

11. Optional next-level shit 🚀

Neomutt manual

December 15, 2025

1. Create a Gmail App Password (if not already done)

2. Install neomutt on Arch

3. Create config directory

4. Main config: ~/.config/neomutt/neomuttrc

5. Start neomutt

6. (Recommended) Use pass instead of plain text passwords

Store the app password

Replace in neomuttrc

7. Gmail-specific notes

8. Debug if something fails

9. Optional next steps

0. What you’ll end up with (overview)

1. Install everything (Arch)

2. App passwords (per account)

3. Offline sync with mbsync (Maildir)

~/.mbsyncrc

First sync

4. neomutt main config

~/.config/neomutt/neomuttrc

5. Account configs (easy switching)

accounts/gmail-main.rc

accounts/gmail-work.rc

Switch accounts inside neomutt

6. Sidebar

sidebar.rc

7. GPG signing & encryption

Generate a key (if needed)

gpg.rc

8. Theme & colors (clean, readable)

colors.rc

9. Status line (useful info)

statusline.rc

10. Daily workflow

11. Optional next-level shit 🚀

4. Main config: `~/.config/neomutt/neomuttrc`

6. (Recommended) Use `pass` instead of plain text passwords

Replace in `neomuttrc`

`~/.mbsyncrc`

`~/.config/neomutt/neomuttrc`

`accounts/gmail-main.rc`

`accounts/gmail-work.rc`

`sidebar.rc`

`gpg.rc`

`colors.rc`

`statusline.rc`