# Triage inbound email with IMAP and SMTP: n8n workflow template

> Started by another system calling it, and works across Email. 14 steps, 1 branch: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/triage-inbound-email-with-imap-and-smtp (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Integrations](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Integrations#library)

# Triage inbound email with IMAP and SMTP

Started by another system calling it, and works across Email. 14 steps, 1 branch: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Ftriage-inbound-email-with-imap-and-smtp)

**14 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**1** Branch: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**1** Service it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 3 Logic 4 Service 7

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **Poll Every 15 Minutes** Schedule trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Webhook for Email Inbound** Webhook *Starts it*
- 3 **Approval Callback Webhook** Webhook *Starts it*
- 4 **Fetch Unseen Emails** Email Read Imap *Service*
- 5 **Normalize Email Message** Code *Logic*
- 6 **Classify Email Content** Http Request *Service*
- 7 **Draft AI Reply** Http Request *Service*
- 8 **Determine Approval Requirement** Code *Logic*
- 9 **If Auto Send Approved** If *Logic*
- 10 **Send SMTP Reply** Email Send *Service*
- 11 **Queue for Human Approval** Code *Logic*
- 12 **Log Sent Email** Http Request *Service*
- 13 **Log Awaiting Approval** Http Request *Service*
- 14 **Notify Approver for Review** Http Request *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** Another system calling it
- **Steps:** 14, with 1 branch
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Email
- **Model:** None. This is plumbing, not judgement

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Email account. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on another system calling it.

Does it use AI?

No. Every step is fixed logic or a call to a service, so it does the same thing every time.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 14 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 14 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Ftriage-inbound-email-with-imap-and-smtp)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Email](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Email#library)

## Workflows like it

Also integrations, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Automate Print-on-Demand Product Mockups with SudoMock API** 14 steps · Email, Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/automate-print-on-demand-product-mockups-with-sudomock-api)
- [**Flag duplicate Clio contacts and email paralegals daily** 14 steps · Email](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/flag-duplicate-clio-contacts-and-email-paralegals-daily)
- [**Self update Docker-based n8n with SSH** 14 steps · Email](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/self-update-docker-based-n8n-with-ssh)
- [**Send a daily remote developer job digest from RSS feeds** 14 steps · Email, RSS](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/send-a-daily-remote-developer-job-digest-from-rss-feeds)
- [**Send adaptive daily Supabase product pulse emails with Claude** 14 steps · Email](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/send-adaptive-daily-supabase-product-pulse-emails-with-claud)
- [**Analyze emails** 15 steps · Email](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/analyze-emails)