> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.subverseai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Email Agent
> Build an AI agent that reads and replies to incoming emails automatically
## Overview
An Email Agent reads incoming emails and replies to them automatically. When a new email arrives at a configured address, the agent processes the message and sends a response — just like a human would.
Email agents are powered by an **Email Channel**, which connects a real inbox (via SMTP credentials) to your agent. The agent handles what to reply; the channel handles sending and receiving the actual emails.
**When to use an Email Agent:**
* You want to automatically handle incoming support requests or inquiries by email
* You need a first-line response bot that can triage, answer FAQs, or escalate to a human
* You want to send structured or personalized email replies using AI
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## How to Create
### Step 1: Create the Email Agent
1. Navigate to **Agents** in the left sidebar.
2. Click **Add Agent** and select **Email** as the agent type.
3. Fill in the **Identity** fields — name and description.
4. Write the agent's system prompt under **Instructions** — describe how it should respond to emails, what tone to use, and what topics it handles.
5. Configure the **LLM Service** (provider and model).
6. Optionally configure **Memory**, **Functions**, **Pipeline Settings**, and **Analytics**.
7. Click **Save**.
### Step 2: Create an Email Channel
An Email Channel connects the agent to a real email address. You'll need an email credential (SMTP details) set up in **[Credentials](/credentials/overview)** before creating the channel.
1. Navigate to **Channels** in the left sidebar.
2. Click **Add Channel** and select **Email**.
3. Enter the channel name, email address, and select an email credential.
4. Under **Agent Configuration**, select the Email Agent you just created.
5. Click **Save**.
Once the channel is active, any email sent to the configured address will be processed by the linked agent.
Full setup guide and configuration reference for Email Channels
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## How to Test
1. Create and save your Email Agent.
2. Create an Email Channel linked to the agent.
3. Send a test email to the address configured in the channel.
4. Wait a few seconds for the agent to process the email.
5. Check your inbox for the agent's reply.
6. Navigate to **Sessions** in the dashboard to see the full conversation log and analytics output.
Make sure the SMTP credential is valid and the email address is configured to receive inbound mail. If no reply arrives, check the session logs for errors.
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## Tips & Notes
* **First Speaker should be User:** Email conversations are always initiated by an incoming email. Set Who Speaks First to **User** so the agent waits rather than sending an unsolicited message first.
* **Allow List pattern:** To restrict the agent to only your team's emails, use a pattern like `.*@yourcompany\.com`. Leave Allow List empty to allow all senders.
* **Knowledge Base:** If emails often ask FAQs, attach a Knowledge Base with your documentation. The agent will search it before responding.
* **Memory across threads:** By default, each email is a fresh context. Enable both memory fields to give the agent awareness of prior conversations with the same sender.
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See the full configuration reference — every field, type, and default value