---
name: "aerc-maildir"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "aerc"
version: "0.22.0-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/aerc-maildir"
---

# aerc-maildir(5)

maildir configuration for aerc(1)

## NAME

aerc-maildir - maildir configuration for [**aerc**(1)](/aerc/1.md)

## SYNOPSIS

aerc implements the maildir format.

## CONFIGURATION

Basic Maildir configuration may be done interactively with the **:new-account** command.

The following maildir-specific options are available:

**check-mail-cmd** = *\<command\>*

Command to run in conjunction with **check-mail** option.

Example:

check-mail-cmd = mbsync -a

**check-mail-timeout** = *\<duration\>*

Timeout for the **check-mail-cmd**. The command will be stopped if it does not complete in this interval and an error will be displayed. Increase from the default if repeated errors occur

Default: 10s

**source** = *maildir*\|*maildirpp*://*\<path\>*

The **source** indicates the path to the directory containing your maildirs rather than one maildir specifically.

The path portion of the URL following *maildir://* must be either an absolute path prefixed by */* or a path relative to your home directory prefixed with **~**. For example:

source = maildir:///home/me/mail

source = maildir://~/mail

If your maildir is using the Maildir++ directory layout, you can use the *maildirpp://* scheme instead:

source = maildirpp:///home/me/mail

source = maildirpp://~/mail

## SEE ALSO

[**aerc**(1)](/aerc/1.md) [**aerc-accounts**(5)](/aerc-accounts/5.md) [**aerc-smtp**(5)](/aerc-smtp/5.md) [**aerc-notmuch**(5)](/aerc-notmuch/5.md)

## AUTHORS

Originally created by Drew DeVault and maintained by Robin Jarry who is assisted by other open source contributors. For more information about aerc development, see *https://sr.ht/~rjarry/aerc/*.