I’m working on a Python script that needs to watch my Gmail inbox for new messages. Right now I’m using imaplib but I have to keep checking the mailbox over and over again which creates delays.
Is there a method to get instant notifications when new emails arrive instead of constantly polling the server? I heard that IMAP has something called the IDLE command that might help with this but I can’t find clear examples in the Python imaplib documentation.
Has anyone managed to implement real-time email monitoring without the constant checking? I want my script to react immediately when a new message shows up rather than waiting for the next poll cycle.
Yeah, you can use IDLE with imaplib, but you’ll need to handle it manually since there’s no built-in method. You’ll have to send the IDLE command through _simple_command and parse server responses yourself. It’s a bit tricky, especially with connection timeouts. Gmail kills IDLE connections after 29 minutes, so you’ll need to refresh periodically. If you want something more reliable, try the Gmail API with push notifications via Pub/Sub - you’ll get real-time updates without keeping a connection open.
Been there - native imaplib IDLE is a pain. Timeout handling gets messy fast, especially with spotty networks. I switched to Gmail’s webhook approach using Google Cloud Pub/Sub instead. More setup upfront (Cloud Console config, auth stuff), but you get actual real-time notifications without babysitting connections. Your script just waits for HTTP callbacks instead of dealing with dropped IMAP connections. Definitely worth it if you’re scaling beyond personal use.
imapclient is def the way to go! imaplib is so clunky for this. gives u those instant updates without the hassle. you’ll be much happier with it for sure!