So after some battling it out with various approaches ranging from browser, gog, OAuth; I think I have a reliable way of connecting gmail to MoltClaw.

Gmail pub/sub method seems to be the most reliable.

In this screenshot it is going over my email and categorizing it based upon urgency.

⏭️ Next -> Make it reply automatically to low priority emails while it send me a slack notification for high urgency ones.

🥷 I also created a gmail-inbox skill file that stores all of my classification rules that I keep tweaking over time.

🚶‍♂️ STEPS I USED TO ACHIEVE THE INTEGRATION

Connect Gmail to MoltClaw / OpenClaw

This guide shows how to connect Gmail to OpenClaw using Google OAuth credentials.

What you need

You need these 3 values from Google:

• Client ID

• Client Secret

• Refresh Token

You will add them to OpenClaw’s Gmail integration:

• openclaw-gmail

Before you start

Make sure you have:

• a Gmail or Google Workspace account

• access to Google Cloud Console

• access to OAuth Playground

• access to your MoltClaw / OpenClaw setup

Useful links:

• Google Cloud Console: https://console.cloud.google.com/

• OAuth Playground: https://developers.google.com/oauthplayground/

Step 1: Create a Google Cloud project

1. Open Google Cloud Console.

2. Click the project selector at the top.

3. Click New Project.

4. Enter a name such as OpenClaw Gmail.

5. Click Create.

6. Select the new project.

Step 2: Enable Gmail API

1. Go to APIs & Services → Library.

2. Search for Gmail API.

3. Open it.

4. Click Enable.

Step 3: Configure the OAuth consent screen

1. Go to APIs & Services → OAuth consent screen.

2. Choose External.

3. Fill in:

   • App name

   • User support email

   • Developer contact email

4. Save and continue.

5. If prompted for Test users, add the Gmail address you want to connect.

Step 4: Create OAuth credentials

1. Go to APIs & Services → Credentials.

2. Click Create Credentials → OAuth client ID.

3. Choose Web application.

4. Enter a name such as OpenClaw Gmail Web App.

Step 5: Add the OAuth Playground redirect URI

Under Authorized redirect URIs, add:

https://developers.google.com/oauthplayground

Then save.

Step 6: Copy Client ID and Client Secret

After saving the OAuth client, copy these values:

• Client ID

• Client Secret

Save them somewhere secure.

Step 7: Open OAuth Playground

Open:

https://developers.google.com/oauthplayground/

Step 8: Use your own OAuth credentials

1. Click the gear icon in the top-right.

2. Enable Use your own OAuth credentials.

3. Paste your:

   • Client ID

   • Client Secret

Step 9: Enter the Gmail scope

In the scope field, enter:

https://mail.google.com/

Then click Authorize APIs.

Step 10: Approve access

1. Sign in with the Gmail account you want to connect.

2. Review the permission request.

3. Click Allow.

You will be redirected back to OAuth Playground.

Step 11: Exchange the code for tokens

Click:

• Exchange authorization code for tokens

OAuth Playground will return:

• Access Token

• Refresh Token

Step 12: Save the Refresh Token

Save the Refresh Token.

This is the token OpenClaw needs.

You should now have:

• Client ID

• Client Secret

• Refresh Token

Step 13: Add the credentials to OpenClaw

Add the Gmail account under openclaw-gmail.

Example:

{
  channels: {
    "openclaw-gmail": {
      enabled: true,
      accounts: {
        "[email protected]": {
          email: "[email protected]",
          oauth: {
            clientId: "YOUR_CLIENT_ID",
            clientSecret: "YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET",
            refreshToken: "YOUR_REFRESH_TOKEN"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

The required fields are:

• oauth.clientId

• oauth.clientSecret

• oauth.refreshToken

Step 14: Save and restart if needed

Depending on your setup, you may need to:

• save the config

• restart the app

• reload the service

If you have CLI access, you can check status with:

openclaw status

Step 15: Test the connection

Try a simple Gmail request, such as:

• Check my inbox

• Summarize my latest emails

• Categorize recent emails

If it works, the setup is complete.

Common mistakes

Wrong redirect URI

If you use OAuth Playground, this must be added:

https://developers.google.com/oauthplayground

Saving the wrong token

Use the Refresh Token, not the Access Token.

Wrong Google account

Authorize the same Gmail account you want OpenClaw to access.

Gmail API not enabled

Make sure Gmail API is enabled in the Google Cloud project.

Missing test user

If the OAuth app is in testing mode, add your Gmail address as a test user.

Copy/paste errors

Make sure there are no extra spaces or missing characters in the credentials.

Wrong Gmail scope

For this setup, the scope used is:

https://mail.google.com/

Do not replace it with a narrower Gmail scope unless your OpenClaw setup specifically expects that.

Quick checklist

Google Cloud

1. Create project

2. Enable Gmail API

3. Configure OAuth consent screen

4. Create OAuth client

5. Set type to Web application

6. Add redirect URI

7. Copy Client ID and Client Secret

OAuth Playground

1. Use your own OAuth credentials

2. Paste Client ID and Client Secret

3. Add scope:

   • https://mail.google.com/

4. Authorize

5. Exchange code for tokens

6. Save Refresh Token

OpenClaw

1. Open Gmail config

2. Add email, clientId, clientSecret, refreshToken

3. Save

4. Restart if needed

5. Test

Summary

To connect Gmail to OpenClaw:

1. Create a Google OAuth app

2. Enable Gmail API

3. Generate a Refresh Token with OAuth Playground using https://mail.google.com/

4. Add Client ID, Client Secret, and Refresh Token to openclaw-gmail