Gmail

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

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

When to Use

• You need to search, read, or send Gmail messages from the command line without an MCP server.
• You are automating inbox workflows for a Google Workspace account.
• You want a lightweight Gmail integration backed by standalone OAuth scripts.

First-Time Setup

Authenticate with Google (opens browser):

bash
python scripts/auth.py login

Check authentication status:

bash
python scripts/auth.py status

Logout when needed:

bash
python scripts/auth.py logout

Commands

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

Search Emails

bash
# Search with Gmail query syntax
python scripts/gmail.py search "from:someone@example.com 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

bash
# 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

bash
# Send a simple email
python scripts/gmail.py send --to "user@example.com" --subject "Hello" --body "Message body"

# Send with CC and BCC
python scripts/gmail.py send --to "user@example.com" --cc "cc@example.com" --bcc "bcc@example.com" \
  --subject "Team Update" --body "Update message"

# Send from an alias (must be configured in Gmail settings)
python scripts/gmail.py send --to "user@example.com" --subject "Hello" --body "Message" \
  --from "Mile9 Accounts <accounts@mile9.io>"

# Send HTML email
python scripts/gmail.py send --to "user@example.com" --subject "HTML Email" \
  --body "<h1>Hello</h1><p>HTML content</p>" --html

Draft Management

bash
# Create a draft
python scripts/gmail.py create-draft --to "user@example.com" --subject "Draft Subject" \
  --body "Draft content"

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

Modify Messages (Labels)

bash
# 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

bash
# 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:user@example.com | Emails from a specific sender | | to:user@example.com | 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):

bash
python scripts/gmail.py search "from:boss@company.com is:unread newer_than:1d"
python scripts/gmail.py search "subject:urgent OR subject:important"
python scripts/gmail.py search "from:newsletter@example.com -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.

Limitations

• Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
• Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
• Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.