Make Claude AI Send Emails Automatically (Gmail + MCP), by Mohit Garg on YouTube. 8 min 40 s.
- Video length
- 8 min 40 s
- Time to do it
- 25 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Create a new workflow in n8n and add an MCP Server Trigger node. This node gives Claude a web address it can call to run your Gmail actions.
Add a Gmail node to the same workflow and connect it to the MCP Server Trigger. Set the operation to send a message.
Open the Gmail node credentials and sign in with your Google account. Grant the send, compose and read scopes so Claude can build and send mail.
Copy the production URL from the MCP Server Trigger and activate the workflow. The endpoint must stay live or Claude cannot reach it.
In Claude, open Settings, go to Connectors, and add a custom connector. Paste the MCP URL and save it.
Test it with a plain prompt. Ask Claude to send an email to your own address with a subject and short body, then check your inbox.
Let Claude fill the subject, body and HTML by describing the message you want. Review the draft before you approve sending.
Optional: add a second MCP connector for your task manager so Claude can read your task list and draft a summary email.
For a daily email, add a Schedule Trigger in n8n set to every 1 day at your chosen hour, and point it at the same email workflow.
Tips and common mistakes
Send the first test to your own address so a wrong prompt cannot reach anyone else.
Grant only the Gmail scopes you actually need, and keep the MCP URL private since anyone with it can trigger the workflow.
Write your prompt with the recipient, subject and tone spelled out to cut down on edits.
Check the n8n execution log when a send fails, as it shows the exact Gmail error.
Questions
Can Claude send email without n8n?
Not on its own. Claude has no built-in send email tool, so you need a connector or automation platform like n8n to hold the Gmail credentials and do the sending.
Do I need a paid Claude plan?
Custom connectors are offered on Claude's paid plans, so check your plan before you start building the workflow.
Is it safe to give Claude access to my Gmail?
Access runs through OAuth tokens stored in n8n, not your password. Limit the scopes and revoke the connection in your Google account if you stop using it.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
