---
url: 'https://docs.mychatbot.app/channels/email.md'
description: >-
  Connect your AI sales assistant to Gmail so it can receive client emails,
  reply with its own intelligence, and handle attachments — all tracked in your
  dashboard.
---

# Gmail Channel Integration

Connect your AI sales assistant to Gmail so it can receive client emails, reply with its own intelligence, and handle attachments — all tracked in your dashboard.

## At a glance

| You need | Where | Result |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A Gmail account for the assistant | Google | Address the assistant sends/receives from |
| The **Channels** tab | [app.mychatbot.app/channels](https://app.mychatbot.app/channels) | Pick the assistant to connect |
| **Connect Gmail** + Google sign-in | MyChatBot → Google consent | Channel authenticated |
| **Reply Delay (s)** (default 30) | Gmail channel settings | Natural-feeling response timing |

**Connect in 3 steps**

1. Prepare a Gmail account with API access permissions, and note its address.
2. In **Channels**, select your assistant, find **Gmail**, enter the **Email Address**, click **Connect Gmail**, and finish the Google sign-in.
3. Turn on **Connect agent to this channel** and set the **Reply Delay (s)**.

::: tip In the app
Everything on this page lives under the **Channels** tab: [app.mychatbot.app/channels](https://app.mychatbot.app/channels). Pick the assistant first, then scroll to the **Gmail** card.
:::

## Features

* Receive emails from clients and process them through your AI assistant
* Send automated responses with your assistant's intelligence
* Support for email attachments (images, documents, etc.)
* Configurable reply delay to make conversations feel more natural
* Replies are tracked alongside your other channels in the dashboard

## Setup

### 1. Prepare the Gmail account

Before setting up the Gmail channel in MyChatBot, have a Gmail account ready for your assistant:

1. Create or use an existing Gmail account
2. Make sure the account allows the access MyChatBot will request during sign-in
3. Note the Gmail address — you'll need it during connection

### 2. Connect the Gmail channel

1. Open the **Channels** tab and select the assistant you want to connect
2. Find the **Gmail** card in the channels list
3. In the **Email Address** field, enter the address your assistant will use (e.g. `you@gmail.com`)
4. Click **Connect Gmail**
5. You'll be sent to Google to sign in:
   * Follow Google's sign-in steps
   * Grant MyChatBot every permission it requests to access your Gmail
6. After a successful sign-in, you're returned to MyChatBot and the channel shows as connected

::: tip In the app
Agent → **Channels** → **Gmail** → **Connect Gmail** ([app.mychatbot.app/channels](https://app.mychatbot.app/channels)). If sign-in gets interrupted, the card shows a **Continue sign-in** banner; you can also start over with **Revoke Gmail**.
:::

::: warning Third-party access must be allowed
Gmail sign-in can fail or silently expire if your Google account blocks third-party access or you didn't grant every requested permission. If replies stop, the card shows a **Gmail authorization required** banner — click **Reconnect** and confirm all permissions are granted.
:::

### 3. Channel settings

After connecting, configure the channel:

| Setting | What it does | When to use |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Connect agent to this channel** | Turns the assistant on or off for this Gmail inbox | Toggle on to go live; toggle off to pause auto-replies |
| **Reply Delay (s)** | Seconds to wait before the assistant answers | Raise it for a more human, less instant feel (default 30) |
| **Automation Channel** | Enables automation mode for this channel | Turn on when you drive this inbox from automations/follow-ups rather than live replies |

## How it works

### Receiving emails

When a client emails your connected address:

1. MyChatBot picks up the incoming email automatically
2. It reads the sender's address, subject, body (text or HTML), and any attachments
3. The sender's address identifies the conversation, so a back-and-forth with the same person stays in one thread in your dashboard
4. Your assistant processes the message according to its instructions and prepares a reply

### Sending replies

When your assistant responds:

1. MyChatBot composes an email from the assistant's reply
2. If the reply references images or files, they're attached automatically
3. The email is sent to the client with formatting and attachments applied
4. The exchange is saved in your dashboard for review

### What the assistant sees

Each email your assistant handles carries this context:

* **Subject** — the email subject line
* **From** — the sender's address
* **To** — the recipient address(es)
* **Attachments** — the names of any files the client sent

## Best practices

### Email communication guidelines

For the best email channel experience:

1. **Clear introduction** — have your assistant introduce itself in the first reply
2. **Consistent tone** — keep a steady voice across all email communication
3. **Attachment handling** — tell your assistant to acknowledge attachments clients send
4. **Signature** — add a signature for a professional touch

### Assistant instructions for email

Add guidance like this to your assistant's instructions (Agent → **Settings** → instructions) to sharpen email replies:

```
When responding to emails:
1. Start with a greeting appropriate for the time of day
2. Address the sender by name if available
3. Be concise but comprehensive in your responses
4. Sign off with your assistant name
5. Include relevant contact information in your signature

For emails with attachments:
1. Acknowledge receipt of the attachment
2. Reference the attachment in your response when relevant
3. If sending attachments, clearly mention what you're attaching

For handling follow-ups:
1. Reference previous email exchanges when appropriate
2. Maintain context throughout the email thread
```

## Troubleshooting

### Gmail not receiving

* Check that **Connect agent to this channel** is turned on
* Verify Gmail authorization hasn't expired (look for the **Gmail authorization required** banner)
* Check whether emails are being filtered to spam folders

### Attachment problems

* Ensure attachments don't exceed Gmail's size limit (25MB)
* Verify supported file types are being used
* Check whether your Google account restricts attachments

### Authorization errors

* Click **Reconnect** on the Gmail card to re-authorize through Google
* Confirm you've granted all requested permissions to MyChatBot
* Verify your Google account hasn't blocked third-party access

### Support

If you run into issues with your Gmail channel:

1. Check the MyChatBot documentation for updated information
2. Contact our support team at support@mychatbot.app
3. Include specific error messages and details about your Gmail setup for faster resolution

## See also

* [Build an agent](/agents/build-an-agent)