Inbox Zero MCP Server

Getting Started with Inbox Zero MCP

Inbox Zero MCP provides an interface to manage your email inbox efficiently using AI assistance directly from your AI coding environment or Claude desktop.

Prerequisites

Before using the Inbox Zero MCP, you need:

1. An Inbox Zero account with an API key (available from the /settings page in the web app)
2. Node.js and pnpm installed on your system

Installation

1. Clone the Inbox Zero repository:

git clone https://github.com/elie222/inbox-zero.git
cd inbox-zero/apps/mcp-server

2. Install dependencies:

pnpm install

3. Create a .env file based on the example:

cp .env.example .env

4. Add your API key to the .env file:

API_KEY=your_api_key_here

5. Build and start the MCP server:

pnpm run build
pnpm start

Configuring Your AI Environment

To use the MCP with Cursor, Claude Desktop, or other compatible AI environments, you'll need to configure it with the full path to the built MCP server.

In your AI environment's settings, add the MCP server path:

/full/path/to/inbox-zero/apps/mcp-server/build/index.js

Make sure to use the absolute path to the built server file on your system.

Usage

Once configured, you can interact with your Inbox Zero assistant through your AI environment. You can:

• Ask for email summaries
• Get information about unread messages
• Draft responses to emails
• Organize your inbox
• Schedule follow-ups

Simply ask your AI assistant to help you with email tasks, and it will use the Inbox Zero MCP to access and manage your inbox.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

1. Verify your API key is correctly set in the .env file
2. Ensure the MCP server is running (pnpm start)
3. Check that you've provided the correct absolute path to the built server in your AI environment
4. Restart your AI environment after making configuration changes

For more detailed information or support, refer to the Inbox Zero documentation.