Skip to main content
Go to the Studio
Tutorials

Setting up a Gmail inbox

Setting up a Gmail inbox

Before Roberty can send or read email from a Gmail account, Google needs a security setup: two-step verification turned on and an app password generated. This tutorial walks through the whole thing.

Why it is needed​

Google does not let external applications — Roberty among them — reach your account with your normal Gmail password. You generate an app password instead: a password created specifically for this, which authorises the access without exposing your main account.

On top of that, reading email requires the IMAP protocol to be enabled in Gmail's settings.

What you need​

  • An active Gmail account
  • Access to the phone registered on the account (for two-step verification)

Step 1 — Turn two-step verification on​

An app password can only be generated with two-step verification active. If you already have it, skip to Step 2.

  1. Go to myaccount.google.com.
  2. In the side menu, click Security.
  3. Under How you sign in to Google, click 2-Step Verification.
  4. Click Get started and follow the instructions to link your phone number.
  5. Enter the code you receive by SMS to confirm.
  6. Click Turn on to finish.

Step 2 — Generate the app password​

  1. Go to myaccount.google.com.

  2. In the side menu, click Security.

  3. Under How you sign in to Google, click App passwords.

    Cannot find "App passwords"?

    It only appears with two-step verification active. If it is missing, search for "app passwords" in your Google account's search bar.

  4. In the name field, write something that identifies the use (Roberty).

  5. Click Create.

  6. A 16-character password appears.

Save it now

This password is shown once. Copy it somewhere safe (the robot's parameters, for instance) before closing the window. Once it is closed you cannot see it again — you would have to generate a new one.

Step 3 — Enable IMAP in Gmail​

This step is only needed for reading email (the E-mail connection and Read inbox actions). If you only ever send, skip it.

  1. Open Gmail.
  2. Click the gear icon (⚙️) top right and choose See all settings.
  3. Go to the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
  4. Under IMAP access, select Enable IMAP.
  5. Click Save changes at the bottom of the page.

Step 4 — Configure it in Roberty​

With the app password in hand and IMAP enabled, enter the credentials in the Designer's email actions.

For reading email (the E-mail connection action)​

Use E-mail connection to authenticate the inbox. Fill it in like this:

FieldValue
Hostimap.gmail.com
Port993
TLS securityYes
UserYour full Gmail address (name@gmail.com)
PasswordThe app password from step 2

For sending email (the Send email action)​

In Send email, turn on Use a custom SMTP, choose the Manual service and fill in:

FieldValue
Hostsmtp.gmail.com
Port587
TLS securityYes
UserYour full Gmail address (name@gmail.com)
PasswordThe app password from step 2
Keep the credentials as parameters

So you do not retype the address and the app password in every action, save them as robot parameters. Then every action references the same values, and one edit changes them all.

Troubleshooting​

Authentication fails even with the right details. Check that the password you typed is the app password (16 characters, generated at Google), not your normal Gmail password.

I cannot generate an app password. Confirm two-step verification really is active. Go to Security → 2-Step Verification and check.

The robot does not find the emails I expect. Check that IMAP is enabled (step 3) and that Read inbox is configured with the right mailbox and filters.

Next​