Personal mailboxes let an eligible assistant read, search, and send your mail. Server SMTP handles Clay Studio's server delivery, including invitations and login codes. These are separate connections and scopes.
#Connect a personal mailbox
- Open Settings → Personal → Integrations.
- Under Available integrations, choose Gmail, Outlook Mail, Yahoo Mail, or Custom email.
- Enter the mailbox details and required app password.
- Supply custom server information when needed.
- Test the connection through the offered control.
- Save and confirm the account appears.
Use the provider's app-password instructions: Google, Microsoft personal accounts, or Yahoo. Availability depends on the account and its security policy; Microsoft work or school accounts may have app passwords disabled by the administrator. An app password does not guarantee that a provider permits IMAP/SMTP access. If the connection test refuses authentication, check the provider's current mail-access requirements.
Saved accounts offer Manage → Disconnect. Disconnecting removes Clay Studio's connection while keeping mail at the provider.
#Ask for mailbox work
State the account and scope: “Search my work mailbox for messages from this sender since Monday and summarize them. Do not reply.”
Tools can read folders, search, inspect message details, reply, and mark messages where available. Specify the folder if it is not INBOX. Reading/searching and sending are different actions.
For a send request, review the sender account, To, CC/BCC, subject, and body. Say explicitly when you want it sent. If several accounts are enabled, name the sender rather than relying on a default.
If sending times out, check the send result before trying again so you do not send a duplicate.
#Configure server delivery
Administrators use Server Settings → Email delivery for SMTP host, port, credentials, sender details, and applicable registration/email-code settings.
Port 587 with direct TLS off uses STARTTLS; port 465 with TLS on uses direct SSL. Use the actual mail service's requirements. Save and test delivery rather than assuming that credentials alone establish reachability.
Server SMTP does not provide a personal inbox reader. Assistant email tools can distinguish server and personal send modes; specify the intended identity.
#Fix failures
Check host/port, app-password requirements, network access, selected mailbox, and the actual error. Removing SMTP can affect invitation/login delivery, so read its confirmation.
Keep credentials in settings, never in repository files or chat. See Account security, Users, and Permissions.