Auto-clean Gmail Spam Folder - Monthly Using Gmail API

The workflow JSON

Copy or download the full n8n JSON below. Paste it into a new n8n workflow, add your credentials, activate. Full import guide →

{
  "id": "hdBpjh9528K5FyWV",
  "meta": {
    "templateCredsSetupCompleted": true
  },
  "name": "Auto-Clean Gmail Spam Folder Monthly with Gmail API",
  "tags": [],
  "nodes": [
    {
      "id": "e214c477-6d39-426f-8a34-cd38bb6f5ae2",
      "name": "Monthly Trigger (1st Day)",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger",
      "position": [
        -380,
        120
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "rule": {
          "interval": [
            {
              "field": "months",
              "triggerAtHour": 6
            }
          ]
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 1.2
    },
    {
      "id": "e8eb600c-9b45-44e2-8ee6-409c9b61b171",
      "name": "Fetch SPAM Emails (Gmail)",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.gmail",
      "position": [
        -160,
        120
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "filters": {
          "labelIds": [
            "SPAM"
          ]
        },
        "operation": "getAll",
        "returnAll": true
      },
      "credentials": {
        "gmailOAuth2": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 2.1
    },
    {
      "id": "96a0fd3c-63bd-48f4-87d7-7eda528b50a3",
      "name": "Pause Before Deletion (5s)",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.wait",
      "position": [
        60,
        120
      ],
      "parameters": {},
      "typeVersion": 1.1
    },
    {
      "id": "e172bbb8-069c-4c68-b72f-cf2a7f304f0b",
      "name": "Delete Fetched SPAM Emails",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.gmail",
      "position": [
        280,
        120
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "messageId": "={{ $json.id }}",
        "operation": "delete"
      },
      "credentials": {
        "gmailOAuth2": {
          "name": "<your credential>"
        }
      },
      "typeVersion": 2.1
    },
    {
      "id": "a07dd87f-1216-44de-91b8-a6d7d36877e8",
      "name": "Sticky Note",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        -415,
        -80
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "color": 3,
        "width": 170,
        "height": 360,
        "content": "Starts the workflow automatically on the 1st of every month to perform email cleanup."
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "0de7be15-2ebe-4c28-ab52-59f35f6a3135",
      "name": "Sticky Note1",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        -200,
        -80
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "color": 5,
        "width": 170,
        "height": 360,
        "content": "Uses Gmail API to retrieve all emails in the SPAM folder for the authenticated Gmail account."
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "11c0f2f1-1480-4512-ad4d-1d9544838e2c",
      "name": "Sticky Note2",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        20,
        -80
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "width": 170,
        "height": 360,
        "content": "Introduces a short delay to avoid hitting Gmail\u2019s API rate limits or ensure all emails are fetched properly."
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    },
    {
      "id": "0600f919-8315-431a-8420-9c0931b9c097",
      "name": "Sticky Note3",
      "type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
      "position": [
        240,
        -80
      ],
      "parameters": {
        "color": 4,
        "width": 170,
        "height": 360,
        "content": "Permanently deletes all emails retrieved from the SPAM folder to free up Gmail space and improve email hygiene."
      },
      "typeVersion": 1
    }
  ],
  "active": false,
  "settings": {
    "executionOrder": "v1"
  },
  "versionId": "ad4a18bb-1aff-4520-9e68-4844bf365d8f",
  "connections": {
    "Fetch SPAM Emails (Gmail)": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Pause Before Deletion (5s)",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Monthly Trigger (1st Day)": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Fetch SPAM Emails (Gmail)",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    },
    "Pause Before Deletion (5s)": {
      "main": [
        [
          {
            "node": "Delete Fetched SPAM Emails",
            "type": "main",
            "index": 0
          }
        ]
      ]
    }
  }
}

Credentials you'll need

Each integration node will prompt for credentials when you import. We strip credential IDs before publishing — you'll add your own.

• gmailOAuth2

About this workflow

This automated n8n workflow uses the Gmail API to clean the spam folder by permanently deleting all emails on the first day of each month. The system ensures efficient email management and improves Gmail storage by removing unwanted spam emails. Gmail API rate limits should be…

Source: https://n8n.io/workflows/6122/ — original creator credit. Request a take-down →

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