Gmail snippets — Apps Script snippets

How to use these

Set up before you run

Copy a snippet into a script file, read its setup and notes, change the placeholder values, and save. For functions meant to run manually, choose the function name in the toolbar and press Run. Results appear in the Execution log unless the description says otherwise.

1

Search threads with a query

Run a Gmail search, the same kind you type in the Gmail search box, and get back a list of matching threads.

GmailApp.GmailThread

Code.gs

function searchRecentThreadsFromSender() {
  const query = 'from:billing@example.com newer_than:7d';
  const threads = GmailApp.search(query);
  Logger.log('Found ' + threads.length + ' threads.');
}

2

Read sender, subject, and date of the newest message in a thread

Look at the most recent message in a thread to see who sent it, what it says in the subject line, and when it arrived.

GmailApp.GmailThreadGmailApp.GmailMessage

Code.gs

function logNewestMessageDetails() {
  const threads = GmailApp.search('from:billing@example.com');
  if (!threads.length) return;
  const messages = threads[0].getMessages();
  const newest = messages[messages.length - 1];
  Logger.log(newest.getFrom() + ' | ' + newest.getSubject() + ' | ' + newest.getDate());
}

3

Send a plain-text email

Send a plain email with a subject and body.

GmailApp.GmailMessage

Code.gs

function sendPlainTextEmail() {
  const recipient = 'you@example.com';
  const subject = 'A quick update';
  const body = 'This is a plain-text message sent from Apps Script.';
  GmailApp.sendEmail(recipient, subject, body);
  Logger.log('Sent to ' + recipient);
}

4

Send an HTML email with htmlBody

Send a formatted email by passing an htmlBody option, while keeping a plain-text body as a fallback.

GmailApp.GmailMessage

Code.gs

function sendHtmlEmail() {
  const recipient = 'you@example.com';
  const subject = 'A formatted update';
  const plainBody = 'This message needs an HTML-capable email client.';
  const htmlBody = '<p>This is <strong>bold</strong> and this is <em>italic</em>.</p>';
  GmailApp.sendEmail(recipient, subject, plainBody, { htmlBody: htmlBody });
  Logger.log('Sent HTML email to ' + recipient);
}

Good to know. Always include a plain-text body too, in case the recipient's email client cannot show HTML.

5

Send with an attachment from Drive

Attach an existing Drive file to an email by turning it into a blob first.

GmailApp.GmailMessageDriveApp.File

Code.gs

function sendEmailWithDriveAttachment() {
  const fileId = 'REPLACE_WITH_FILE_ID';
  const file = DriveApp.getFileById(fileId);
  const recipient = 'you@example.com';
  GmailApp.sendEmail(recipient, 'A file for you', 'See the attached file.', {
    attachments: [file.getBlob()]
  });
  Logger.log('Sent ' + file.getName() + ' to ' + recipient);
}

6

Create a draft instead of sending

Save a message as a draft so a person can review and send it themselves, instead of the script sending it right away.

GmailApp.GmailDraft

Code.gs

function createFollowUpDraft() {
  const recipient = 'you@example.com';
  const subject = 'Draft for review';
  const body = 'This draft was created by a script and is waiting for review.';
  const draft = GmailApp.createDraft(recipient, subject, body);
  Logger.log('Draft created with id ' + draft.getId());
}

7

Add a label to matching threads

Search for threads and tag every result with an existing Gmail label so they are easy to find later.

GmailApp.GmailLabelGmailApp.GmailThread

Code.gs

function labelInvoiceThreads() {
  const label = GmailApp.getUserLabelByName('Invoices');
  if (!label) throw new Error('Create a Gmail label named Invoices before running this function.');
  const threads = GmailApp.search('subject:invoice newer_than:30d');
  threads.forEach((thread) => label.addToThread(thread));
  Logger.log('Labeled ' + threads.length + ' threads.');
}

8

Mark a thread as read

Clear the unread status on the first matching thread, the same effect as opening it in Gmail.

GmailApp.GmailThread

Code.gs

function markFirstMatchingThreadRead() {
  const threads = GmailApp.search('from:billing@example.com is:unread');
  if (!threads.length) return;
  threads[0].markRead();
  Logger.log('Marked thread as read.');
}

9

Star a message

Add a star to the newest message in a thread so it stands out in the Gmail inbox.

GmailApp.GmailMessage

Code.gs

function starNewestMatchingMessage() {
  const threads = GmailApp.search('from:billing@example.com');
  if (!threads.length) return;
  const messages = threads[0].getMessages();
  const newest = messages[messages.length - 1];
  GmailApp.starMessage(newest);
  Logger.log('Starred message from ' + newest.getFrom());
}

10

Count unread threads in the inbox

Get a single number for how many inbox threads are currently unread, useful for a daily summary.

GmailApp.GmailThread

Code.gs

function logUnreadInboxCount() {
  const unreadCount = GmailApp.getInboxUnreadCount();
  Logger.log('Unread threads in inbox: ' + unreadCount);
}

11

Get the plain body of a message

Read the plain-text body of the newest message in a thread, without any HTML formatting.

GmailApp.GmailMessage

Code.gs

function logNewestMessageBody() {
  const threads = GmailApp.search('from:billing@example.com');
  if (!threads.length) return;
  const messages = threads[0].getMessages();
  const newest = messages[messages.length - 1];
  Logger.log(newest.getPlainBody());
}

12

List your labels

Get every Gmail label you have created so a script can check which ones already exist.

GmailApp.GmailLabel

Code.gs

function logAllLabelNames() {
  const labels = GmailApp.getUserLabels();
  const names = labels.map((label) => label.getName());
  Logger.log(names);
}

Keep going

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