> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cowagent.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Agent Mail

> Let the agent send, read, and manage emails through Agent Mail in the Docker deployment

[Agent Mail](https://agent.qq.com) lets the agent handle emails through the `agently-cli` command-line tool: sending, replying, forwarding, searching, reading emails, downloading attachments, and managing the inbox.

It is provided as an optional Docker Compose overlay. The default `docker-compose.yml` deployment is unchanged; the overlay only installs Node.js and `agently-cli` into the container when you choose to enable it.

## 1. Download the overlay

Run the following in the directory that contains `docker-compose.yml`:

```bash theme={null}
mkdir -p agent-mail
curl -o docker-compose.agent-mail.yml https://raw.githubusercontent.com/zhayujie/CowAgent/master/docker/docker-compose.agent-mail.yml
curl -o agent-mail/entrypoint.sh https://raw.githubusercontent.com/zhayujie/CowAgent/master/docker/agent-mail/entrypoint.sh
echo "COMPOSE_FILE=docker-compose.yml:docker-compose.agent-mail.yml" >> .env
```

The `COMPOSE_FILE` entry in `.env` makes every later `docker compose` command in this directory (including `pull` for upgrades) apply the overlay automatically.

## 2. Start the container

```bash theme={null}
sudo docker compose up -d
```

On the first start, Node.js and `agently-cli` are downloaded into `./agent-mail-data/`, so later restarts, container recreation, and image upgrades do not download them again. If the download fails, CowAgent still starts normally without Agent Mail; check the `[agent-mail]` lines in `docker compose logs` and restart to retry.

<Tip>
  If downloads are slow, change `NODE_MIRROR` and `NPM_CONFIG_REGISTRY` in `docker-compose.agent-mail.yml` to a closer mirror, for example `https://npmmirror.com/mirrors/node` and `https://registry.npmmirror.com`.
</Tip>

## 3. Authorize the mailbox

```bash theme={null}
sudo docker compose exec -u agent chatgpt-on-wechat agently-cli auth login
```

Open the printed link in a browser to complete authorization. The command exits automatically once authorization succeeds.

## 4. Install the skill

The skill teaches the agent how to use `agently-cli`. Send this in chat:

```text theme={null}
/skill install https://agent.qq.com/.well-known/skills/agently-mail/SKILL.md
```

Or run it in the terminal:

```bash theme={null}
sudo docker compose exec -u agent chatgpt-on-wechat cow skill install https://agent.qq.com/.well-known/skills/agently-mail/SKILL.md
```

The skill is installed into the workspace (`./cow/skills`). Once it is installed, just ask the agent to send or check emails.

## Data persistence

| Host directory                 | Contents                                          |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------- |
| `./agent-mail-data/config`     | `agently-cli` configuration and login credentials |
| `./agent-mail-data/share`      | `agently-cli` local data                          |
| `./agent-mail-data/npm-global` | Node.js runtime and `agently-cli`                 |

<Warning>
  `./agent-mail-data/config` contains your mailbox credentials. Keep it private and do not commit or share it.
</Warning>