> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.ebrain.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.ebrain.ai/mail/unified-inbox.md).
# Your unified inbox
Mail brings every connected mailbox together into a single inbox. Read mail from all your Gmail and Outlook accounts merged into one list, or filter down to a single account. Everything is shown live from your providers, so there is no separate sync to wait on.
{% hint style="info" %}
eBrain shows your mail live and never sends anything without your approval. Reading and searching just work once an account is connected. For sending, replying, and drafts, see [Sending email and drafts](/mail/sending-and-drafts.md).
{% endhint %}
## Connecting your mailboxes
Mail works with **Gmail** and **Microsoft Outlook**, and it is multi-account: you can connect several mailboxes of either kind to the same workspace.
When no account is connected yet, the Mail page shows a card with **Connect Gmail** and **Connect Outlook** buttons. Either one sends you to Google or Microsoft to sign in and approve access, then brings you back to Mail with a confirmation. Your mailbox appears automatically.
{% hint style="success" %}
You never give eBrain your email password. You authorize access through Google's or Microsoft's own secure sign-in screen.
{% endhint %}
To add more accounts, manage which one is the default for sending, reconnect a mailbox, or disconnect one, head to **Settings > Integrations**. You can also reach it from the **Add account** link in the Mail page's **Configuration** tab.
Topic
Link
Connect, reconnect, set a default, or disconnect accounts
{% hint style="warning" %}
If a mailbox loses authorization it shows a **Needs reconnect** status. Use the **Reconnect** button to re-authorize it without losing your settings.
{% endhint %}
## The unified inbox
The Mail tab is split into three areas: a folder rail on the left, the message list in the middle, and a reading pane on the right.
### Folders
The left rail has folders you can switch between:
* **Inbox**
* **Sent**
* **Drafts**
* **Deleted Items** (trash)
* **Starred**
* **Important**
Selecting a folder filters the list to that folder. A small badge shows the unread count for the folder you are currently viewing.
### The toolbar
Above the message list you have a few controls:
* **Refresh** re-pulls the latest mail from all your providers.
* A read filter toggles between **All** and **Unread**.
* An account filter shows a row of chips: **All**, plus one chip per connected mailbox with its email address and a Gmail or Outlook icon.
* A **Search emails** box.
* Pagination arrows: messages load **50 per page**, and the visible range (for example, 1 to 50) is shown.
### Filtering to one account
By default the inbox merges every account and sorts newest first. To focus on a single mailbox, select its chip in the account filter. Select **All** to merge everything back together.
{% hint style="info" %}
There is a limit on how many mailboxes can be read all at once (the default is eight connected mail accounts). If you have more than that, narrow the view to a single account using the chips.
{% endhint %}
## Searching your mail
Type in the **Search emails** box to find messages across subject, sender, and the snippet preview. Results update shortly after you stop typing. Searching for a plain email address matches it against the sender and recipients.
## Reading a message
Each row in the list shows the sender, the date or time, the subject, and a short snippet preview. On the right you may see indicators:
* A provider badge: **G** for Gmail or **O** for Outlook.
* A star if the message is starred, a flag if flagged, and a paperclip if it has attachments.
* A dot, with the row in bold, for unread messages.
Click a message to open it in the reading pane on the right. The reading pane shows the sender's name and email, the subject, the provider badge, the recipients (and CC if present), the full date and time, any labels on the message, and the message body. You can:
* **Download attachments**, listed with their filename and size.
* **Open in Gmail** or **Open in Outlook** to view the original in the provider's web app.
* **Reply** or **Reply All** (covered in [Sending email and drafts](/mail/sending-and-drafts.md)).
Click the message again to close it. If nothing is selected, the pane reads "Select an email to read".
### Marking read and deleting
Each row has a checkbox, and the header lets you select or deselect all. When you select one or more messages, a bar appears with:
* **Mark as read**
* **Delete**, which moves messages to Trash or Deleted Items. This is recoverable, not a permanent delete.
{% hint style="info" %}
If a bulk action is ambiguous because you have several accounts connected, eBrain may show a **Choose an account** dialog. Pick the relevant mailbox to continue.
{% endhint %}
## Or just ask Tim
You do not have to dig through the inbox yourself. Because Tim, your assistant, can read your connected mail, you can simply ask in chat to find or summarize email, for example "summarize the emails from this morning" or "find the latest message from my accountant". Tim reads across your connected mailboxes and reports back, and asks for your approval before sending anything on your behalf.
## Smart automation
Gmail accounts can optionally have eBrain label incoming mail and draft replies for you, all set up per account in the **Configuration** tab. Drafts are only ever created, never sent. See [Smart mail automation](/mail/smart-automation.md) for the full picture.
---
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