# Gmail MCP Server

An MCP server for Gmail supporting IMAP and POP3 protocols. Exposes tools to list, read, delete, and mark emails, move messages between folders (IMAP), and manage your inbox — all accessible from any MCP-compatible AI client.

❯cat gmail-mcp-server/ARCHITECTURE.md

## How It Works

The MCP server authenticates to Gmail using an App Password over IMAP or POP3. It maintains a persistent connection and exposes standard MCP tools for email operations. Because it connects over IMAP, your folders, labels, and threading are all accessible — the same view you see in Gmail.

MCP Client (Claude) ──stdio──▶ Gmail MCP Server (Node.js)
                                        └── IMAP / POP3 ──▶ Gmail servers
                                                               └── Inbox / Folders
                                                               └── Labels
                                                               └── Threads

❯gmail-mcp-server --demo

## Screenshots

gmail-mcp — list emails

❯  gmail_list_emails  folder=INBOX  limit=5

   ID          FROM                     SUBJECT
   ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
   msg_001     sarah@design.co          Q3 mockups
   msg_002     ci@github.com            PR #2841 passed
   msg_003     newsletter@devweekly.io  Dev Weekly #312
   msg_004     noreply@stripe.com       Invoice #INV-882
   msg_005     team@linear.app          Sprint review Fri

gmail-mcp — read + move

❯  gmail_get_email  id=msg_001

   From:    sarah@design.co
   Subject: Q3 mockups
   Body:    Hi! I've attached the Figma link...

❯  gmail_move_email  id=msg_001  destination=Design/Review
   ✓  Moved to Design/Review

❯  gmail_mark_email  id=msg_001  read=true
   ✓  Marked as read

❯grep -n "## Features" gmail-mcp-server/README.md

## Features

+IMAP and POP3 support
+List, read, delete emails
+Mark read/unread
+Move emails between folders (IMAP)
+No send capability — read-focused

❯gmail-mcp-server --compare

## vs. The Field

Feature	Gmail MCP Server	Direct Gmail API	Zapier Gmail
MCP protocol native	✓	✗	✗
IMAP + POP3	✓	✗	✓
Claude Code integration	✓	✗	✗
Free / open source	✓	free	paid
Zero OAuth setup	✓ (App Password)	✗	✓

❯cd gmail-mcp-server && cat INSTALL.md

## Installation

Enable IMAP in Gmail

Go to Gmail Settings → See all settings → Forwarding and POP/IMAP → Enable IMAP.

Create an App Password

Google Account → Security → 2-Step Verification → App passwords. Generate one for 'Mail'.

⚠ You must have 2FA enabled on your Google account.

Install

No build step required.

npx -y @web4w3/install gmail

Add to Claude config

Pass your Gmail address and App Password as environment variables.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gmail": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@web4w3/install", "gmail"],
      "env": {
        "GMAIL_USER": "you@gmail.com",
        "GMAIL_APP_PASSWORD": "xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx"
      }
    }
  }
}

❯cat gmail-mcp-server/package.json | jq '.dependencies | keys'

## Tech Stack

Node.jsTypeScriptIMAPPOP3MCP SDK

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