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Asked: 2026-05-14T07:03:03+00:00

Is there an easy way to add a custom RFC822 header to a message

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Is there an easy way to add a custom RFC822 header to a message on an IMAP server with imaplib?

I am writing a python-based program that filters my IMAP mail store. When I did this with Procmail I had the option of adding headers. But there doesn’t seem to be a way to do that with the Python imap implementation.

Specifically, I want to add a custom header like:

X-VY32-STATUS: Very Cool

So that it appears in the mail headers:

 To: vy32@stackoverflow.com
 From: Yo@mama.com
 Subject: Test Message
 X-VY32-STATUS: Very Cool

 The regular message is down here.
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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    Better option would be to use custom server flags called keywords.

    A keyword is defined by the server implementation. Keywords do not begin with “\”. Servers MAY permit the client to define new keywords in the mailbox.

    To add myflag to the message you can use 

    STORE number +FLAGS (myflag)

    to search:

    SEARCH KEYWORD myflag

    Bear in mind that some servers don’t allow custom flags.

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