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This workflow is for lightweight mail support: seeing unread messages and preparing drafts quickly.

What this helps you do

If you want a fast inbox check and a ready-to-review draft, Apple Mail local tools are enough. It is best for “read + draft” moments, not full mailbox automation.

Works with

  • App: Apple Mail
  • Tool type: Local tool
  • Permissions: Mail automation

What Alter can do today

Alter can list unread messages across mailboxes and generate a new draft email in Mail with the context you provide.

What Alter does not do yet

  • It cannot reply directly inside an existing email thread.
  • It cannot send an email automatically from this tool (it creates drafts for review).
  • It cannot delete, archive, label, or bulk-process emails.

When to use Gmail or Outlook integrations instead

If you need advanced email workflows (thread-aware replies, send actions, labeling, archiving, rules, and broader mailbox automation), use external integrations like Gmail or Outlook from the Integrations catalog.

Typical workflows

Quick inbox check

Ask for a short unread list, identify priority messages, then open Mail for final handling.

Draft first reply fast

Ask Alter to draft a response to a specific recipient, then review and send from Mail.

A realistic workflow

1

Scan unread mail

Ask Alter to show 5-10 unread emails so you can prioritize.
2

Draft response

Ask Alter to create a draft for the top message.
3

Review and send

Open the draft in Mail, edit if needed, then send manually.

Copy/paste prompts

  • “Show my 10 latest unread emails.”
  • “Show only 5 unread emails so I can triage quickly.”
  • “Draft an email to [email protected] with subject ‘Q2 Planning’ and summarize our next steps.”
  • “Create a draft reply to this contact saying I can do Thursday at 3 PM.”

How to enable

1

Enable Mail in Tools Manager

Open Alter -> click the three dots -> Tools Manager -> Local Tools -> enable Mail.
2

Allow Mail automation

On first use, macOS may ask permission for Alter to control Mail. Allow it.
3

Run a quick test

Ask: “Show my 5 unread emails.” Then ask Alter to create one draft email.

What to expect

  • Unread listing is preview-oriented: you get enough context to decide what to open in Mail.
  • For drafts, you stay in control: Alter prepares the draft, and you send it after review.