Gws Gmail Forward

---
name: gws-gmail-forward
description: "Gmail: Forward a message to new recipients."
metadata:
  version: 0.22.5
---

# gmail +forward

> **PREREQUISITE:** Read `gws-shared` for Ciaobot auth (via `ciao gws`), global flags, and security rules.

Forward a message to new recipients

## Usage

```bash
ciao gws "$GWS_PROFILE" gmail +forward --message-id <ID> --to <EMAILS>
```

## Flags

| Flag | Required | Default | Description |
|------|----------|---------|-------------|
| `--message-id` | ✓ | — | Gmail message ID to forward |
| `--to` | ✓ | — | Recipient email address(es), comma-separated |
| `--from` | — | — | Sender address (for send-as/alias; omit to use account default) |
| `--body` | — | — | Optional note to include above the forwarded message (plain text, or HTML with --html) |
| `--no-original-attachments` | — | — | Do not include file attachments from the original message (inline images in --html mode are preserved) |
| `--attach` | — | — | Attach a file (can be specified multiple times) |
| `--cc` | — | — | CC email address(es), comma-separated |
| `--bcc` | — | — | BCC email address(es), comma-separated |
| `--html` | — | — | Treat --body as HTML content (default is plain text) |
| `--dry-run` | — | — | Show the request that would be sent without executing it |
| `--draft` | — | — | Save as draft instead of sending |

## Examples

```bash
ciao gws "$GWS_PROFILE" gmail +forward --message-id 18f1a2b3c4d --to dave@example.com
ciao gws "$GWS_PROFILE" gmail +forward --message-id 18f1a2b3c4d --to dave@example.com --body 'FYI see below'
ciao gws "$GWS_PROFILE" gmail +forward --message-id 18f1a2b3c4d --to dave@example.com --cc eve@example.com
ciao gws "$GWS_PROFILE" gmail +forward --message-id 18f1a2b3c4d --to dave@example.com --body '<p>FYI</p>' --html
ciao gws "$GWS_PROFILE" gmail +forward --message-id 18f1a2b3c4d --to dave@example.com -a notes.pdf
ciao gws "$GWS_PROFILE" gmail +forward --message-id 18f1a2b3c4d --to dave@example.com --no-original-attachments
ciao gws "$GWS_PROFILE" gmail +forward --message-id 18f1a2b3c4d --to dave@example.com --draft
```

## Tips

- Includes the original message with sender, date, subject, and recipients.
- Original attachments are included by default (matching Gmail web behavior).
- With --html, inline images are also preserved via cid: references.
- In plain-text mode, inline images are not included (matching Gmail web).
- Use --no-original-attachments to forward without the original message's files.
- Use -a/--attach to add extra file attachments. Can be specified multiple times.
- Combined size of original and user attachments is limited to 25MB.
- With --html, the forwarded block uses Gmail's gmail_quote CSS classes and preserves HTML formatting. Use fragment tags (<p>, <b>, <a>, etc.) — no <html>/<body> wrapper needed.
- Use --draft to save the forward as a draft instead of sending it immediately.