---
publish: true
permalink: /10-19 LIFE/13 TECH SETUP/13.11 APPS/aerc.md
title: aerc
created: 2026-01-30T08:09:11.034-07:00
modified: 2026-02-05T09:11:56.234-07:00
tags:
  - email
  - terminal
cssclasses: ""
---

aerc is a terminal email client with vim-like keybindings. It's lightweight, fast, and highly configurable. Works well with [[10-19 LIFE/13 TECH SETUP/13.11 APPS/isync]] for offline IMAP sync.

## Installation

**Arch Linux:**
```bash
sudo pacman -S aerc
```

**Dependencies for full functionality:**
```bash
# HTML rendering
sudo pacman -S w3m
# or: dante (for socksify), pandoc (markdown)
```

## Configuration

Config files live in `~/.config/aerc/`:

### accounts.conf
```ini
[Proton]
source = maildir://~/.local/share/mail/proton
outgoing = smtp+plain://127.0.0.1:1025
default = INBOX
from = Your Name <you@proton.me>
copy-to = Sent
```

### aerc.conf
```ini
[ui]
index-columns = date<20,name<25,flags>4,subject<*
timestamp-format = 2006-01-02 15:04
this-day-time-format = 15:04
this-year-time-format = Jan 02

[compose]
editor = nvim
reply-to-self = false

[filters]
text/plain = colorize
text/html = w3m -T text/html -cols $(tput cols) -dump -o display_image=false
```

### binds.conf
```ini
[messages]
q = :quit<Enter>
j = :next<Enter>
k = :prev<Enter>
Enter = :view<Enter>
c = :compose<Enter>
r = :reply<Enter>
R = :reply -a<Enter>
d = :move Trash<Enter>
```

## Usage

### Navigation
| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `j/k` | Next/prev message |
| `J/K` | Next/prev folder |
| `Enter` | Open message |
| `q` | Back/quit |
| `/` | Search |

### Composing
| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `c` | Compose new |
| `r` | Reply |
| `R` | Reply all |
| `f` | Forward |
| `Ctrl+x` | Send (in editor) |

### Actions
| Key | Action |
|-----|--------|
| `d` | Delete/move to trash |
| `m` | Move to folder |
| `C` | Copy to folder |
| `A` | Archive |

## Tips

- Run `:help` or `:help tutorial` for built-in documentation
- Use with [[10-19 LIFE/13 TECH SETUP/13.11 APPS/isync]] for offline access and faster sync
- Pipe messages through scripts with `:pipe`