---
name: "evolution"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "evolution"
version: "3.62.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/evolution"
---

# evolution(1)

The Evolution PIM and Email Client

## NAME

evolution - The Evolution PIM and Email Client

## SYNOPSIS

**evolution** \[ **-c\|--component** *component* \] \[ **-g\|--geometry** *geometry* \] \[ **--offline** \] \[ **--online** \] \[ **--force-online** \]  \[ **--force-shutdown** \] \[ **--disable-eplugin** \] \[ **--disable-preview** \] \[ **-i\|--import** *filenames* \] \[ **-q\|--quit** \]

## DESCRIPTION

**Evolution** is the GNOME mailer, calendar, contact manager and communications tool. The components which make up Evolution are tightly integrated with one another and act as a seamless personal information-management (PIM) tool.

## OPTIONS

This program follows the usual GNU command line syntax, with long options starting with two dashes (\`-'). A summary of options is included below.

- **-c\|--component** *component*

  Start Evolution showing the specified *component*. Available options are “mail”, “calendar”, “contacts”, “tasks” and “memos”.

- **-g\|--geometry** *geometry*

  Apply the given *geometry* to the main window.

- **--offline**

  Start in offline mode.

- **--online**

  Start in online mode.

- **--force-online**

  Ignore network availability.

- **--force-shutdown**

  Forcibly shut down Evolution and background Evolution-Data-Server processes.

- **--disable-eplugin**

  Disable loading of any plugins.

- **--disable-preview**

  Disable preview pane of Mail, Contacts and Tasks.

- **-i\|--import** *filenames*

  Import URIs or filenames given as rest of arguments.

- **--view** *filenames*

  View URIs or filenames given as rest of arguments.

- **-q\|--quit**

  Request a running Evolution process to quit.

## AUTHOR

The Evolution team, https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/evolution/-/wikis/home