gmail — Claude Code skill: what it does, how to install

---
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.
license: Apache-2.0
metadata:
  author: sanjay3290
  version: "1.0"
---

# 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):
```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:[email protected] 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 "[email protected]" --subject "Hello" --body "Message body"

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

# Send from an alias (must be configured in Gmail settings)
python scripts/gmail.py send --to "[email protected]" --subject "Hello" --body "Message" \
  --from "Mile9 Accounts <[email protected]>"

# Send HTML email
python scripts/gmail.py send --to "[email protected]" --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 "[email protected]" --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:[email protected]` | Emails from a specific sender |
| `to:[email protected]` | 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:[email protected] is:unread newer_than:1d"
python scripts/gmail.py search "subject:urgent OR subject:important"
python scripts/gmail.py search "from:[email protected] -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.