> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://cogno.studio/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect Gmail to Cogno

> Let Cogno privately detect actionable work in new Gmail conversations.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/genaxis/tTN6BvHHIrzJrmNf/images/integrations/gmail.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=tTN6BvHHIrzJrmNf&q=85&s=91744222e74b794bc4d6cec6693bb759" alt="Gmail" width="56" height="56" noZoom data-path="images/integrations/gmail.svg" />

## At a glance

|                  |                                                                                            |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Direction**    | Receive — Cogno uses read-only Gmail access.                                               |
| **Connect with** | Google sign-in — each member connects their own inbox.                                     |
| **Task intake**  | Automatic for messages received or sent after connection.                                  |
| **Task result**  | New work becomes a suggested Task; follow-ups update a Task already linked to that thread. |

## Connect Gmail

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Gmail integration">
    Open **Integrations → Gmail** in the target workspace.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect your account">
    Select **Connect Gmail**, sign in to Google, and approve read-only Gmail access.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm automatic task intake">
    Return to Cogno. **Automatic task intake** is enabled when the connection becomes active.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  Intake starts from the connection point. Cogno does not turn older inbox history into Tasks.
</Note>

At the Free plan's three-integration limit, Cogno stops waiting for authorization and asks you to upgrade before connecting Gmail.

## How automatic intake works

When Gmail reports a new inbound or sent message, Cogno reads that message and its thread, then decides whether the mailbox owner has actionable work.

| Decision                                                            | Result                                                            |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| New actionable work                                                 | Create one or more suggested Tasks assigned to the mailbox owner. |
| Follow-up for linked work                                           | Add a Gmail update to the Task already linked to that thread.     |
| FYI, marketing, receipts, automated notices, or no remaining action | Do not create a Task.                                             |

Cogno does not create a Task merely because a message could be answered. It looks for deliverables, checks, sending, replies, coordination, commitments, and deadline follow-ups. Open **Processing activity** to see whether each processed message created, updated, or did not need a Task.

## Privacy and AI processing

Your Gmail connection and processing activity are visible only to the member who connected the account. Email bodies are read during processing and sent to the intake model, but are not stored in Cogno's workspace event memory or GBrain. Cogno stores Gmail identifiers, processing status, the decision, and links to Tasks.

The model treats email text as untrusted third-party data. Instructions inside an email cannot trigger tools or agent work. A created Task lands in the suggested **Ready** lane for review.

Attachments are not imported. Message text is bounded before model processing, and quoted reply text is removed where possible.

## Pause or disconnect

Turn off **Automatic task intake** to stop processing new messages while keeping the Gmail connection. Select **Disconnect** to stop the Gmail watch and remove the connection. Existing Tasks and Gmail updates remain in Cogno.

## Google access

Cogno requests `gmail.readonly` plus basic Google identity scopes. It cannot send, edit, archive, label, or delete mail.

## Related docs

* [Tasks](/docs/tasks)
* [Troubleshooting](/docs/troubleshooting)