Read IMAP Emails and Send Replies

The workflow JSON

Copy or download the full n8n JSON below. Paste it into a new n8n workflow, add your credentials, activate. Full import guide →

{
  "name": "Email Handler",
  "nodes": [
    {
      "parameters": {
        "mailbox": "INBOX",
        "options": {},
        "pollTimes": {
          "item": [
            {
              "mode": "everyMinute"
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "id": "imap-node",
      "name": "Check Emails",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.emailReadImap",
      "typeVersion": 2,
      "position": [
        250,
        300
      ],
      "credentials": {
        "imap": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      }
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "method": "POST",
        "url": "http://backend:8000/api/conversations/message",
        "sendHeaders": true,
        "headerParameters": {
          "parameters": [
            {
              "name": "Content-Type",
              "value": "application/json"
            }
          ]
        },
        "sendBody": true,
        "specifyBody": "json",
        "jsonBody": "={{ JSON.stringify({ channel: 'email', client_id: $json.from || $json.sender || 'unknown', content: ($json.textPlain || $json.textHtml || $json.subject || 'Bonjour').substring(0, 2000), has_media: false }) }}",
        "options": {
          "timeout": 120000
        }
      },
      "id": "backend-node",
      "name": "Send to Backend",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest",
      "typeVersion": 4.2,
      "position": [
        500,
        300
      ]
    },
    {
      "parameters": {
        "resource": "email",
        "operation": "send",
        "fromEmail": "contact.alrihla@gmail.com",
        "toEmail": "={{ $('Check Emails').item.json.from || $('Check Emails').item.json.sender }}",
        "subject": "=Re: {{ $('Check Emails').item.json.subject }}",
        "emailFormat": "html",
        "html": "=<p>{{ $json.response }}</p>",
        "options": {}
      },
      "id": "smtp-node",
      "name": "Reply Email",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.emailSend",
      "typeVersion": 2.1,
      "position": [
        750,
        300
      ],
      "credentials": {
        "smtp": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      }
    }
  ],
  "connections": {
    "Check Emails": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Send to Backend",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Send to Backend": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Reply Email",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    }
  },
  "settings": {
    "executionOrder": "v1"
  }
}

Credentials you'll need

Each integration node will prompt for credentials when you import. We strip credential IDs before publishing — you'll add your own.

• imap
• smtp

About this workflow

Email Handler. Uses emailReadImap, httpRequest, emailSend. Manual trigger; 3 nodes.

Source: https://github.com/Bouazzi1/PROJET_PFE/blob/c3cdb6dc64a6c228ec0cccdcd4bf2b3d45bdb9d6/n8n/email_workflow.json — original creator credit. Request a take-down →

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