# Agent Mailbox quick start Connect your AI agent to Ridian, create its own email address with one prompt and send a test email. Works with Claude, ChatGPT, any MCP client and Alvin. Source: https://docs.getridian.com/agent-mailbox/quick-start/ Language: en Reviewed: 2026-10-09 In two steps your AI agent gets its own email address and sends its first message. You need a Ridian account; the Free plan includes one Agent Mailbox. Choose your path: - **Your own agent** such as Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or Codex: start with [step 1](#step-1-connect-your-agent). - **Alvin in the Ridian app:** nothing to connect. Go straight to [step 2 with Alvin](#with-alvin-in-the-app). ## Step 1: Connect your agent - [Claude](https://claude.ai/directory/ridian): Open Ridian in the Claude directory and choose Connect. - [ChatGPT](https://console.getridian.com/mcp): Follow the steps under AI & Assistants. - [Cursor](https://console.getridian.com/mcp): Follow the steps under AI & Assistants. - [Codex](https://console.getridian.com/mcp): Follow the steps under AI & Assistants. - [Claude Code](https://console.getridian.com/mcp): Follow the steps under AI & Assistants. - [Any MCP client](https://console.getridian.com/mcp): Remote MCP with OAuth, steps under AI & Assistants. **Claude:** open [Ridian in the Claude directory](https://claude.ai/directory/ridian) and choose **Connect**. Sign in to Ridian, or create your account, and approve the connection. **ChatGPT, Cursor, Codex, Claude Code and other MCP clients:** 1. Open [AI & Assistants](https://console.getridian.com/mcp) in Ridian. If you have no account yet, you create one there. 2. Choose your client: **ChatGPT**, **Cursor**, **Codex**, **Claude Code**, or **MCP** for any other client. Ridian shows the exact steps and the server address for it. 3. Sign in to Ridian in the window that opens and approve the connection. ![Set up ChatGPT: instructions and MCP server address in Ridian](https://docs.getridian.com/media/agent-mailbox/client-en.066e788cd6b5.webp) Your agent needs the Agent Mailbox permissions: read, write, send and create mailboxes. **Full access**, the default, includes all of them. If you choose **Customize**, keep them switched on. [How permissions work](https://docs.getridian.com/concepts/permissions/) ![Enabled permissions to read, edit, send from and create Agent Mailboxes](https://docs.getridian.com/media/agent-mailbox/permissions-en.1f2e4850ef5d.webp) Connected your agent before Agent Mailbox was available? Reconnect it once in your client so it receives the new permissions. ## Step 2: Create a mailbox and send a test email ### With a prompt Enter a name for the mailbox and the address that should receive the test email. Copy the prompt and send it to your agent. ```text Use @Ridian to create an Agent Mailbox named {name} and send a test message to {email}. ``` Your agent creates the mailbox, sends the test email and tells you the new address, for example `my-agent@ridianmail.com`. The `@Ridian` at the start makes sure your agent uses Ridian for this request. ![Claude creates my-agent and shows its email address](https://docs.getridian.com/media/agent-mailbox/claude-en.ea2704b4687d.webp) ### With Alvin in the app Alvin is the agent built into Ridian, so there is nothing to connect. New Alvin access starts with **Ask before changes**; use the mode badge in the chat input to choose automatic execution if you want it. Open the prompt in Alvin, check it and send it: ```text Create an Agent Mailbox named {name} and send a test message to {email}. ``` ![Alvin with the Agent Mailbox prompt filled in before sending](https://docs.getridian.com/media/agent-mailbox/alvin-en.0fb113cc23a1.webp) Prefer to click yourself? Open [Agent Mailbox → Create mailbox](https://console.getridian.com/inbox?create=1), enter a name and address, then choose **New message**. ![Create mailbox dialog with the name and preferred address filled in](https://docs.getridian.com/media/agent-mailbox/create-en.8dc68bd7a5c5.webp) ## Step 3: Check the result 1. Open the inbox you sent the test to. The message comes from your new address at `ridianmail.com`. 2. Reply to it. Your reply arrives in the Agent Mailbox within moments. 3. Ask your agent to read it: ```text Use @Ridian to check my Agent Mailbox for new replies and summarize them. ``` You see the whole conversation in [Agent Mailbox](https://console.getridian.com/inbox) in the app as well. ![The reply to the test message in the open mail conversation](https://docs.getridian.com/media/agent-mailbox/inbox-en.7da319c5fbcb.webp) ## If something does not work - **Your agent does not know the Agent Mailbox tools:** reconnect Ridian in your client so it loads the current tools and permissions. [Assistant troubleshooting](https://docs.getridian.com/troubleshooting/assistant-access/) - **The name is taken:** choose another name. Addresses use 3–40 lowercase letters, digits or hyphens. - **All mailboxes in your plan are in use:** upgrade under [Billing](https://console.getridian.com/billing) for more Agent Mailboxes. ## Next steps - [Use cases and prompts](https://docs.getridian.com/agent-mailbox/use-cases/): sign-in codes, invoices, replies and scheduling. - [Use and manage Agent Mailbox](https://docs.getridian.com/guides/mailboxes/): folders, attachments, limits and permissions in detail.