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Connecting Claude.ai to Gmail — step by step.
Five-minute setup. What you'll be able to do, what permissions you're granting, and how to undo it if you change your mind.
Overview
The Gmail connector is the single most useful integration for working professionals — inbox triage alone earns its keep within a week. Setting it up takes five minutes and the permissions you grant are reversible at any time.
The five-minute setup
Open Claude.ai, click the connector icon (puzzle piece) in the chat composer, select Gmail, and authorise via Google OAuth. Choose the Google account you want to connect — usually the work one. Review the scopes Anthropic asks for (read, optional send). Click Allow.
What you can do next
Test with a low-stakes prompt: "Summarise my last 5 emails." Once that works, move to: "Bucket today's unread emails into REPLY-TODAY / REPLY-THIS-WEEK / IGNORE."
Add the read+send scope if you want Claude to draft and send for you (it always asks for confirmation before sending).
How to undo it
Go to your Google Account → Security → Third-party apps with account access. Click Anthropic / Claude. Remove access. The connector disconnects immediately and Anthropic deletes the OAuth token.
If you change your mind, you can reconnect at any time. Your conversation history with Claude is separate from connector access.
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