Refresh Virtual Mailboxes After New Mail

Prerequisites

1. Notmuch virtual mailboxes configured in NeoMutt (see Getting Started with Notmuch Virtual Mailboxes).

2. A mail sync tool like mbsync delivering new messages to your Maildir.

Update the Notmuch Database

1. After syncing new mail, run:

notmuch new

Expected result: Notmuch indexes any new messages and reports the count.

Refresh in NeoMutt

NeoMutt shows query results at the time the mailbox was opened. To pick up new messages:

1. Leave and re-enter the virtual mailbox (press c then select it again), or

2. Use <sync-mailbox> ($ by default) to force a refresh.

Expected result: newly indexed messages appear in the virtual mailbox.

Create a One-Key Sync Macro

1. Add a macro that syncs mail, updates the index, and refreshes the mailbox:

macro index o "<shell-escape>mbsync -a && notmuch new<Enter>" "Sync mail and update Notmuch"

2. Press o in the index.

Expected result: new mail is downloaded, indexed, and the current mailbox is refreshed.

If you don’t use mbsync, replace mbsync -a && with your sync command, or remove it to run only notmuch new.

Why Mailboxes Don’t Update Automatically

NeoMutt queries the Notmuch database when a virtual mailbox is opened. It does not re-query continuously in the background. Running notmuch new updates the database, and re-entering the mailbox (or syncing) picks up the changes.

See Set Up Periodic Mail Sync to automate the sync and index step.