# Gmail / Google Workspace

Connect your Gmail or Google Workspace account to Missive with full two-way sync. Labels, contacts, calendar - everything stays in sync between Gmail and Missive.

## How to connect

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
**Open account settings**

Go to **Settings** > **Accounts** and click **Add account**.

{% hint style="info" %}
To open Settings, click your avatar in the bottom-left corner of the sidebar, then **Settings** (or press <kbd>⌘,</kbd>).
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Select Gmail or Google Workspace**

Under the **Email** tab, select **Gmail or Google Workspace**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Choose import options**

Select how much email history to import:

* No history - start fresh
* 1 month to 10 years - recent emails only
* All history - everything (paid plans only)

Choose if this is a personal or shared account.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Sign in with Google**

Click **Connect with Google**. A Google sign-in window opens.

1. Select your Google account
2. Review and grant the requested permissions
3. Complete the authorization

Missive connects using Gmail's official OAuth API.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Configure sidebar**

Choose how your Gmail labels appear in your sidebar:

* **Pin all labels** - All labels appear in a new sidebar section automatically.
* **I'll choose which labels to show** - Use the **+ Pin to sidebar** button to add labels manually later.
  {% endstep %}

{% step %}
**Archive old emails (optional)**

If your inbox has many emails, Missive offers to archive older messages so you can start fresh. Archived emails remain searchable.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Terminology

A few terms differ between Gmail and Missive:

| Gmail                                    | Missive                            | Notes                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| ---------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Labels                                   | Labels                             | Both support multiple labels per email; Missive syncs these directly with Gmail.                                                                                                                        |
| Categories (Primary, Social, Promotions) | Labels (system labels)             | Gmail's default categories can be [mimicked](https://missiveapp.com/docs/core-features/connected-accounts/email-accounts/gmail-google-workspace/using-gmail-smart-categories) inside Missive as labels. |
| All Mail                                 | All                                | Shows every message that exists in your Gmail account.                                                                                                                                                  |
| Archive                                  | Archive                            | Archiving in Missive behaves the same as Gmail (removes Inbox but keeps the email in All Mail).                                                                                                         |
| Filters                                  | Rules                              | Gmail filters run server-side before Missive's rules.                                                                                                                                                   |
| Delegation                               | Shared accounts / Shared addresses | Missive provides more granular collaboration than Gmail delegation.                                                                                                                                     |

## History

When connecting a Gmail account, you choose how much email history to import.

* All imported emails keep their original read/unread state, labels, and system labels (Inbox, Sent, Archive, etc.)
* Gmail's folder-less structure syncs naturally with Missive's label-based model
* Paid plans allow importing unlimited history

You can adjust the amount of imported history later in **Settings** > **Accounts**.

## Contacts

Missive syncs your Google contacts automatically with full two-way sync.

If auto-sync was disabled, re-enable it:

1. Go to **Settings** > **Accounts**
2. Select your Gmail account
3. Click **Contacts**
4. Click **Sync contacts**

## Calendar

Connect your Google Calendar to see events in Missive:

1. Go to **Settings** > **Calendars**
2. Click **Add a calendar account**
3. Select **Google Calendar**
4. Sign in and follow the prompts

Your calendars appear in Missive and update automatically.

## Google Groups

Google Groups are supported through Missive's Shared addresses feature.

Google Groups forward emails to recipients' personal inboxes - they can't be connected directly as accounts. Instead, use Shared addresses to turn any Google Group into a team inbox.

See [Google Group address](https://missiveapp.com/docs/core-features/connected-accounts/email-accounts/gmail-google-workspace/google-group-address) for setup instructions.

## Search operators

Missive supports Gmail's search operators:

| Operator             | Description                          |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------ |
| `from:`              | Search by sender                     |
| `to:`                | Search by recipient                  |
| `subject:`           | Search by subject keywords           |
| `label:`             | Search inside a specific Gmail label |
| `in:anywhere`        | Search all mail (including archived) |
| `is:unread`          | Show unread messages                 |
| `has:attachment`     | Emails with attachments              |
| `after:` / `before:` | Search by date ranges                |
| `filename:`          | Search attachments by filename       |
| `-"..."`             | Exclude keyword or label             |


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