GitLab can be set up to allow users to comment on issues and merge requests by replying to notification emails.
In order to do this, you need access to an IMAP-enabled email account, with a provider or server that supports [email sub-addressing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Email_address#Sub-addressing). Sub-addressing is a feature where any email to `user+some_arbitrary_tag@example.com` will end up in the mailbox for `user@example.com`, and is supported by providers such as Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Outlook.com and iCloud, as well as the [Postfix](http://www.postfix.org/) mail server which you can run on-premises.
## Set it up
In this example, we'll use the Gmail address `gitlab-replies@gmail.com`. If you're actually using Gmail with Reply by email, make sure you have [IMAP access enabled](https://support.google.com/mail/troubleshooter/1668960?hl=en#ts=1665018) and [allow less secure apps to access the account](https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6010255).
### Installations from source
1. Find the `reply_by_email` section in `config/gitlab.yml`, enable the feature and enter the email address including a placeholder for the `reply_key`:
```yaml
reply_by_email:
enabled:true
address:"gitlab-replies+%{reply_key}@gmail.com"
```
As mentioned, the part after `+` is ignored, and this will end up in the mailbox for `gitlab-replies@gmail.com`.
2. Find `config/mail_room.yml.example` and copy it to `config/mail_room.yml`: