Connect Gmail to CarcMail
How to connect your Gmail or Google Workspace inbox to CarcMail using OAuth — the recommended and most secure method.
Gmail via OAuth is the recommended inbox connection method. It is more secure than SMTP because CarcMail never stores your password — only a revokable access token.
Overview
Connecting your Gmail or Google Workspace inbox lets CarcMail send outbound emails on your behalf, check for replies, and maintain a healthy send history for your sender reputation.
CarcMail uses Google’s OAuth 2.0 flow to request permission. This means you log in with your Google account directly, and Google grants CarcMail a limited-access token. You can revoke this access at any time from your Google account security settings without affecting your CarcMail account.
This method works for both personal Gmail addresses (e.g., you@gmail.com) and Google Workspace accounts (e.g., you@yourcompany.com). For Workspace accounts, your Google admin may need to approve third-party app access if your organisation has that setting enabled.
Before you start
- You have a Gmail or Google Workspace email account to connect
- You are signed in to the correct Google account in your browser
- If using Google Workspace: confirm with your IT admin that third-party OAuth apps are permitted
- Your CarcMail account is already created and you have completed onboarding
Step-by-step
Go to Inboxes in CarcMail settings
From the main dashboard, click Settings in the left sidebar, then select Inboxes. You’ll see a list of all currently connected inboxes. Click Add inbox in the top right.
Select Gmail / Google Workspace
On the inbox connection screen, click Connect Gmail. This will open a Google permission dialog in a new tab or popup.
Sign in with Google
Select the Google account you want to connect. If you’re already signed in to multiple Google accounts in your browser, make sure you select the correct one — the one you want to send outbound from.
Google will show you a list of permissions CarcMail is requesting. These are:
- Read, compose, and send emails
- Access email metadata (sender, recipient, subject)
Click Allow to grant access.
Name your inbox in CarcMail
After granting permission, you’ll be returned to CarcMail. You can give the inbox a friendly label (e.g., “Primary outbound” or “Sales inbox”). This label is just for your reference in the dashboard.
Click Save to complete the connection.
Verify the connection
Your inbox should now appear in the Inboxes list with a green Connected status. CarcMail will run a quick test send to confirm everything is working.
How to confirm it worked
- The inbox appears in Settings → Inboxes with a green “Connected” badge
- The “Last checked” time updates within a minute or two of connecting
- If you click the inbox, a Send test email button is available — use it to confirm sends go through
CarcMail sends a test email to an internal address when you first connect an inbox. This does not cost credits and will not appear in your send logs.
Common issues
| Issue | What to check |
|---|---|
| ”Access blocked” from Google | Your Google Workspace admin has restricted third-party app access. Ask them to allow CarcMail, or use a personal Gmail. |
| Wrong Google account connected | Disconnect the inbox and reconnect — make sure to select the right account in step 3. |
| Inbox shows “Error” status | Go to the inbox settings and click Reconnect. Your OAuth token may have expired. |
| Can’t see the inbox in campaigns | Only “Connected” inboxes appear when setting up campaigns. Refresh the campaign setup page. |
Frequently asked questions
For personal Gmail, no. For Google Workspace, an admin may need to approve the OAuth permission if your org restricts third-party access.
Yes. Each inbox is connected separately. Growth plan supports up to 5 inboxes; Scale supports up to 15.
CarcMail requests permission to read, compose, and send emails on your behalf. It does not read emails outside of CarcMail campaigns.
Put it into practice
Try CarcMail — free to start.
Set up your first campaign in 4 minutes. AI drafts, spam-risk checks, follow-up automation, and reply classification — all in one workspace.
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