gmail

name	gmail
description	Interact with Gmail - search emails, read messages, send emails, create drafts, and manage labels. Use when user asks to: search email, read email, send email, create email draft, mark as read, archive email, star email, or manage Gmail labels. Lightweight alternative to full Google Workspace MCP server with standalone OAuth authentication.

Gmail

Lightweight Gmail integration with standalone OAuth authentication. No MCP server required.

⚠️ Requires Google Workspace account. Personal Gmail accounts are not supported.

First-Time Setup

Authenticate with Google (opens browser):

python scripts/auth.py login

Check authentication status:

python scripts/auth.py status

Logout when needed:

python scripts/auth.py logout

Commands

All operations via scripts/gmail.py. Auto-authenticates on first use if not logged in.

Search Emails

# Search with Gmail query syntax
python scripts/gmail.py search "from:[e-mail] is:unread"

# Search recent emails (no query returns all)
python scripts/gmail.py search --limit 20

# Filter by label
python scripts/gmail.py search --label INBOX --limit 10

# Include spam and trash
python scripts/gmail.py search "subject:important" --include-spam-trash

Read Email Content

# Get full message content
python scripts/gmail.py get MESSAGE_ID

# Get just metadata (headers)
python scripts/gmail.py get MESSAGE_ID --format metadata

# Get minimal response (IDs only)
python scripts/gmail.py get MESSAGE_ID --format minimal

Send Emails

# Send a simple email
python scripts/gmail.py send --to "[e-mail]" --subject "Hello" --body "Message body"

# Send with CC and BCC
python scripts/gmail.py send --to "[e-mail]" --cc "[e-mail]" --bcc "[e-mail]" \
  --subject "Team Update" --body "Update message"

# Send from an alias (must be configured in Gmail settings)
python scripts/gmail.py send --to "[e-mail]" --subject "Hello" --body "Message" \
  --from "My Alias <[e-mail]>"

# Send with attachment(s)
python scripts/gmail.py send --to "[e-mail]" --subject "Report" --body "See attached" \
  --attach ~/Documents/report.pdf

# Send with multiple attachments
python scripts/gmail.py send --to "[e-mail]" --subject "Files" --body "See attached" \
  --attach ~/Documents/report.pdf --attach ~/Documents/data.csv

# Send HTML email
python scripts/gmail.py send --to "[e-mail]" --subject "HTML Email" \
  --body "<h1>Hello</h1><p>HTML content</p>" --html

Draft Management

# Create a draft
python scripts/gmail.py create-draft --to "[e-mail]" --subject "Draft Subject" \
  --body "Draft content"

# Create a draft with attachment
python scripts/gmail.py create-draft --to "[e-mail]" --subject "Draft with file" \
  --body "See attached" --attach ~/Documents/report.pdf

# Send an existing draft
python scripts/gmail.py send-draft DRAFT_ID

Modify Messages (Labels)

# Mark as read (remove UNREAD label)
python scripts/gmail.py modify MESSAGE_ID --remove-label UNREAD

# Mark as unread
python scripts/gmail.py modify MESSAGE_ID --add-label UNREAD

# Archive (remove from INBOX)
python scripts/gmail.py modify MESSAGE_ID --remove-label INBOX

# Star a message
python scripts/gmail.py modify MESSAGE_ID --add-label STARRED

# Unstar a message
python scripts/gmail.py modify MESSAGE_ID --remove-label STARRED

# Mark as important
python scripts/gmail.py modify MESSAGE_ID --add-label IMPORTANT

# Multiple label changes at once
python scripts/gmail.py modify MESSAGE_ID --remove-label UNREAD --add-label STARRED

List Labels

# List all Gmail labels (system and user-created)
python scripts/gmail.py list-labels

Gmail Query Syntax

Gmail supports powerful search operators:

Query	Description
from:[e-mail]	Emails from a specific sender
to:[e-mail]	Emails to a specific recipient
subject:meeting	Emails with "meeting" in subject
is:unread	Unread emails
is:starred	Starred emails
is:important	Important emails
has:attachment	Emails with attachments
after:2024/01/01	Emails after a date
before:2024/12/31	Emails before a date
newer_than:7d	Emails from last 7 days
older_than:1m	Emails older than 1 month
label:work	Emails with a specific label
in:inbox	Emails in inbox
in:sent	Sent emails
in:trash	Trashed emails

Combine with AND (space), OR, or - (NOT):

python scripts/gmail.py search "from:[e-mail] is:unread newer_than:1d"
python scripts/gmail.py search "subject:urgent OR subject:important"
python scripts/gmail.py search "from:[e-mail] -is:starred"

Common Label IDs

Label	ID
Inbox	INBOX
Sent	SENT
Drafts	DRAFT
Spam	SPAM
Trash	TRASH
Starred	STARRED
Important	IMPORTANT
Unread	UNREAD

Token Management

Tokens stored securely using the system keyring:

• macOS: Keychain
• Windows: Windows Credential Locker
• Linux: Secret Service API (GNOME Keyring, KDE Wallet, etc.)

Service name: gmail-skill-oauth

Tokens automatically refresh when expired using Google's cloud function.