Command

nylas email read

Read a specific email. Supports decryption and signature verification.

Written by Qasim Muhammad Staff SRE

Published February 13, 2026Updated June 21, 2026

What does nylas email read do?

The nylas email read command displays the full content of a specific email by ID, including headers, body, and attachments. If the message was GPG-encrypted, it automatically decrypts using your local keyring. If the message was GPG-signed, it verifies the signature and reports validity.

Usage

nylas email read <message-id> [grant-id] [options]

Flags

Flag	Description
--json	Output as JSON
--no-color	Disable color output
--verbose(-v)	Enable verbose output
--config	Custom config file path
--help(-h)	Show help for the command
--limit	Limit results (most list commands)
--yes(-y)	Skip confirmations
--raw	Show raw body without HTML
--mime	Show raw RFC822/MIME format
--decrypt	Decrypt PGP-encrypted email
--verify	Verify GPG signature
--mark-read	Mark as read after reading
--headers	Show email headers (works with all providers)

Examples

The nylas email read command displays the full content of a specific email by ID, including headers, body, and attachments.

Read email

nylas email read msg_abc123

Decrypt and verify

nylas email read msg_xyz789 --decrypt --verify

Inbound inbox (with grant)

nylas email read msg_xyz123 inbox_abc123 --json

Example output

From:    Alice Chen <alice@example.com>
To:      bob@example.com
Subject: Q3 planning
Date:    2026-06-21 09:14

Hi Bob, can we lock the Q3 roadmap by Friday? Thanks, Alice

Troubleshooting

Message not found

Verify the message ID. For Inbound, ensure you pass the inbox (grant) ID.

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Run nylas email read --help for full help output.