Where Are NeoMutt Config and Mail Stored?
NeoMutt ~/.neomutt and ~/.mutt configs plus Maildir mailbox locations on Linux and Mac.
Last updated
NeoMutt reads neomuttrc from ~/.neomutt (falling back to ~/.mutt and ~/.muttrc). Mail itself lives wherever the config points: local Maildir folders or cached IMAP under ~/.cache/mutt.
Accounts, colors and bindings split across sourced files in the same dir. The version command prints compile paths when setups disagree.
Where NeoMutt stores this, by platform
~/.neomutt/neomuttrc
Maildirs commonly under ~/Mail. Header cache and certificates sit under ~/.cache/mutt unless reconfigured.
~/.neomutt/neomuttrc
Same layout via Homebrew builds. macOS keychain integration needs a helper for password commands.
Frequently asked questions
NeoMutt ignores my config edits. Why?
It read a different file first in the fallback order. Check which path exists; only the first found wins.
Where is cached IMAP mail?
Under the header cache dir (default ~/.cache/mutt) plus local Maildir mirrors if sync is configured. Bodies re download when wiped.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.