# Tool

> Give Inbox Agent the internal context it needs to draft well.

Source: https://docs.runbear.io/inbox-agent/tools

Last updated: 2026-08-26

Give Inbox Agent access to the internal context it needs to write genuinely useful suggestions — not generic ones. By connecting tools, you let the agent reference your actual work when drafting replies and preparing meeting briefs.

## Why tools matter

Without tools, Inbox Agent can only work with what's in the message itself. With tools connected, it can draw on the full picture:

- **Notion** — reference docs, meeting notes, and internal wikis when drafting replies
- **Linear** — surface related issues, pull status updates, and propose creating new tickets
- **Confluence** — include relevant team documentation and runbooks in context
- And more from the shared tool catalog

The difference shows up immediately. An email about a bug becomes a draft reply that already references the open Linear issue. A meeting brief includes the Notion doc your team prepared last week.

## Shared tool catalog

Inbox Agent draws on the same tool catalog as your team agents, so a tool you already know from an agent behaves the same way here.

For the full list of available tools and how they work, see [Tools overview](/agents/tools/overview.md).

![Tool connection screen in Inbox Agent](/img/inbox-agent/inbox-agent-tool-connect.png)

## How to connect a tool

1. Open **Inbox Agent** in the Runbear app.
2. Navigate to **Tools** in the agent settings.
3. Browse the tool catalog and select the tool you want to connect.
4. Follow the authorization steps for that tool — most use OAuth or an API key.
5. Once connected, Inbox Agent will use it automatically when preparing suggestions and briefs.

![Tool catalog in Inbox Agent settings](/img/inbox-agent/inbox-agent-tool-catalog.png)

> **Start with the tools you use most**
>
> If your team runs on Linear and Notion, connect those first. You'll see the improvement in suggestion quality right away. Add more tools over time as you identify gaps.

## Next steps

- [Explore all available tools](/agents/tools/overview.md)
- [Connect Slack](/inbox-agent/channels/slack.md)
- [Connect Email (Gmail)](/inbox-agent/channels/email.md)
- [Connect Calendar (Google Calendar)](/inbox-agent/channels/calendar.md)