| name | gmail |
| description | Read, search, draft, reply to, and organize Gmail from chat via the Gmail API. Use this skill when users want an inbox copilot — search and fetch messages, read by thread, list labels, create and send drafts, reply to threads, forward messages, manage labels, archive or trash messages, and retrieve attachment content. |
Gmail
Access Gmail via the Gmail API with OAuth authentication. Read, search, draft, reply to, and organize Gmail from chat.
This skill uses ClawLink for hosted connection flows and credentials so you do not need to configure Gmail API access yourself.
Setup in 3 Steps
| Step 1: Install | Step 2: Pair Account | Step 3: Connect Gmail |
|---|
 |  | App-specific connection GIF coming soon |
| Run the install command in OpenClaw | Sign in and approve the device | Open the dashboard and connect Gmail |
How It Works
┌─────────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────────┐
│ OpenClaw │────▶│ ClawLink │────▶│ Gmail API │
│ (User Chat) │ │ (OAuth) │ │ (REST) │
└─────────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────────┘
│ │ │
│ 1. Install Plugin │ │
│ 2. Pair Device │ │
│ 3. Connect Gmail │ │
│ │ 4. Secure Token │
│ │ 5. Proxy Requests │
│ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼
┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐
│ SKILL │ │ Dashboard│ │ Gmail │
│ File │ │ Auth │ │ Inbox │
└──────────┘ └──────────┘ └──────────┘
Install
Install the verified ClawLink plugin from ClawHub. After the user confirms, complete the full setup so ClawLink tools are visible in the next OpenClaw chat.
openclaw plugins install clawhub:clawlink-plugin
openclaw config set tools.alsoAllow '["clawlink-plugin"]' --strict-json
openclaw gateway restart
Then tell the user: "OpenClaw has been restarted. Send /new as a standalone message to start a fresh chat, then ask for Gmail again."
Quick Start
clawlink_call_tool --tool "gmail_get_profile" --params '{}'
clawlink_call_tool --tool "gmail_fetch_emails" --params '{"max_results": 10}'
clawlink_call_tool --tool "gmail_fetch_emails" --params '{"query": "from:boss@example.com subject:report"}'
Authentication
All Gmail tool calls are authenticated automatically by ClawLink using the user's connected Google account.
No API key is required in chat. ClawLink stores the OAuth token securely and injects it into every Gmail API request on the user's behalf.
Getting Connected
- Install the ClawLink plugin (see Install above).
- Pair the plugin with
clawlink_begin_pairing if it is not configured yet.
- Open https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=gmail and connect Gmail.
- Call
clawlink_list_integrations to verify the connection is active.
Connection Management
List Connections
clawlink_list_integrations
Response: Returns all connected integrations. Look for gmail in the list.
Verify Connection
clawlink_list_tools --integration gmail
Response: Returns the live tool catalog for Gmail.
Reconnect
If Gmail tools are missing or the connection shows an error:
- Direct the user to https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=gmail
- After they confirm, call
clawlink_list_integrations to verify
- Then call
clawlink_list_tools --integration gmail
Security & Permissions
- Access is scoped to the connected Google account's Gmail mailbox.
- All write operations require explicit user confirmation. Before executing any send, reply, forward, draft, label change, archive, or delete call, confirm the intended action with the user.
- Destructive actions (permanent delete, trash) are marked as high-impact and must be confirmed.
- Always confirm recipients, subject, and body before sending email.
Tool Reference
Email Retrieval
| Tool | Description | Mode |
|---|
gmail_fetch_emails | Search and fetch emails with filtering and pagination | Read |
gmail_fetch_message_by_message_id | Get a specific email by message ID | Read |
gmail_fetch_message_by_thread_id | Get all messages in a thread | Read |
gmail_get_attachment | Download an email attachment | Read |
Sending & Drafts
| Tool | Description | Mode |
|---|
gmail_send_email | Send an email immediately | Write |
gmail_reply_to_thread | Reply to an existing email thread | Write |
gmail_forward_message | Forward an email to specified recipients | Write |
gmail_create_email_draft | Create a draft email | Write |
gmail_update_draft | Update an existing draft | Write |
gmail_send_draft | Send an existing draft | Write |
Labels
| Tool | Description | Mode |
|---|
gmail_list_labels | List all labels (system and custom) | Read |
gmail_get_label | Get details for a specific label | Read |
gmail_create_label | Create a new custom label | Write |
gmail_update_label | Update label name or color | Write |
gmail_delete_label | Delete a custom label | Write |
gmail_add_label_to_email | Add or remove labels from a message | Write |
Thread & Message Management
| Tool | Description | Mode |
|---|
gmail_list_threads | List email threads | Read |
gmail_modify_thread_labels | Add or remove labels from a thread | Write |
gmail_move_thread_to_trash | Move a thread to trash | Write |
gmail_move_to_trash | Move a single message to trash | Write |
gmail_untrash_message | Restore a message from trash | Write |
gmail_untrash_thread | Restore a thread from trash | Write |
Bulk Operations
| Tool | Description | Mode |
|---|
gmail_batch_modify_messages | Modify labels on up to 1,000 messages | Write |
gmail_batch_delete_messages | Permanently delete multiple messages | Write |
Settings & Profile
| Tool | Description | Mode |
|---|
gmail_get_profile | Get Gmail profile (email, message/thread counts) | Read |
gmail_list_send_as | List send-as aliases | Read |
gmail_list_drafts | List all drafts | Read |
Filters
| Tool | Description | Mode |
|---|
gmail_list_filters | List all email filters | Read |
gmail_create_filter | Create a new filter rule | Write |
Contacts
| Tool | Description | Mode |
|---|
gmail_get_contacts | List contacts | Read |
gmail_search_people | Search contacts by name, email, phone | Read |
Code Examples
Search emails from a specific sender
clawlink_call_tool --tool "gmail_fetch_emails" \
--params '{
"query": "from:boss@example.com",
"max_results": 20
}'
Send a new email
clawlink_call_tool --tool "gmail_send_email" \
--params '{
"to": ["recipient@example.com"],
"subject": "Weekly Report",
"body": "Please find the weekly report attached.",
"is_html": false
}'
Reply to a thread
clawlink_call_tool --tool "gmail_reply_to_thread" \
--params '{
"thread_id": "thread-id-here",
"body": "Thank you for the update. I will review and get back to you shortly.",
"incoming": false
}'
Create a draft
clawlink_call_tool --tool "gmail_create_email_draft" \
--params '{
"to": ["team@example.com"],
"subject": "Meeting Notes",
"body": "Here are the notes from todays meeting...",
"is_html": false
}'
Add label to email
clawlink_call_tool --tool "gmail_add_label_to_email" \
--params '{
"message_id": "message-id-here",
"label_ids": ["Label_123"]
}'
Discovery Workflow
- Call
clawlink_list_integrations to confirm Gmail is connected.
- Call
clawlink_list_tools --integration gmail to see the live catalog.
- Treat the returned list as the source of truth. Do not guess or assume what tools exist.
- If the user describes a capability but the exact tool is unclear, call
clawlink_search_tools with a short query and integration gmail.
- If no Gmail tools appear, direct the user to https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=gmail.
Execution Workflow
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ READ OPERATIONS (Safe) │
│ search → fetch → get → list → call │
│ │
│ Example: Search emails → Fetch thread → Show messages │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
│
▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ WRITE OPERATIONS (Require Confirmation) │
│ describe → preview → confirm → send/draft/label/trash │
│ │
│ Example: Preview email → User confirms → Execute send │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
- For unfamiliar tools, ambiguous requests, or any write action, call
clawlink_describe_tool first.
- Use the returned guidance, schema,
whenToUse, askBefore, safeDefaults, examples, and followups to shape the call.
- Prefer read, list, search, and get operations before writes.
- For sends, replies, forwards, drafts, label changes, archive/delete, call
clawlink_preview_tool first, then confirm with the user.
- Execute with
clawlink_call_tool. Pass confirmation only after the preview matches the user's intent.
- If the tool call fails, report the real error. Do not invent results or restate the failure as a missing capability unless the live catalog supports that conclusion.
Notes
- System labels (INBOX, SENT, SPAM, TRASH) are read-only and cannot be created or deleted.
- Custom label IDs (e.g.,
Label_123) are required for label operations — display names cannot be used.
- The
thread_id is required for replies. Leave subject empty when replying to stay in the same thread.
- Message size limit is ~25 MB including attachments. Larger attachments may fail.
- Gmail search query syntax:
from:, subject:, label:, is:unread, after:, before:.
Error Handling
| Status / Error | Meaning |
|---|
| Tool not found | The tool name does not exist in the current catalog. Verify with clawlink_list_tools --integration gmail. |
| Missing connection | Gmail is not connected. Direct the user to https://claw-link.dev/dashboard?add=gmail. |
404 Not Found | Message or thread ID does not exist or is not accessible. |
403 Forbidden | Insufficient scopes or Gmail API quota exceeded. |
429 Rate Limit | Too many requests. Apply exponential backoff. |
| Write rejected | User did not confirm a write action. Always confirm before executing sends, replies, forwards, drafts, label changes, archive, or delete. |
Troubleshooting: Tools Not Visible
- Check that the ClawLink plugin is installed:
openclaw plugins list
- If the plugin is installed but tools are missing, tell the user to send
/new as a standalone message to reload the catalog.
- If a fresh chat does not help, run:
openclaw config set tools.alsoAllow '["clawlink-plugin"]' --strict-json
openclaw gateway restart
- After restart, tell the user to send
/new again and retry.
Troubleshooting: Invalid Tool Call
- Ensure the integration slug is exactly
gmail.
- Use
clawlink_describe_tool to verify parameter names and types before calling.
- For send, reply, forward, draft, label, archive, and delete operations, always call
clawlink_preview_tool first.
Resources
Powered by ClawLink — an integration hub for OpenClaw
