docs/automation/gmail-pubsub.md

---
summary: "Gmail Pub/Sub push wired into OpenClaw webhooks via gogcli"
read_when:
  - Wiring Gmail inbox triggers to OpenClaw
  - Setting up Pub/Sub push for agent wake
title: "Gmail PubSub"
---

# Gmail Pub/Sub -> OpenClaw

Goal: Gmail watch -> Pub/Sub push -> `gog gmail watch serve` -> OpenClaw webhook.

## Prereqs

- `gcloud` installed and logged in ([install guide](https://docs.cloud.google.com/sdk/docs/install-sdk)).
- `gog` (gogcli) installed and authorized for the Gmail account ([gogcli.sh](https://gogcli.sh/)).
- OpenClaw hooks enabled (see [Webhooks](/automation/webhook)).
- `tailscale` logged in ([tailscale.com](https://tailscale.com/)). Supported setup uses Tailscale Funnel for the public HTTPS endpoint.
  Other tunnel services can work, but are DIY/unsupported and require manual wiring.
  Right now, Tailscale is what we support.

Example hook config (enable Gmail preset mapping):

```json5
{
  hooks: {
    enabled: true,
    token: "OPENCLAW_HOOK_TOKEN",
    path: "/hooks",
    presets: ["gmail"],
  },
}
```

To deliver the Gmail summary to a chat surface, override the preset with a mapping
that sets `deliver` + optional `channel`/`to`:

```json5
{
  hooks: {
    enabled: true,
    token: "OPENCLAW_HOOK_TOKEN",
    presets: ["gmail"],
    mappings: [
      {
        match: { path: "gmail" },
        action: "agent",
        wakeMode: "now",
        name: "Gmail",
        sessionKey: "hook:gmail:{{messages[0].id}}",
        messageTemplate: "New email from {{messages[0].from}}\nSubject: {{messages[0].subject}}\n{{messages[0].snippet}}\n{{messages[0].body}}",
        model: "openai/gpt-5.2-mini",
        deliver: true,
        channel: "last",
        // to: "+15551234567"
      },
    ],
  },
}
```

If you want a fixed channel, set `channel` + `to`. Otherwise `channel: "last"`
uses the last delivery route (falls back to WhatsApp).

To force a cheaper model for Gmail runs, set `model` in the mapping
(`provider/model` or alias). If you enforce `agents.defaults.models`, include it there.

To set a default model and thinking level specifically for Gmail hooks, add
`hooks.gmail.model` / `hooks.gmail.thinking` in your config:

```json5
{
  hooks: {
    gmail: {
      model: "openrouter/meta-llama/llama-3.3-70b-instruct:free",
      thinking: "off",
    },
  },
}
```

Notes:

- Per-hook `model`/`thinking` in the mapping still overrides these defaults.
- Fallback order: `hooks.gmail.model` → `agents.defaults.model.fallbacks` → primary (auth/rate-limit/timeouts).
- If `agents.defaults.models` is set, the Gmail model must be in the allowlist.
- Gmail hook content is wrapped with external-content safety boundaries by default.
  To disable (dangerous), set `hooks.gmail.allowUnsafeExternalContent: true`.

To customize payload handling further, add `hooks.mappings` or a JS/TS transform module
under `hooks.transformsDir` (see [Webhooks](/automation/webhook)).

## Wizard (recommended)

Use the OpenClaw helper to wire everything together (installs deps on macOS via brew):

```bash
openclaw webhooks gmail setup \
  --account openclaw@gmail.com
```

Defaults:

- Uses Tailscale Funnel for the public push endpoint.
- Writes `hooks.gmail` config for `openclaw webhooks gmail run`.
- Enables the Gmail hook preset (`hooks.presets: ["gmail"]`).

Path note: when `tailscale.mode` is enabled, OpenClaw automatically sets
`hooks.gmail.serve.path` to `/` and keeps the public path at
`hooks.gmail.tailscale.path` (default `/gmail-pubsub`) because Tailscale
strips the set-path prefix before proxying.
If you need the backend to receive the prefixed path, set
`hooks.gmail.tailscale.target` (or `--tailscale-target`) to a full URL like
`http://127.0.0.1:8788/gmail-pubsub` and match `hooks.gmail.serve.path`.

Want a custom endpoint? Use `--push-endpoint <url>` or `--tailscale off`.

Platform note: on macOS the wizard installs `gcloud`, `gogcli`, and `tailscale`
via Homebrew; on Linux install them manually first.

Gateway auto-start (recommended):

- When `hooks.enabled=true` and `hooks.gmail.account` is set, the Gateway starts
  `gog gmail watch serve` on boot and auto-renews the watch.
- Set `OPENCLAW_SKIP_GMAIL_WATCHER=1` to opt out (useful if you run the daemon yourself).
- Do not run the manual daemon at the same time, or you will hit
  `listen tcp 127.0.0.1:8788: bind: address already in use`.

Manual daemon (starts `gog gmail watch serve` + auto-renew):

```bash
openclaw webhooks gmail run
```

## One-time setup

1. Select the GCP project **that owns the OAuth client** used by `gog`.

```bash
gcloud auth login
gcloud config set project <project-id>
```

Note: Gmail watch requires the Pub/Sub topic to live in the same project as the OAuth client.

2. Enable APIs:

```bash
gcloud services enable gmail.googleapis.com pubsub.googleapis.com
```

3. Create a topic:

```bash
gcloud pubsub topics create gog-gmail-watch
```

4. Allow Gmail push to publish:

```bash
gcloud pubsub topics add-iam-policy-binding gog-gmail-watch \
  --member=serviceAccount:gmail-api-push@system.gserviceaccount.com \
  --role=roles/pubsub.publisher
```

## Start the watch

```bash
gog gmail watch start \
  --account openclaw@gmail.com \
  --label INBOX \
  --topic projects/<project-id>/topics/gog-gmail-watch
```

Save the `history_id` from the output (for debugging).

## Run the push handler

Local example (shared token auth):

```bash
gog gmail watch serve \
  --account openclaw@gmail.com \
  --bind 127.0.0.1 \
  --port 8788 \
  --path /gmail-pubsub \
  --token <shared> \
  --hook-url http://127.0.0.1:18789/hooks/gmail \
  --hook-token OPENCLAW_HOOK_TOKEN \
  --include-body \
  --max-bytes 20000
```

Notes:

- `--token` protects the push endpoint (`x-gog-token` or `?token=`).
- `--hook-url` points to OpenClaw `/hooks/gmail` (mapped; isolated run + summary to main).
- `--include-body` and `--max-bytes` control the body snippet sent to OpenClaw.

Recommended: `openclaw webhooks gmail run` wraps the same flow and auto-renews the watch.

## Expose the handler (advanced, unsupported)

If you need a non-Tailscale tunnel, wire it manually and use the public URL in the push
subscription (unsupported, no guardrails):

```bash
cloudflared tunnel --url http://127.0.0.1:8788 --no-autoupdate
```

Use the generated URL as the push endpoint:

```bash
gcloud pubsub subscriptions create gog-gmail-watch-push \
  --topic gog-gmail-watch \
  --push-endpoint "https://<public-url>/gmail-pubsub?token=<shared>"
```

Production: use a stable HTTPS endpoint and configure Pub/Sub OIDC JWT, then run:

```bash
gog gmail watch serve --verify-oidc --oidc-email <svc@...>
```

## Test

Send a message to the watched inbox:

```bash
gog gmail send \
  --account openclaw@gmail.com \
  --to openclaw@gmail.com \
  --subject "watch test" \
  --body "ping"
```

Check watch state and history:

```bash
gog gmail watch status --account openclaw@gmail.com
gog gmail history --account openclaw@gmail.com --since <historyId>
```

## Troubleshooting

- `Invalid topicName`: project mismatch (topic not in the OAuth client project).
- `User not authorized`: missing `roles/pubsub.publisher` on the topic.
- Empty messages: Gmail push only provides `historyId`; fetch via `gog gmail history`.

## Cleanup

```bash
gog gmail watch stop --account openclaw@gmail.com
gcloud pubsub subscriptions delete gog-gmail-watch-push
gcloud pubsub topics delete gog-gmail-watch
```