The setup wizard
On the very first launch, a wizard walks you through the basic setup. Almost everything you decide there can be changed later in the settings. With one exception, and that is exactly why this article exists: the encryption decision.
YouniqMail starts in your system’s language. You can pick a different language later under Settings → Appearance → Language.
The steps in detail
Section titled “The steps in detail”The bar on the left of the wizard shows where you are. If you simply click Continue, you keep the defaults.
Appearance, email list and sound
Section titled “Appearance, email list and sound”- Appearance: Light, Dark or System (the default), which follows the operating system.
- Email List: Group by conversation (the default) or Show individual messages.
- Sound: sounds for new mail, for sending and for deleting. The first two are on, the third is off.
You will find appearance and email list later under Settings → Appearance, the sounds under Settings → Sound.
Mail and compose
Section titled “Mail and compose”- Mail: whether a mail counts as read as soon as you view it, delete it, mark it as junk or archive it. All of this is on by default. Later under Settings → Mails → General.
- Compose: Undo Send holds a mail back for a moment after you click Send, so you can still change your mind. The default is 5 seconds; the range goes from Off to 30 seconds. Later under Settings → Compose → Compose.
Default mail app
Section titled “Default mail app”Optional: register YouniqMail as the default email program. mailto:
links from your browser will then open here. This too can be changed
later, under Settings → Dock / Windows.
Security: encrypting the local database
Section titled “Security: encrypting the local database”The most important step. YouniqMail stores all emails, attachments and contacts in a local database, and that database can be encrypted. It is enabled by default, and you should leave it that way.
Why the decision happens now: the database is created in whichever mode you pick here, and it cannot be switched later.
On Linux, encryption needs a system keyring such as GNOME Keyring or KWallet. If there is none, the wizard shows Not available on this system, and your data is stored unencrypted. In that case, install a keyring before the first launch.
Details on what the encryption protects (and what it does not) are covered in Storage encryption.
Recovery key
Section titled “Recovery key”If you kept encryption on, the wizard shows a 64-character recovery key. Save it now: you can copy it, for example into your password manager, store it with Save as PDF, or scan the QR code with your phone. You can only move on once you confirm I have saved the Recovery Key.
You will not need it day to day: the key sits on your computer, protected by your system’s keychain. It is your lifeline for the case where that keychain is lost, say, after reinstalling the operating system or when moving the database file to another machine.
After that: your first account
Section titled “After that: your first account”Once the wizard finishes, the app is set up but still empty. Next comes a notice that YouniqMail is still a beta version, then YouniqMail asks: How would you like to get started?
- Import from another client brings over accounts, rules, signatures and tags from Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Outlook, eM Client, Mailbird or Mailspring, see Switching from another program.
- Set up manually walks you through your first mailbox, see Adding an account.