# Integration to External Inbox

> Connect your email or chat so client messages arrive in External Inbox, then capture the right ones as work.

Source: https://flopinio.com/help/tutorials/integration-to-external-inbox · Last updated: 2026-11-01 · Status: Shipped

## What you'll do

In the first tutorial you pasted Northstar's email by hand. Here you'll connect your mailbox so the next one arrives in External Inbox automatically, add a rule to keep newsletters out, and capture a new message.

## Steps

1. Open **Settings → Integrations** and connect your mailbox, for example Zoho Mail. Slack messages and plain Telegram messages also arrive in External Inbox; Telegram `/note` and `/request` commands create records directly.
2. Optional. For Zoho Mail or ProtonMail Bridge, add a [mailbox rule](https://flopinio.com/help/email-and-mailbox-rules) that ingests mail from Northstar's domain with high urgency, and one that skips newsletters.
3. Wait for the first sync, then open **External Inbox**.
4. Open a Northstar message and read it. Choose **Run Review** if you want a summary first.
5. Capture it as a request, note, or task, depending on what it is. Dismiss anything that doesn't need you.
6. Open the new record and check it's linked to Northstar and the right project.

## Example: What you should see

- New client messages arrive in External Inbox without any copy and paste.
- Captured records keep a link to the original message.
- Nothing was sent from your mailbox.

## Google connection availability and data use

Gmail and Google Calendar connections are currently paused for public use while verification and security readiness work is completed. Google Sign-In is separate. When available, Gmail intake is read-only; AI/search processing requires a separate owner opt-in. Captured Google text stays in a separate private source section unless explicitly shared, and is erased with its derived copies on disconnect. See the [Google integration guide](https://flopinio.com/help/google-integrations) and [Privacy Policy](https://flopinio.com/privacy) for availability, retention, and deletion details.

## FAQ

### Which integrations send messages to External Inbox?

Slack, plain Telegram messages, Zoho Mail, and ProtonMail Bridge. Gmail is paused. Telegram `/note` and `/request` commands create records directly. Jira imports assigned issues directly as tasks. See [Integrations](https://flopinio.com/help/integrations).

### Will old emails be imported?

When Gmail becomes available, it brings in recent threads. Mailbox rules apply to mail synced after you create them.