Gmail MCP Server

MCP Implementation for Gmail Services

Remote serverstreamable-httpGo

What is the Gmail MCP server?

Connect Gmail to Claude, Cursor or any other MCP client and it stops being a tab you switch to. MCP Implementation for Gmail Services. The gmail mcp server is what makes that connection.

What the server does

To run this MCP server, you will need to set up a Google API Client for your organization, with each user running a script to retrieve their own OAuth refresh token.

  • Complete Gmail API coverage including messages, threads, labels, drafts, and settings
  • Support for sending, drafting, and managing emails
  • Label management with customizable colors and visibility settings
  • Thread operations for conversation management
  • Settings management including vacation responder, IMAP/POP, and language settings
  • History tracking for mailbox changes

Available tools

The toolset is worth reading before you wire it up, because it tells you what the integration is really for:

  • Dependencies — The Dependencies tool exposed by this server
  • Delegates — The Delegates tool exposed by this server
  • Filters — The Filters tool exposed by this server

Installation

Because this one is hosted, setup is mostly authentication — you point your client at the endpoint and approve access. Nothing runs on your machine, so there is no runtime to keep patched.

Credentials and setup notes

Configuration is passed through the environment: CLIENT_ID, CLIENT_SECRET, REFRESH_TOKEN, GMAIL_OAUTH_PATH, GMAIL_CREDENTIALS_PATH. Treat anything key-shaped as a real credential — scope it to the minimum the server needs, and rotate it if it ever lands in a shared config.

Where it fits

Among the team communication options, the useful question is rarely "what can it do" but "what does it cost you to run" — permissions, credentials, and how much of your context its toolset consumes. Gmail's toolset — Dependencies, Delegates, Filters — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by shinzo-labs; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

SyncDev reviews every entry in this directory against the project's own documentation before publishing, and revisits them as servers change.

Worth knowing first

  • Your data travels to the provider's service, so the usual questions apply about what you send and what they retain.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
DependenciesThe Dependencies tool exposed by this server.
DelegatesThe Delegates tool exposed by this server.
FiltersThe Filters tool exposed by this server.

How to install the Gmail MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gmail-mcp-shinzo-labs": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@shinzolabs/gmail-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "CLIENT_ID": "your-value",
        "CLIENT_SECRET": "your-value",
        "REFRESH_TOKEN": "your-value",
        "GMAIL_OAUTH_PATH": "your-value",
        "GMAIL_CREDENTIALS_PATH": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
CLIENT_IDConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
CLIENT_SECRETCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
REFRESH_TOKENCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
GMAIL_OAUTH_PATHFilesystem location the server is allowed to use.Optional
GMAIL_CREDENTIALS_PATHFilesystem location the server is allowed to use.Optional

Example prompts to try

  • Use Gmail to Dependencies.
  • Use Gmail to Delegates.
  • Use Gmail to Filters.

Frequently asked questions

You need Node.js 18+, a Google Cloud project with the Gmail API enabled, and an OAuth 2.0 Client ID (Desktop app type). Each user must run the `auth` command to generate a refresh token.