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Guide · Agent skill

How to use the Gmail Reply-All agent skill (gws-gmail-reply-all)

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

The gws-gmail-reply-all skill teaches an AI agent to reply to everyone on an existing Gmail email using the gws command-line tool. It is for people who regularly answer group emails, and for developers or ops staff who automate follow-ups from a known Gmail message ID. After this guide you will know how to install the skill, ask for a reply in plain language, and use the drafting and dry-run options that keep mistakes from reaching recipients.

Gmail Reply-Allgoogleworkspace/cli · Apache-2.0

Quick start

  1. 1Install the tool and skill. Install the gws command-line tool, then download this skill's ZIP and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder.
  2. 2Authenticate with Google. Configure Google account authentication through gws, following the gws-shared skill. Run gws generate-skills if the shared file is missing.
  3. 3Get the Gmail message ID. Find the message ID of the email you want to reply to. The skill only replies to a message ID that is already known.
  4. 4Ask for the reply in plain language. Tell the agent the message ID, the body text, and any recipients to add or remove.
  5. 5Save as a draft first. Ask for --draft so the reply lands in Gmail for review before anyone receives it.
  6. 6Check with dry-run or send. Use --dry-run to inspect the request, then send the reply or open the draft in Gmail to send it yourself.

What is an agent skill, and what does this one do?

An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file that tells an AI agent how to perform one task with a specific tool. This skill covers one task: replying to all recipients of an existing Gmail message.

The agent runs the gws command-line tool (Google Workspace CLI) to send the reply. Gmail keeps the reply in the same conversation thread automatically, so you do not have to handle threading yourself.

  • Reply to the sender and all original To and CC recipients.
  • Add recipients with --to, --cc or --bcc.
  • Remove recipients from the reply with --remove.
  • Attach files with -a or --attach, which can be used more than once.
  • Send HTML formatting with --html.
  • Save the reply as a draft with --draft instead of sending it.

How do you install the Gmail Reply-All skill?

Download the ZIP for this skill from this page and unzip it. Then place the folder in one of two locations: ~/.claude/skills/ for your user account, or .claude/skills/ inside a specific project.

You can also upload the skill in the Claude apps. Go to Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills, and upload it there.

The skill needs the gws tool installed and authenticated before it can do anything. The skill's own prerequisite note says to read the gws-shared skill for auth, global flags and security rules, and to run gws generate-skills if that file is missing.

gws generate-skills

How do you trigger the skill with a natural request?

You do not need to type the command yourself. Ask the agent in plain language and give it the Gmail message ID of the email to reply to. The skill only works on a message ID that is already known, so the agent cannot find the email from a description alone.

Be specific about the body text, any recipients to add or remove, and whether you want a draft or a sent reply.

  • "Reply-all to Gmail message 18f1a2b3c4d saying Sounds good to me, but save it as a draft."
  • "Reply-all to message 18f1a2b3c4d and remove bob@example.com from the reply."
  • "Reply-all to message 18f1a2b3c4d, add eve@example.com in CC, and attach notes.pdf."

Command examples the agent can run

These are the underlying commands from the skill. Reading them helps you check what the agent is about to do. The skill's flags table lists --message-id and --body as required.

gws gmail +reply-all --message-id 18f1a2b3c4d --body 'Sounds good to me!' gws gmail +reply-all --message-id 18f1a2b3c4d --body 'Updated' --remove bob@example.com gws gmail +reply-all --message-id 18f1a2b3c4d --body 'Adding Eve' --cc eve@example.com gws gmail +reply-all --message-id 18f1a2b3c4d --body '<i>Noted</i>' --html gws gmail +reply-all --message-id 18f1a2b3c4d --body 'Notes attached' -a notes.pdf gws gmail +reply-all --message-id 18f1a2b3c4d --body 'Draft reply' --draft

How do you test a reply safely?

The safest first step is to save the reply as a draft, which places it in Gmail for you to review. The --dry-run flag shows the request that would be sent without executing it, which is useful for checking recipients before anything happens.

Be careful with the default. Without --draft or --dry-run, the command actually sends email to real recipients, so mistakes reach people immediately.

  • Use --draft to review the reply in Gmail before it goes out.
  • Use --dry-run to see the request without sending it.
  • Check the To list after --remove and --to changes, because the command fails if no To recipient remains.

What do you need before using this skill?

You need three things: the gws command-line tool, Google account authentication configured through gws, and the Gmail message ID of the email you are replying to. The skill cannot work without the gws tool installed and authenticated.

The skill also runs scripts and uses the network, because it calls the gws tool, which talks to Google's services on your behalf. Review the gws-shared skill's security rules before you rely on it.

  • gws command-line tool (Google Workspace CLI)
  • Google account authentication configured through gws (see the gws-shared skill)
  • The Gmail message ID of the email to reply to

Tips for better results

Use --to to add extra recipients to the To field and --cc for new CC recipients. Use --bcc for people who should not be visible to others. Use --remove to exclude people from the reply, including the sender or Reply-To target.

For HTML replies, use fragment tags such as <p>, <b> and <a>. You do not need an <html> or <body> wrapper. Inline images in the quoted message are preserved through cid: references.

Attachments are added with -a or --attach, and you can specify them more than once.

  • Use fragment tags for --html, not full page wrappers.
  • Attach files one at a time with repeated -a flags if you need several.
  • Keep the body short and clear, since everyone on the thread will see it.

What people use it for

  • Answering a group thread where you want to confirm a decision to everyone already on it.
  • Removing one person from a reply chain without retyping the whole recipient list.
  • Adding a colleague to a thread by CC and attaching a document in the same reply.
  • Drafting an HTML-formatted reply to a group email for review before sending.
  • Automating a follow-up from a known Gmail message ID as part of an ops workflow.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Gmail Reply-All agent skill free?

The skill is published under the Apache-2.0 licence. The source does not state pricing for the gws tool or any Google service, so check those separately before relying on them.

What do I need to install before using this skill?

You need the gws command-line tool, Google account authentication configured through gws, and the Gmail message ID of the email. The skill cannot work without the gws tool installed and authenticated to a Google account.

Where do I put the skill folder?

Unzip the downloaded ZIP into ~/.claude/skills/ for your user account, or into .claude/skills/ inside a project. You can also upload it in the Claude apps under Settings, then Capabilities, then Skills.

Will the agent send my reply immediately?

Yes, unless you use --draft or --dry-run. Without those flags the command sends email to the real recipients, so ask for a draft first when you are unsure.

Can this skill search my Gmail or read emails?

No. The skill only replies to a message ID that is already known. It does not search or read mail.

Does it keep the reply in the same thread?

Yes. Gmail keeps the reply in the same conversation thread automatically, and the skill handles threading for you.

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Our verdict

Use this skill if you answer group emails often, or if you automate follow-ups from known Gmail message IDs and are comfortable with the gws tool. Pick something else if you need to search or read mail, or if you want to send replies without any review, since the default behaviour sends immediately to real recipients.

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