How to Connect Your Gmail Account
Step-by-step guide to securely connect Gmail with Protime
Two Ways to Connect Gmail
During Onboarding and AI Assisted Setup
When creating your first briefing, the AI Assisted Setup will guide you through connecting Gmail. This is the easiest path for new users.
Learn About AI SetupFrom Briefing Settings
Already have a briefing? Access Gmail integration from your briefing settings, then navigate to Content Sources → Gmail.
Briefings → Your Briefing → Settings → Content Sources → Gmail
Learn About Briefing ConfigurationThe OAuth Connection Process
Both paths lead to the same Google OAuth flow. The only difference is how you get there - either through onboarding or from your briefing settings.
The connection process takes about 2 minutes and involves three simple steps. You'll authenticate with Google and grant permission for Protime to manage your Gmail labels. Don't worry - we only access emails you specifically label for processing, and you can disconnect at any time.
Step 1a: During Onboarding and AI Assisted Setup
AI Assisted SetupConnect Your Gmail Account
Let AI transform your inbox into personalized daily briefings
When you'll see this:
This screen appears during onboarding or when using AI Assisted Setup to create your first Gmail briefing. Simply click the purple "Connect with Google" button to begin the authentication process. A new window will open for Google's secure sign-in.
Step 1b: From Briefing Settings
Briefing SettingsContent Sources
Content sources allow you to add content selectively from your own sources:
Gmail
example@gmail.com
Labels: ✅ Todo, Protime/Processed
Processing Folder: [Superhuman]
When you'll see this:
This is the Content Sources section in your briefing settings. To get here: click on your briefing card, then navigate to Settings → Content Sources. If Gmail is already connected, click the gear icon (⚙️) to configure it. If not connected, click the blue "+" button to add Gmail as a content source.
Step 2: Choose Your Account
Google OAuthChoose an account
to continue to Protime
What to do:
Google will display your available accounts. Select the Gmail account you want to use for your briefings. If you don't see your account listed, click "Use another account" at the bottom. Make sure to choose the account that receives the emails you want Protime to summarize (newsletters, updates, etc.).
Step 3: Grant Permissions
Google OAuthProtime wants access to your Google Account
jane.doe@example.com
If you allow Protime access to your Gmail data, Google will ask you to review their access to your Google Account data every 6 months, and this access will expire on January 30, 2026.
You can also choose to allow Protime ongoing access to the Google Account data you're sharing today. This means you won't need to review their access to your Google Account data every 6 months.
Protime already has some access
See the 1 service that Protime has some access to.
Make sure you trust Protime
Review Protime's Privacy Policy and Terms of Service to understand how Protime will process and protect your data.
To make changes at any time, go to your Google Account.
Learn how Google helps you share data safely.
What to do:
This is the most important step. Google is asking for your permission to let Protime access your Gmail. Here's what to do:
- Read through the permissions carefully - Protime needs these to read emails, manage labels, and later for organizing your incoming emails and drafting responses
- Check the "ongoing access" box if you don't want to re-authorize every 6 months
- Review the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service links if desired
- Click the blue "Continue" button to grant access
Successfully Connected!
After clicking Continue, you'll be redirected back to Protime to complete your briefing setup. You'll then select Gmail labels to specify which emails to process.
Connection Tips
- •Make sure pop-ups are enabled in your browser for the OAuth flow to work
- •If you have 2-factor authentication enabled (recommended!), have your phone ready
- •Protime uses these permissions to read emails, manage labels, and will later organize your inbox and draft emails according to your preferences
- •You can disconnect Protime at any time from your Google Account settings
Understanding Gmail Labels
How Protime uses labels to process your emails
Gmail labels are the foundation of how Protime processes your emails. Think of them as smart folders that tell Protime which emails to include in your briefings. This gives you complete control over what gets summarized while keeping your private emails private.
When you connect Protime to Gmail, we automatically create the necessary labels for you. By default, your inbox and a "ToProcess" label are selected for processing. After emails are summarized, they're automatically marked with a "Processed" label. This system is privacy-focused, flexible, and puts you in control - you can always adjust which labels to include or exclude.
Coming later this year: Automatic email labeling by Protime will intelligently organize and label your emails based on your preferences, making it even easier to get summaries of exactly what you need.
Inbox + ToProcess Label
By default, emails in your inbox and those with the "ToProcess" label are processed
Protime creates the ToProcess label automatically. Add it to newsletters, reports, or any emails you want summarized
Processed Label
Automatically created and applied after Protime processes an email
This label is your record of what's been included in briefings - no manual action needed
Privacy First
Only emails in selected labels (inbox + ToProcess by default) are accessed
Your private emails stay private - adjust label settings anytime to control what Protime sees
Pro Tip
Create a Gmail filter to automatically apply the "ToProcess" label to emails from specific senders or with certain keywords. This way, important updates are automatically included in your briefings!
Common Setup Issues
Quick solutions to get you connected
Gmail authentication fails or gets blocked
This usually happens due to popup blockers or browser settings. Make sure popups are enabled for accounts.google.com. If you have 2FA enabled (recommended!), ensure you complete the verification. Some browsers like Safari require you to allow cross-site tracking for OAuth to work properly.
No emails being processed in your briefing
First, verify that the emails you want processed have the correct label applied. In Gmail, check that your "ToProcess" label exists and has emails tagged with it. Also ensure the labeled emails are recent. If using inbox processing, make sure you have unread emails in your primary inbox tab.
Gmail labels not showing up in Protime
This can happen if the OAuth connection was interrupted or if Gmail sync is delayed. Try these steps: (1) Refresh the page and wait 30 seconds, (2) Check if labels appear in your Gmail account first, (3) Disconnect and reconnect your Gmail account from Settings, (4) Ensure you granted all requested permissions during OAuth.
"This app is blocked" error from Google
Google is transitioning away from "less secure apps" to OAuth-only access. Protime uses modern OAuth 2.0, but you may see this if: (1) Your Google Workspace admin has restricted third-party apps, (2) You're using an older browser, or (3) Your account has enhanced security settings. Contact your IT admin or try using a personal Gmail account.
Permission denied or scope errors
Protime needs permission to read emails and manage labels. If you see permission errors: (1) Make sure you clicked "Continue" on all permission screens, (2) Check the "ongoing access" box to avoid re-authentication every 6 months, (3) Don't restrict any of the requested permissions. You can always revoke access later from your Google Account settings.
Connection works but briefings are not generated
Even with a successful connection: (1) No emails match your label criteria, (2) Your briefing schedule hasn't triggered yet, (3) The email content is not extractable (e.g., images-only emails). Try adding the ToProcess label to a text-based newsletter as a test. Check the Job View of your briefing to see what happened during processing.
How to Remove Access
Manage or revoke Protime's access to your Gmail account
From Protime Briefing Settings
The quickest way to disconnect your Gmail account:
- 1.Go to your Briefing, then Briefing Settings
- 2.Click on Content Sources
- 3.Find Gmail and click the gear icon
- 4.Click "Disconnect Gmail"
From Google Account
Manage all apps with access to your Google Account:
- 1.Visit Google Account permissions
- 2.Find "Protime" in the list
- 3.Click on Protime
- 4.Click "Remove Access"
What happens when you disconnect:
- • Protime will no longer have access to your Gmail emails
- • Your existing briefings will remain available
- • No new emails will be processed for briefings
- • You can reconnect anytime to resume email processing