Real-Time Gmail Watch via Grok Mailbox Relay

Create a Grok-exclusive mailbox → route Gmail by sender or use a cloud script fallback → incoming mail triggers instant assistant alert

Who

Users with multiple Gmail accounts who need real-time alerts for replies from specific contacts

You get

When a watched contact replies, the Grok assistant is triggered immediately to draft a response; human approval is required before any email is sent

You need

Gmail

Steps

1. Create a Grok mailbox and set up the incoming-mail trigger routine

   In a Grok Bot conversation, tell the assistant: "Create an email mailbox for yourself with the name xxx" (you may offer several alternatives). The assistant checks availability and provisions [email protected]. Then say: "Wake me up immediately when mail arrives at this mailbox." The assistant will create an "incoming mail triggers routine" task. Note: each user gets only one Grok mailbox, it is permanent after creation, so choose the name carefully. The [email protected] format is supported for separating different uses.

2. Create a Google Cloud OAuth app and authorize each Gmail account

   In Google Cloud Console, create an OAuth app (the author named it "Gmail Forward Filter"), enable Gmail-related permissions, and publish the consent screen to production (test-mode auth expires in 7 days). Each Gmail account needs to click "authorize" once to obtain a long-lived token; store tokens only on the Grok cloud computer locally, not in git. Tokens become invalid only if the password is changed or the authorization is revoked in the Google Account settings.

3. Route A: Gmail sender-based forwarding to Grok mailbox

   In Gmail web settings → Forwarding and POP/IMAP, add the Grok mailbox as a forwarding address. This is done once per Gmail account; phone confirmation of identity is required. Google sends a confirmation email to the Grok mailbox—have the assistant click the confirmation link. Keep the global forwarder disabled; create a filter only: emails from a specific sender → forward to Grok mailbox. The result is that replies arrive at the Grok mailbox almost instantly and trigger the assistant.

4. Route B: Scheduled script on Grok cloud computer to check mail and send alerts

   For Gmail accounts that cannot add a forwarding address (the author encountered this with three accounts with no stated reason), deploy a scheduled script on the Grok cloud computer (the author used Cursor to write it) that checks for new mail from specified senders every 3 minutes. When new mail is found, the script sends an alert email to the Grok mailbox, triggering the assistant report. The script runs autonomously without waking the assistant and consumes no Grok quota. Note: after a cloud computer restart or update, verify that scheduled tasks are still running.

5. Daily use: add or remove watched contacts

   To watch a contact, tell the assistant "watch this person." The assistant checks the account route: for forward-capable accounts it adds a sender filter; for non-forward accounts it adds the contact to the script watchlist. When the contact replies, the assistant reports immediately and drafts a response, but the send button is always pressed by the user. When the matter is concluded, tell the assistant to remove the watch; it deletes the filter or removes from the list, returning to normal polling.

No prompt needed — just follow the steps.