Automate Gmail Tasks with Standalone OAuth

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):

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: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

# 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 "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

# 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)

# 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: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):

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.