diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d60132fb5..7f07bc33f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -490,7 +490,7 @@ Use an inbox as a channel: PicoClaw connects via IMAP to read new mail and (opti
       "password": "YOUR_APP_PASSWORD",
       "mailbox": "INBOX",
       "check_interval": 30,
-      "use_idle": true,
+      "forced_polling": false,
       "use_tls": true,
       "allow_from": ["allowed-sender@example.com"],
       "attachment_dir": "/path/to/save/attachments",
@@ -507,8 +507,8 @@ Use an inbox as a channel: PicoClaw connects via IMAP to read new mail and (opti
 | `imap_server`, `imap_port` | IMAP server (e.g. 993 with TLS). |
 | `username`, `password` | Mailbox login; 163/QQ require app password. |
 | `mailbox` | Folder to watch (default `INBOX`). |
-| `use_idle` | `true`: use IMAP IDLE when supported (push); `false`: poll every `check_interval` seconds. |
-| `check_interval` | Polling interval in seconds when IDLE is off or unsupported (default 30). |
+| `forced_polling` | When the server does not implement IDLE/NOOP per spec, set `true` to use application-level polling; leave `false` normally. |
+| `check_interval` | Polling interval in seconds when using forced polling or when IDLE is unsupported (default 30). |
 | `allow_from` | Allowed sender addresses; only their mails trigger the agent. |
 | `attachment_dir` | Directory to save attachments; leave empty to skip saving. |
 | `smtp_server`, `smtp_port`, `smtp_use_tls` | Optional; if set, the agent can send replies. |
diff --git a/config/config.example.json b/config/config.example.json
index b79388523..b0c18d4fe 100644
--- a/config/config.example.json
+++ b/config/config.example.json
@@ -79,10 +79,10 @@
       "password": "your_password",
       "mailbox": "INBOX",
       "check_interval": 30,
+      "forced_polling": false,
       "use_tls": true,
       "allow_from": ["allowed_email@example.com"],
       "attachment_dir": "~/.picoclaw/workspace/attachments",
-      "use_idle": true,
       "smtp_server": "smtp.example.com--eg:smtp.qq.com",
       "smtp_port": 465,
       "smtp_use_tls": true
diff --git a/pkg/channels/email.go b/pkg/channels/email.go
index e7ae2723e..01cc6af02 100644
--- a/pkg/channels/email.go
+++ b/pkg/channels/email.go
@@ -310,12 +310,13 @@ func (c *EmailChannel) checkLoop(ctx context.Context) {
 	// Run one check immediately
 	c.checkNewEmails()
 
-	if c.config.UseIdle {
+	if !c.config.ForcedPolling {
+		// support IDLE user idle loop, waiting for server push update
 		c.runIdleLoop(ctx, interval)
 		return
 	}
 
-	// Polling mode
+	// not support IDLE user polling mode, check new emails every interval
 	c.mu.Lock()
 	c.checkTicker = time.NewTicker(interval)
 	ticker := c.checkTicker
diff --git a/pkg/config/config.go b/pkg/config/config.go
index 10a4ac619..8f1a4d4c6 100644
--- a/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -149,15 +149,16 @@ type LINEConfig struct {
 }
 
 type EmailConfig struct {
-	Enabled       bool                `json:"enabled" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_ENABLED"`
-	IMAPServer    string              `json:"imap_server" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_IMAP_SERVER"`
-	IMAPPort      int                 `json:"imap_port" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_IMAP_PORT"`
-	Username      string              `json:"username" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_USERNAME"`
-	Password      string              `json:"password" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_PASSWORD"`
-	Mailbox       string              `json:"mailbox" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_MAILBOX"`               // 默认 "INBOX"
-	CheckInterval int                 `json:"check_interval" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_CHECK_INTERVAL"` // seconds, default 30; used for polling when IDLE disabled or unsupported
-	UseIdle       bool                `json:"use_idle" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_USE_IDLE"`             // use IMAP IDLE (push) when server supports it; otherwise poll
-	UseTLS        bool                `json:"use_tls" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_USE_TLS"`
+	Enabled       bool   `json:"enabled" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_ENABLED"`
+	IMAPServer    string `json:"imap_server" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_IMAP_SERVER"`
+	IMAPPort      int    `json:"imap_port" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_IMAP_PORT"`
+	Username      string `json:"username" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_USERNAME"`
+	Password      string `json:"password" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_PASSWORD"`
+	Mailbox       string `json:"mailbox" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_MAILBOX"`               // 默认 "INBOX"
+	CheckInterval int    `json:"check_interval" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_CHECK_INTERVAL"` // seconds, default 30; used for polling when IDLE disabled or unsupported
+	UseTLS        bool   `json:"use_tls" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_USE_TLS"`
+	// ForcedPolling: when the mail server does not implement IDLE/NOOP per spec (e.g. NOOP does not return * EXISTS), set true to use application-level polling (check new mail at CheckInterval). Leave false under normal conditions.
+	ForcedPolling bool                `json:"forced_polling" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_FORCED_POLLING"`
 	AllowFrom     FlexibleStringSlice `json:"allow_from" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_ALLOW_FROM"`
 	AttachmentDir string              `json:"attachment_dir" env:"PICOCLAW_CHANNELS_EMAIL_ATTACHMENT_DIR"`
 	// SMTP send (optional, if not configured, Send is not available)
@@ -332,7 +333,7 @@ func DefaultConfig() *Config {
 				Password:      "",
 				Mailbox:       "INBOX",
 				CheckInterval: 30,
-				UseIdle:       true,
+				ForcedPolling: false,
 				UseTLS:        true,
 				AllowFrom:     FlexibleStringSlice{},
 				SMTPServer:    "",