Skip to main content
Glama
Softeria

Microsoft 365 MCP Server

by Softeria

list-mail-folder-messages

list-mail-folder-messages
Read-only

Retrieve email messages from a specified mail folder in Microsoft 365. Use search, filters, and field selection to find and list only the messages you need.

Instructions

Get all the messages in the specified user's mailbox, or those messages in a specified folder in the mailbox.

đź’ˇ TIP: List read search Outlook emails within a specific mail folder. CRITICAL: When searching emails, the $search parameter value MUST be wrapped in double quotes. Format: $search="your search query here". Use KQL (Keyword Query Language) syntax to search specific properties: 'from:', 'subject:', 'body:', 'to:', 'cc:', 'bcc:', 'attachment:', 'hasAttachments:', 'importance:', 'received:', 'sent:'. Examples: $search="from:john@example.com" | $search="subject:meeting AND hasAttachments:true" | $search="body:urgent AND received>=2024-01-01" | $search="from:alice AND importance:high". Remember: ALWAYS wrap the entire search expression in double quotes! Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/graph/search-query-parameter IMPORTANT: Always use $select to limit returned fields and reduce response size. Recommended default: $select=id,subject,from,toRecipients,receivedDateTime,bodyPreview,isRead,hasAttachments. Use bodyPreview instead of body for listings. To read the full email body, use get-mail-message with the specific message id.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
topNoPage size (Graph $top). Start small (e.g. 5–15) so responses fit the model context; raise only if needed. Use $select to return fewer fields per item. For more rows, use @odata.nextLink from the response instead of a very large $top.
skipNoItems to skip for pagination. Not supported with $search.
countNoSet true to enable advanced query mode (ConsistencyLevel: eventual). Required for complex $filter on flag/flagStatus or contains().
expandNoNavigation properties to inline, e.g. attachments on a message or event. Only navigation properties can be expanded: expanding a non-navigation property such as a message body fails with "Parsing OData Select and Expand failed", and an unsupported value may be ignored rather than reported. Request ordinary fields with $select instead.
filterNoOData filter expression. Add $count=true for advanced filters (flag/flagStatus, contains()). Cannot combine with $search.
searchNoKQL search query in one pair of double quotes; directory (users/groups) instead quotes each clause with no outer pair. Cannot combine with $filter.
selectNoComma-separated fields to return, e.g. id,subject,from,receivedDateTime
orderbyNoSort expression, e.g. receivedDateTime desc
skiptokenNoNext page: the @odata.nextLink from the previous response. Keep the other arguments the same.
mailFolderIdYesValue for the 'mailFolderId' path segment. Pass it under the name 'mailFolderId', not as 'id'. Use the 'id' field of the mail folder object as returned by Microsoft Graph.
fetchAllPagesNoFollow @odata.nextLink and merge up to 100 pages into one response. Can return enormous payloads—only when the user explicitly needs a full export. Prefer a small $top first, then paginate or narrow with $filter/$search.
includeHeadersNoInclude response headers (including ETag) in the response metadata
excludeResponseNoExclude the full response body and only return success or failure indication

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

  1. Changed11 schema fields changedv0.154.2
    • addedInput schema / properties / expand / anyOf
      Added value: +[
      +  {
      +    "type": "string"
      +  },
      +  {
      +    "items": {
      +      "type": "string"
      +    },
      +    "type": "array"
      +  }
      +]
    • removedInput schema / properties / expand / items
      Removed value: -{
      -  "type": "string"
      -}
    • removedInput schema / properties / expand / type
      Removed value: -"array"
    • addedInput schema / properties / orderby / anyOf
      Added value: +[
      +  {
      +    "type": "string"
      +  },
      +  {
      +    "items": {
      +      "type": "string"
      +    },
      +    "type": "array"
      +  }
      +]
    • removedInput schema / properties / orderby / type
      Removed value: -"string"
    • addedInput schema / properties / select / anyOf
      Added value: +[
      +  {
      +    "type": "string"
      +  },
      +  {
      +    "items": {
      +      "type": "string"
      +    },
      +    "type": "array"
      +  }
      +]
    • removedInput schema / properties / select / type
      Removed value: -"string"
    • addedInput schema / properties / skip / minimum
      Added value: +0
    • changedInput schema / properties / skip / type
      Previous value: -"number"New value: +"integer"
    • addedInput schema / properties / top / minimum
      Added value: +0
    • changedInput schema / properties / top / type
      Previous value: -"number"New value: +"integer"
  2. Changed1 schema field changedv0.154.0
    • changedInput schema / properties / skiptoken / description
      Previous value: -"Opaque cursor for the next page, taken from the previous response. Copy the $skiptoken value out of @odata.nextLink (or paste the whole nextLink URL — the token is extracted from it) and resend it with the SAME $filter/$select/$expand/$top as the first call. Use this to walk pages one at a time instead of fetchAllPages. Omit it for the first page."New value: +"Next page: the @odata.nextLink from the previous response. Keep the other arguments the same."
  3. Changed2 schema fields changedv0.153.0
    • changedInput schema / properties / search / description
      Previous value: -"KQL search query — wrap value in double quotes. Cannot combine with $filter."New value: +"KQL search query in one pair of double quotes; directory (users/groups) instead quotes each clause with no outer pair. Cannot combine with $filter."
    • addedInput schema / properties / skiptoken
      Added value: +{
      +  "description": "Opaque cursor for the next page, taken from the previous response. Copy the $skiptoken value out of @odata.nextLink (or paste the whole nextLink URL — the token is extracted from it) and resend it with the SAME $filter/$select/$expand/$top as the first call. Use this to walk pages one at a time instead of fetchAllPages. Omit it for the first page.",
      +  "type": "string"
      +}
  4. Addedv0.134.4
  5. Removedv0.131.2
  6. Addedv0.114.0
  7. Removedv0.112.2
  8. Addedv0.110.0
  9. Removedv0.108.0
  10. Changed16 schema fields changedv0.96.0
    • changedInput schema / properties / count / description
      Previous value: -"Include count of items"New value: +"Set true to enable advanced query mode (ConsistencyLevel: eventual). Required for complex $filter on flag/flagStatus or contains()."
    • changedInput schema / properties / fetchAllPages / description
      Previous value: -"Automatically fetch all pages of results"New value: +"Follow @odata.nextLink and merge up to 100 pages into one response. Can return enormous payloads—only when the user explicitly needs a full export. Prefer a small $top first, then paginate or narrow with $filter/$search."
    • changedInput schema / properties / filter / description
      Previous value: -"Filter items by property values"New value: +"OData filter expression. Add $count=true for advanced filters (flag/flagStatus, contains()). Cannot combine with $search."
    • changedInput schema / properties / orderby / description
      Previous value: -"Order items by property values"New value: +"Sort expression, e.g. receivedDateTime desc"
    • removedInput schema / properties / orderby / items
      Removed value: -{
      -  "type": "string"
      -}
    • changedInput schema / properties / orderby / type
      Previous value: -"array"New value: +"string"
    • changedInput schema / properties / search / description
      Previous value: -"Search items by search phrases"New value: +"KQL search query — wrap value in double quotes. Cannot combine with $filter."
    • changedInput schema / properties / select / description
      Previous value: -"Select properties to be returned"New value: +"Comma-separated fields to return, e.g. id,subject,from,receivedDateTime"
    • removedInput schema / properties / select / items
      Removed value: -{
      -  "type": "string"
      -}
    • changedInput schema / properties / select / type
      Previous value: -"array"New value: +"string"
    • changedInput schema / properties / skip / description
      Previous value: -"Skip the first n items"New value: +"Items to skip for pagination. Not supported with $search."
    • removedInput schema / properties / skip / minimum
      Removed value: -0
    • changedInput schema / properties / skip / type
      Previous value: -"integer"New value: +"number"
    • changedInput schema / properties / top / description
      Previous value: -"Show only the first n items"New value: +"Page size (Graph $top). Start small (e.g. 5–15) so responses fit the model context; raise only if needed. Use $select to return fewer fields per item. For more rows, use @odata.nextLink from the response instead of a very large $top."
    • removedInput schema / properties / top / minimum
      Removed value: -0
    • changedInput schema / properties / top / type
      Previous value: -"integer"New value: +"number"
  11. First observedv0.31.0

TDQS

A3.9/5.0
Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already declare readOnlyHint=true and destructiveHint=false, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds valuable behavioral constraints beyond annotations: mandatory double-quoting of KQL search expressions, the need for $select to reduce payload size, and the tradeoff to use bodyPreview instead of body. No contradiction with annotations.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness3/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is front-loaded with purpose and then helpful usage guidance, but it is somewhat verbose and repetitive. The double-quoting rule is emphasized three times, and the TIP sentence partly restates the opening purpose. Still, the KQL examples and $select guidance earn their place.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the 13-parameter schema with 100% coverage and read-only annotations, the description is largely complete. It covers search syntax, field selection, and the relationship to get-mail-message for full bodies. It does not explain pagination or the difference from list-mail-messages, but those are partially covered by the schema and tool naming.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 100%, so the baseline is 3. The description adds extra value beyond the schema by giving concrete KQL examples, a recommended $select default, and explicit search-quoting reminders. It does not fully compensate for all 13 parameters, but the schema already documents them thoroughly.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the verb and resource: 'Get all the messages in the specified user's mailbox, or those messages in a specified folder in the mailbox.' This is specific and understandable. However, it does not explicitly distinguish this tool from the sibling list-mail-messages, so it falls short of full sibling differentiation.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description gives strong usage context: searching with KQL, wrapping $search in double quotes, using $select, and preferring bodyPreview. It also explicitly routes full-body reads to get-mail-message. It does not, however, contrast this tool with list-mail-messages or list-mail-folder-messages-delta, so exclusions are incomplete.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Deploy Server

Other Tools