---
ref: tool:google/send-message
name: Send an email
company: company:google
workflows: [workflow:outbound-draft-evaluation-gate]
access: [api]
tags: [capability:send-email, category:email, has:api]
docs: https://developers.google.com/workspace/gmail/api/reference/rest/v1/users.messages/send
updated: 2026-09-29
---

# Send an email

Sends an email message from the user's Gmail account, either new or as a reply in an existing thread.

Note: Needs the `gmail.send` OAuth scope; the message is a base64url-encoded RFC 2822 MIME message, not exposed by the MCP server's tools.

## Set up

Use the first option your agent supports.

### API (official)

- Base URL: https://gmail.googleapis.com
- Endpoint: `POST /gmail/v1/users/{userId}/messages/send`
- Auth: an OAuth access token, sent as `Authorization: Bearer <token>`
- Docs: https://developers.google.com/workspace/gmail/api/reference/rest

Before anything else, confirm access with the cheapest read-only call, like a list or a search. Never send or change anything to test access.

## Rules

- Ask the user before anything that sends messages, costs money, or changes data, and say how many records it touches. One approval covers a batch the user has seen.
- Never print API keys.