# Install isync with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper Synchronize a maildir with an IMAP server. Version 1.5.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:isync ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install isync ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install isync ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: mail/isync/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add isync ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: isync from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install isync ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: isync from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install isync ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: isync from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#isync ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/is/isync/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S isync ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: isync from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install isync ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: isync from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:isync - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 1.5.1 - **Source summary:** Synchronize a maildir with an IMAP server - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** GPL-2.0-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - mbsync (cli) - mbsync-get-cert (cli) - mdconvert (cli) - mbsync (alias) - mbsync-get-cert (alias) - mdconvert (alias) ## Dependencies - berkeley-db@5 - openssl@3 ## Uses from macOS - cyrus-sasl ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Service: declared - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 1.5.1 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://isync.sourceforge.io/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage isync is a long-running Unix mailbox synchronizer whose user-facing command is mbsync. It synchronizes Maildir and IMAP4 mailboxes, propagating new messages, deletions, and flag changes in both directions for disconnected or local-first email workflows. ### Project history The project is hosted on SourceForge and identifies isync as the project name while explaining that mbsync is the executable name after major user-interface changes. The repository exposes early tags beginning at v0.1 and release branches from 0.9 onward, showing a project with old-school Unix mail roots. The 1.x release line continued over many years, with SourceForge release directories showing 1.0.4 in 2008, 1.1.x in 2013-2015, 1.2.x in 2015-2017, 1.3.x in 2017-2021, 1.4.x in 2021, and 1.5.x in 2024-2025. The 1.5.0 release notes called out XDG base directory support while keeping old locations supported. ### Adoption history isync became a standard tool for users who keep mail in local Maildir stores while reading or indexing mail with Unix tools. Package metadata shows it distributed by Homebrew, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, Alpine, MacPorts, Nix, and openSUSE-family repositories, which matches its role as a portable infrastructure utility rather than an application-specific client. Its adoption overlaps with notmuch, mu, mutt, neomutt, local mail search, and scripted backup workflows where a deterministic command-line synchronizer is easier to reason about than a full graphical mail client. ### How it is used A user writes an isyncrc or mbsyncrc file describing IMAP accounts, Maildir stores, channels, TLS/SASL authentication, and synchronization rules, then runs mbsync manually, from cron, or from a mail workflow hook. The project emphasizes UID-based synchronization, one local state file per mailbox pair, safe operation while mailboxes are modified, TLS/SSL support, SASL authentication, and IMAP pipelining for speed. ### Why package nerds care isync is beloved package-manager material because it is small, scriptable, and composes with the rest of the Unix mail stack. The package name and executable-name mismatch is also a memorable bit of package trivia: install isync, run mbsync. The 1.5.x move toward XDG paths is significant for dotfile and package users because it preserves old `~/.mbsyncrc` habits while allowing cleaner config placement under `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME`. ### Timeline - 2008: SourceForge release files include isync 1.0.4. - 2013: isync 1.1.0 was published in the SourceForge release tree. - 2017: isync 1.3.0 appeared after the 1.2.x line. - 2021: isync 1.4.0 was published. - 2024: isync 1.5.0 added XDG-based default config and state locations while keeping old locations supported. - 2025: isync 1.5.1 was published. ### Related projects - offlineIMAP and mailsync are named by the project as other mailbox synchronizers. - Maildir, IMAP4, UIDPLUS, LITERAL+, TLS, SASL, and local mail tools such as mutt/neomutt and notmuch are part of the same practical ecosystem. ### Sources - - - - - - ## Security Notes broad file, network, media, or database tool signal. formula declares a Homebrew service. - **Geiger risk:** orange / medium - broad file, network, media, or database tool signal - formula declares a Homebrew service ## Configuration and credential file locations These source-backed paths show where this package keeps local settings or durable credentials. Automic Vault can use them as review targets for secret scanning, migration, and command approval. ## Configuration files - Unix: $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/isyncrc, ~/.config/isyncrc, ~/.mbsyncrc ## Credential files - Unix: $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/isyncrc, ~/.config/isyncrc, ~/.mbsyncrc ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** isync - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Head Version:** HEAD - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** head, stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - isync - 1.5.1-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: isync from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | IMAP and MailDir mailbox synchronizer | https://isync.sourceforge.net/ - Nix - isync: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: pkgs/by-name/is/isync/package.nix from https://api.github.com/repos/NixOS/nixpkgs/git/trees/master?recursive=1 - Ubuntu apt - isync - 1.4.4-5build3: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: isync from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | IMAP and MailDir mailbox synchronizer | https://isync.sourceforge.net/ - apk - isync - 1.5.1-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: isync from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | IMAP and MailDir mailbox synchronizer | https://isync.sourceforge.io - apk - isync-doc - 1.5.1-r1: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: isync-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | IMAP and MailDir mailbox synchronizer (documentation) | https://isync.sourceforge.io - dnf - isync - 1.5.1-3.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: isync from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Tool to synchronize IMAP4 and Maildir mailboxes | http://isync.sourceforge.net/ - pacman - isync - 1.5.1-2: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: isync from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | IMAP and MailDir mailbox synchronizer | https://isync.sourceforge.io/ - zypper - isync - 1.5.1-1.3: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: isync from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Utility to synchronize IMAP mailboxes with local maildir folders | https://isync.sourceforge.io/ - MacPorts - isync: normalized package name match | MacPorts ports tree: mail/isync/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ## Related links - [Secret-risk packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/secret-risk-packages/) - Has protected-tool coverage, approval-gate, or non-low Geiger security signals. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Productivity CLI packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/productivity-cli-packages/) - Matched curated productivity category metadata from av.db. - [openssl@3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/openssl-3/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [fetchmail](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/fetchmail/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, email, imap, networking. - [getmail6](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/getmail6/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, email, imap, networking. - [mailutils](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mailutils/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, email, imap, networking. - [mpop](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/mpop/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, email, maildir, networking. - [checkdmarc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/checkdmarc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, email, networking. - [msmtp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/msmtp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, email, networking. - [sendemail](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/sendemail/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, email, networking. - [swaks](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/swaks/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, email, networking. - [dovecot](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/dovecot/) - Local metadata places this package in an adjacent workflow. Shared terms: cli, email, imap, networking, openssl. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/isync.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/isync.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated configuration and credential file locations - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph