diff --git a/packages/nodes-base/nodes/EmailReadImap/test/v2/EmailReadImapV2.node.test.ts b/packages/nodes-base/nodes/EmailReadImap/test/v2/EmailReadImapV2.node.test.ts
index c1651600c1..99bccc9a4e 100644
--- a/packages/nodes-base/nodes/EmailReadImap/test/v2/EmailReadImapV2.node.test.ts
+++ b/packages/nodes-base/nodes/EmailReadImap/test/v2/EmailReadImapV2.node.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { mock } from 'jest-mock-extended';
-import { type INodeTypeBaseDescription, type ITriggerFunctions } from 'n8n-workflow';
+import type { INode, INodeTypeBaseDescription, ITriggerFunctions } from 'n8n-workflow';
 
 import { type ICredentialsDataImap } from '@credentials/Imap.credentials';
 
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ describe('Test IMap V2', () => {
 	};
 
 	triggerFunctions.getCredentials.calledWith('imap').mockResolvedValue(credentials);
+	triggerFunctions.getNode.mockReturnValue(mock<INode>({ typeVersion: 2.1 }));
 	triggerFunctions.logger.debug = jest.fn();
 	triggerFunctions.getNodeParameter.calledWith('options').mockReturnValue({
 		name: 'Mark as Read',
diff --git a/packages/nodes-base/nodes/EmailReadImap/v2/EmailReadImapV2.node.ts b/packages/nodes-base/nodes/EmailReadImap/v2/EmailReadImapV2.node.ts
index 5b5f9dcba0..044e6358f9 100644
--- a/packages/nodes-base/nodes/EmailReadImap/v2/EmailReadImapV2.node.ts
+++ b/packages/nodes-base/nodes/EmailReadImap/v2/EmailReadImapV2.node.ts
@@ -177,6 +177,19 @@ const versionDescription: INodeTypeDescription = {
 					default: 60,
 					description: 'Sets an interval (in minutes) to force a reconnection',
 				},
+				{
+					displayName: 'Fetch Only New Emails',
+					name: 'trackLastMessageId',
+					type: 'boolean',
+					default: true,
+					description:
+						'Whether to fetch only new emails since the last run, or all emails that match the "Custom Email Rules" (["UNSEEN"] by default)',
+					displayOptions: {
+						show: {
+							'@version': [{ _cnd: { gte: 2.1 } }],
+						},
+					},
+				},
 			],
 		},
 	],
@@ -247,6 +260,7 @@ export class EmailReadImapV2 implements INodeType {
 	};
 
 	async trigger(this: ITriggerFunctions): Promise<ITriggerResponse> {
+		const node = this.getNode();
 		const credentialsObject = await this.getCredentials('imap');
 		const credentials = isCredentialsDataImap(credentialsObject) ? credentialsObject : undefined;
 		if (!credentials) {
@@ -258,6 +272,15 @@ export class EmailReadImapV2 implements INodeType {
 		const activatedAt = DateTime.now();
 
 		const staticData = this.getWorkflowStaticData('node');
+		if (node.typeVersion <= 2) {
+			// before v 2.1 staticData.lastMessageUid was never set, preserve that behavior
+			staticData.lastMessageUid = undefined;
+		}
+
+		if (options.trackLastMessageId === false) {
+			staticData.lastMessageUid = undefined;
+		}
+
 		this.logger.debug('Loaded static data for node "EmailReadImap"', { staticData });
 
 		let connection: ImapSimple;
@@ -387,7 +410,7 @@ export class EmailReadImapV2 implements INodeType {
 							 * by checking UIDValidity.
 							 */
 							searchCriteria.push(['UID', `${staticData.lastMessageUid as number}:*`]);
-						} else {
+						} else if (node.typeVersion > 2 && options.trackLastMessageId !== false) {
 							searchCriteria.push(['SINCE', activatedAt.toFormat('dd-LLL-yyyy')]);
 						}