---
name: "pam_mail"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "pam"
version: "1.7.3-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pam_mail"
---

# pam\_mail(8)

Inform about available mail

## NAME

pam\_mail - Inform about available mail

## SYNOPSIS

**pam\_mail.so** \[close\] \[debug\] \[dir=*maildir*\] \[empty\] \[hash=*count*\] \[noenv\] \[nopen\] \[quiet\] \[standard\]

## DESCRIPTION

The pam\_mail PAM module provides the "you have new mail" service to the user. It can be plugged into any application that has credential or session hooks. It gives a single message indicating the *newness* of any mail it finds in the user's mail folder. This module also sets the PAM environment variable, **MAIL**, to the user's mail directory.

If the mail spool file (be it /var/mail/$USER or a pathname given with the **dir=** parameter) is a directory then pam\_mail assumes it is in the *Maildir* format.

## OPTIONS

close

Indicate if the user has any mail also on logout.

debug

Print debug information.

dir=maildir

Look for the user's mail in an alternative location defined by maildir/\<login\>. The default location for mail is /var/mail/\<login\>. Note, if the supplied maildir is prefixed by a '~', the directory is interpreted as indicating a file in the user's home directory.

empty

Also print message if user has no mail.

hash=count

Mail directory hash depth. For example, a *hashcount* of 2 would make the mail file be /var/spool/mail/u/s/user.

noenv

Do not set the **MAIL** environment variable.

nopen

Don't print any mail information on login. This flag is useful to get the **MAIL** environment variable set, but to not display any information about it.

quiet

Only report when there is new mail.

standard

Old style "You have..." format which doesn't show the mail spool being used. This also implies "empty".

## MODULE TYPES PROVIDED

The **session** and **auth** (on establishment and deletion of credentials) module types are provided.

## RETURN VALUES

PAM\_BUF\_ERR

Memory buffer error.

PAM\_SERVICE\_ERR

Badly formed arguments.

PAM\_SUCCESS

Success.

PAM\_USER\_UNKNOWN

User not known.

## EXAMPLES

Add the following line to /etc/pam.d/login to indicate that the user has new mail when they login to the system.

```
session  optional  pam_mail.so standard
```

## SEE ALSO

[**pam.conf**(5)](/pam.conf/5.md), [**pam.d**(5)](/pam.d/5.md), [**pam**(8)](/pam/8.md)

## AUTHOR

pam\_mail was written by Andrew G. Morgan \<morgan@kernel.org\>.