Why this matters for your business: Most Indian businesses using Zoho have all the right data — in CRM, Mail, Calendar, Contacts. What they’re missing is a way to talk to that data in plain language. Connecting Zoho MCP with Google Gemini means you can type “Show me my five most recent unread emails from clients” or “List leads added this week” — and Gemini fetches it from your live Zoho account, instantly.
The Zoho MCP server (Model Context Protocol) is Zoho’s official gateway that lets AI assistants like Google Gemini connect directly to your Zoho data. It is not a third-party workaround — it is officially supported by Zoho and verified to work with Gemini on the free plan. No paid Gemini subscription is required to get started.
What can you do once Zoho MCP is connected to Google Gemini?
Once connected, Gemini can read and act on your live Zoho data using natural language. Some examples of what becomes possible:
Zoho Mail via Gemini
- “List my first five unread emails”
- “Summarise emails from this sender”
- “Draft a reply to this thread”
Zoho CRM via Gemini
- “List contacts added this week”
- “Show deals in negotiation stage”
- “Create a follow-up note for this lead”
Zoho Calendar via Gemini
- “What meetings do I have tomorrow?”
- “Schedule a call with this contact”
- “Show my availability this week”
Zoho Tasks + Notes via Gemini
- “List my overdue tasks”
- “Create a task from this email thread”
- “Summarise my notes from last week”
The Zoho MCP server exposes over 40 read and write tools across Zoho Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Notes, and Bookmarks — all accessible from Gemini in plain English.
Two ways to connect: Gemini Code Assist (VS Code) or Gemini CLI (Terminal)
Zoho MCP connects with Gemini through two paths depending on how you prefer to work. Both are free to use.
Path A — Gemini Code Assist
For users who prefer a visual interface. Uses VS Code with the Gemini Code Assist extension. Best for teams already using VS Code for development or document editing.
Requires: VS Code + GitHub Copilot enabled
Path B — Gemini CLI
For technical users who prefer working in the terminal. Faster to configure, no VS Code needed. Best for developers or power users who live in the command line.
Requires: Terminal + Gemini CLI installed and authenticated
Path A — Connect Zoho MCP with Gemini Code Assist (VS Code)
1
Get your Zoho MCP JSON config from the console
Log in to mcp.zoho.in. Navigate to Connect → MCP Clients → Cursor tab. Copy the JSON configuration snippet shown there. This is the same snippet used for all MCP clients including Gemini.
2
Install Gemini Code Assist in VS Code
Open VS Code → Extensions panel → search Gemini Code Assist → Install → sign in with your Google account. Also install and enable GitHub Copilot in VS Code — it is required for Zoho MCP to function with Gemini Code Assist.
3
Turn on Agent Mode — this step is critical
Click the Gemini spark icon in the VS Code sidebar. Slide the Agent toggle to ON. Without Agent mode enabled, Gemini cannot invoke any Zoho MCP tools — even if everything else is configured correctly. This is the step most people miss.
4
Create the .gemini/settings.json config file
In VS Code Explorer, right-click your project root folder → New Folder → name it .gemini. Then right-click the .gemini folder → New File → name it settings.json.
5
Paste the Zoho MCP config and reload VS Code
Paste the JSON snippet copied from the Zoho MCP console into the settings.json file. Save the file. Reload VS Code to apply the configuration.
// .gemini/settings.json — paste your Zoho MCP snippet here
{
“mcpServers”: {
“zoho-mcp”: {
“command”: “…”, // from mcp.zoho.in console
“args”: [“…”]
}
}
}
{
“mcpServers”: {
“zoho-mcp”: {
“command”: “…”, // from mcp.zoho.in console
“args”: [“…”]
}
}
}
6
Verify the connection with /mcp command
In the Gemini Code Assist chat panel, type /mcp. Your configured Zoho MCP server and its tools will appear in the list. You are now connected — try typing “List my first five emails” and Gemini will fetch them from your live Zoho account.
Path B — Connect Zoho MCP with Gemini CLI (Terminal)
Prefer working in the terminal? Install and authenticate Gemini CLI first by following the Gemini CLI installation guide, then follow these steps:
1
Confirm the settings.json file exists
ls ~/.gemini/settings.json
If the file is not present, create it in the next step. If it is present, open it to add the Zoho MCP config.
2
Copy the Zoho MCP JSON from mcp.zoho.in
Go to mcp.zoho.in → Connect → MCP Clients → Cursor tab → copy the JSON snippet shown. This is the same config used for Path A.
3
Open settings.json and paste the config
nano ~/.gemini/settings.json
Paste the Zoho MCP JSON config. Press Ctrl+O then Enter to save.
4
Restart the terminal and verify the connection
gemini mcp list
Restart the terminal after saving. Run the command above — your Zoho MCP server should appear with a connected status.
5
Start chatting with your Zoho data
gemini chat
gemini “List my first five emails”
gemini “List my first five emails”
Gemini will ask permission to execute the Zoho MCP tools before running. Allow access and your live Zoho data is returned directly in the terminal.
Codroid Labs can set this up for your entire team
We are a certified Zoho Authorized Partner (GSTIN 07AAWFC0815B1ZP) based in New Delhi. We configure Zoho MCP across your organisation — Mail, CRM, Calendar, Creator — and connect it to the AI tools your team already uses, including Google Gemini. You get a live demo, the full setup, and team training in one engagement.
+91 78384 02682 — Green Park, New Delhi
Quick questions answered
Do I need a paid Gemini plan to connect Zoho MCP?
No. Zoho MCP integration is supported on Gemini Code Assist and Gemini CLI, both of which are available on the free plan. MCP support is not tied to any Gemini subscription tier.
Which Zoho products does MCP support with Gemini?
The Zoho MCP server currently covers Zoho Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Notes, and Bookmarks — with over 40 read and write tools. Zoho CRM connectivity is available through the MCP server and is expanding. Codroid Labs can advise on the current scope for your specific Zoho environment.
Is the connection secure?
Yes. Zoho MCP uses OAuth-based authentication through your Zoho account credentials. Gemini asks for your permission before executing any tool action — you can allow or deny each request. Data does not leave your Zoho environment without your explicit approval.
Can Codroid Labs set this up for our company’s Zoho account?
Yes. Codroid Labs configures Zoho MCP across all Zoho products your business uses, connects it to your team’s preferred AI tools (including Google Gemini), and provides team training. We also issue a GSTIN invoice, so your business recovers the 18% GST as Input Tax Credit. Book a free consultation to discuss your setup.