# AI email responder: draft Gmail replies automatically with n8n

> A free one-page cheat sheet: n8n watches Gmail, an AI agent reads each customer email and saves a reply as a draft in the same thread.

Source: https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/ai-email-responder-n8n · Updated 2026-10-01 · Free from Stepthrough (https://learn.ynteractive.com)

[Lesson cheat sheet](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets#kind-lesson) · One page · US letter · [n8n](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/tool/n8n)

By [Robert Breen](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/about) · Published October 1, 2026 · From the free lesson [AI Email Responder: Draft Gmail Replies Automatically with n8n](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-email-responder-gmail-drafts-n8n)

A free one-page cheat sheet: n8n watches Gmail, an AI agent reads each customer email and saves a reply as a draft in the same thread.

[Download the free PDF (81 KB)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/ai-email-responder-n8n.pdf)Print this sheet

Free, no sign-up and no email needed. It prints on one letter-size page; the whole sheet is below.

*▶*StepthroughFree printable cheat sheet · learn.ynteractive.com

AI email responder: draft Gmail replies automatically with n8n

Customers ask the same questions all day. This agent writes each reply as a Gmail draft under the customer's email, and you keep the final say.

## Trigger and agent

1. **Create workflow**, **Add first step**, search **gmail**. Under **Triggers**, pick **On message received**.
2. Connect the business inbox with **Sign in with Google**. Keep **Every Minute** and click **Fetch Test Event**.
3. Add **AI Agent**. Set **Source for Prompt** to **Define below** and paste the prompt below.
4. **Chat Model**: **OpenAI Chat Model** with your **OpenAI account** credential.

## The prompt

Copy

```text
Write a reply to this email, then save it as a draft in the same thread.
<email>
From: {{ $json.From }}
Subject: {{ $json.Subject }}
Message: {{ $json.snippet }}
</email>
```

The {{ }} parts pull in each email's sender, subject and message.

## Gmail Tool: drafts only

**Resource**

Change Message to **Draft**. Operation switches to **Create**.

**Subject**

`Re: {{ $json.Subject }}`

**Message**

Click **✦** so the model writes it.

**Thread ID**

`{{ $json.threadId }}`, so the draft sits under the customer's email.

**To Email**

`{{ $json.From }}`, so you can just hit send.

## Facts, then the fix

- Add **Simple Memory**, then a **System Message** in four parts: who you are, what you know, rules, how to write.
- Rules: only create drafts. If it doesn't know, say someone from the team will follow up. Never make up prices, dates or services.
- **No session ID found** in Simple Memory? Set **Session ID** to **Define below** and paste `{{ $json.threadId }}`.
- All green? Read the draft in Gmail, then click **Publish**.

**Remember:** Set the Gmail Tool to Draft. Then the worst the agent can do is write a draft you never send.

Practice it free: [AI Email Responder: Draft Gmail Replies Automatically with n8n](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/email-responder) at learn.ynteractive.com/modules/email-responder. This sheet: learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/ai-email-responder-n8n. Greenline Pest Control is a made-up business from the lesson. By Robert Breen, October 1, 2026.

## Practice it in the free lesson

**AI Email Responder: Draft Gmail Replies Automatically with n8n**. Build an n8n agent that watches your Gmail, reads each new customer email, and writes a reply as a draft in the same thread, ready for you to check and send. You do every step yourself in a practice copy of n8n, it checks your work as you go, and “Do it for me” finishes any step you get stuck on. Free, and nothing touches your real accounts.

[Start the free lesson](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/email-responder)

[Or read the full step-by-step guide](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-email-responder-gmail-drafts-n8n)

## Related terms

Plain-English definitions, each with an example from a free lesson.

[Gmail Trigger](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/gmail-trigger) · [AI Agent node](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/ai-agent-node) · [Expression](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/expression) · [Gmail draft](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/gmail-draft) · [Agent memory](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/agent-memory) · [Session ID](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/session-id) · [Execution](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/execution) · [System prompt (system message)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/system-prompt)

[The full AI glossary](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary)

## Related prompts

- [AI agent system message prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/agent-system-message-draft-prompt): Draft the system message for an n8n AI Agent: who it is, what it knows, its rules and how it writes, including a rule never to…
- ["Do you service my area?" reply prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/service-area-question-reply-prompt): Answer "do you cover my town?" from your real service area list: a clear yes with how to book, a kind no, or a request for the…
- [Daily priorities plan prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/daily-priorities-plan-prompt): Paste your to-do list and fixed times and get a realistic plan for today: top three, time blocks, a buffer, and what to move to…
- [FAQ from customer emails prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/faq-from-customer-emails-prompt): Turn a batch of customer emails into an FAQ: the questions people really ask, in their words, answered only from your facts…

[All free prompt templates](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts)

## More cheat sheets

- [AI Email Drafts Safety Cheat Sheet](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/ai-email-drafts-safety): A free one-page cheat sheet: let AI write email drafts, not sends. Give it facts and rules, keep private data out and check every promise.
- [Check Every Promise in an AI Reply: Cheat Sheet](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/check-every-promise): A free one-page cheat sheet: give ChatGPT the thread and your numbered facts, ask for a promise-by-promise table, fix what it flags, then send.
- [Using AI Safely with Customer Data: Cheat Sheet](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/ai-customer-data-safety): A free one-page cheat sheet on AI and customer data: what never to paste, how to redact, data controls, Temporary Chat and human review.

[All free cheat sheets](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets) · [All free tutorials](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content)