> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://vida.io/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Email

> Give an Agent an email address, control who can contact it, and verify email workflows.

Vida gives each Agent an email address. Open the Agent's **Email** panel to view its address and
control which senders can reach it.

## Choose who can email the Agent

Vida supports two inbound email policies:

* **Allowlist** accepts messages only from email addresses you add. This is the safest default.
* **Open** accepts messages from any sender that passes standard email authentication checks,
  including DKIM alignment.

These settings control inbound delivery. They do not restrict who the Agent can email or reply to.

## Prepare an Agent to reply

An inbound email must be accepted before the Agent can see it, start work from it, or reply to it.
When using **Allowlist**, add every expected sender before testing the workflow. A message from an
unlisted address is not delivered to the Agent and will not start an email conversation or
automation.

To verify the setup:

1. Open the Agent's **Email** panel and confirm its email address.
2. Select **Allowlist** or **Open**.
3. If using **Allowlist**, add the exact addresses that will initiate work.
4. Send a representative message from an accepted address.
5. Confirm the Agent receives the message and completes the expected response or follow-up.

Use **Open** only when the Agent needs to accept email from unknown senders. Review allowlist entries
periodically and remove addresses that no longer need access.

<Note>
  Configuring inbound email through the API? See [Integrations, inbound email, and
  webhooks](/docs/api-reference/platform-guides/integrations-email-and-webhooks).
</Note>