S/MIME Dialog

Introduction – Where am I?

The S/MIME Dialog is the certificate chooser for S/MIME mail. It appears when NeoMutt needs you to choose a certificate for encryption or signing and multiple candidates are available. Unlike the PGP Dialog, the entries here are X.509-style certificates rather than OpenPGP keys.

S/MIME Dialog

0x1A2B3C4D5E6F es Verified   langstroth@langstroth.com           Personal 2025                      
0x2B3C4D5E6F7A es Trusted    l.langstroth@hivemail.org           Work Certificate                   
0x3C4D5E6F7A8B e- Unverified langstroth.bee@apiary.net           Apiary Systems                     
0x4D5E6F7A8B9C -s Expired    rev.langstroth@phila.edu            Old University Key                 
0x5E6F7A8B9C0D es Unknown    langstroth@beekeepers-assoc.org     Association Key                    
0x6F7A8B9C0D1E -- Revoked    ll1851@historical-mail.com          Legacy Key                         
0x7A8B9C0D1E2F es Verified   lorenzo.langstroth@gmail.com        Gmail Key 2024                     
0x8B9C0D1E2F3A es Invalid    langstroth@expired-domain.com       Defunct Org                        
                                                                                                    
S/MIME certificates matching "langstroth@langstroth.com"                                            
                                                                                                    

What am I looking at?

• Each row is a candidate certificate with key ID, capabilities, validity state, email address, and label.

• The highlighted row is the certificate NeoMutt will use if you select it.

• The status line shows which recipient address the certificate list is matching.

What can I do?

• Choose the right certificate for encryption or signing.

• Verify the selected certificate before using it.

• View the certificate’s user name or label in more detail.

• Cancel and return to the send workflow.

• Full reference: Smime Functions.

Where can I go next?

• Selecting a certificate returns you to the Compose Dialog so sending can continue.

• Verifying a certificate can open one of the Simple Pagers.

• Cancelling returns you to the send flow.

Where did I come from?

• You typically arrive from the Compose Dialog when sending with S/MIME enabled.

• If GPGME is the active backend, NeoMutt may show the GPGME Dialog instead of this one.

How do I configure this?

• Start with Encryption Config and Send Config.

• Common options include $smime_default_key, $smime_certificates, $smime_keys, $smime_ask_cert_label, $smime_is_default, and $smime_ca_location.

• Related commands include :crypt-hook and generic :set configuration.

• Colours come from Colour Objects, especially indicator, status, message, and normal.