Tool Permissions

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Overview

Giving your workers access to tools like Gmail, Slack, or Google Calendar works differently than traditional software. Think of it like onboarding a new employee: they need both the right equipment and login credentials to do their job. Spinnable uses a two-level system:

1. Add the tool to your worker — Like giving them access to the company’s software suite
2. Connect the tool — Like providing them with login credentials so they can actually use it

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Understanding Tool States

Here’s what each state means for your worker:

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Step 1: Add a Tool to Your Worker

You can add tools to a worker in two ways:

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Option A: Through the Worker Settings

1. Go to your worker’s page
2. Click Tools in the left sidebar
3. Click Add tool
4. Select the tool(s) you need from the list
5. Click Add

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Option B: Ask Conversationally

Just tell your worker what you need:

“Hey, I need you to manage my Gmail inbox. Can you add the Gmail tool?”

Your worker will guide you through adding the necessary tools.

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Step 2: Connect the Tool

After adding a tool, you’ll need to connect it before your worker can use it. There are two ways to do this:

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Method 1: User-Level Connection (Recommended for Most Users)

How it works: Connect a tool once in your personal User Tools, then any worker can use your account when needed. When to use this:

• You want simple, one-time setup
• You’re comfortable with workers using your personal accounts
• You don’t need separate accounts for different workers

Steps:

1. Click your email address in the bottom left corner
2. Click Tools (you’ll see tools connected at user level at the top, and below that, each worker and their tools)
3. Click Add tools, select the tool(s) you want, then click Connect to authenticate with your account
4. Go back to your worker’s page → Tools
5. Click Connect on the tool
6. Select “Use user account” from the dropdown

Pros:

• ✅ Set it up once, use it for all workers
• ✅ Quick and easy
• ✅ No need to manage multiple accounts

Cons:

• ⚠️ Workers have all the permissions your personal account has
• ⚠️ Actions appear as you (emails sent, calendar events created, etc.)
• ⚠️ Less secure if you need strict access control

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Method 2: Worker-Specific Connection (Recommended for Teams & Sensitive Data)

How it works: Connect each tool with a separate account specifically for that worker. When to use this:

• You need different workers to use different accounts (e.g., Worker A uses GitHub account 1, Worker B uses GitHub account 2)
• You want better security and access control
• You want actions to appear under a specific account (not your personal account)
• You’re managing tools with sensitive data

Steps:

1. Go to your worker’s page → Tools
2. Click Connect on the tool you want to connect
3. Authenticate with a separate account (you’ll typically be redirected to the tool’s login page or asked for an API key depending on the tool)
4. The tool is now connected specifically to this worker

Pros:

• ✅ More secure — control permissions at the tool level
• ✅ Different workers can use different accounts for the same tool
• ✅ Actions appear under the worker’s account, not yours
• ✅ Better audit trail and accountability

Cons:

• ⚠️ Requires setting up separate accounts for each worker that needs the tool
• ⚠️ More setup time

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Tools with Granular Access Controls

Some tools are split into multiple versions to give you precise control over what your workers can do. These are clearly labeled in the tool title.

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Examples:

• Gmail (read) — Worker can read emails but not send them
• Gmail (send) — Worker can send emails on your behalf
• Outlook (read) — Worker can read emails but not send them
• Outlook (send) — Worker can send emails on your behalf

You can add one or both depending on your needs. Just remember: each tool needs to be connected separately, even if they’re for the same service.

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Common Scenarios & Mistakes

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❌ “I connected Gmail but my worker can’t send emails”

What happened: You likely added and connected Gmail (read) but not Gmail (send). Solution: Go to your worker’s Tools page, add Gmail (send), and connect it.

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❌ “I connected Gmail in User Tools, but my worker says they still can’t access it”

What happened: You connected it at the user level, but you didn’t select “user account” when connecting the tool to your worker. Solution:

1. Go to your worker → Tools
2. Click Connect next to Gmail
3. Select “Use user account” from the dropdown

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❌ “My worker did something with my Gmail, but I wanted them to use a different account”

What happened: You used the user-level connection method, which gives workers access to your personal account. Solution:

1. Go to your worker → Tools
2. Click Disconnect on the tool
3. Click Connect again
4. This time, authenticate with a separate account instead of selecting “user account”

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❌ “I added a tool but it’s not showing up”

What happened: Adding a tool can take a moment to process. Solution: Refresh the page. If it still doesn’t appear, try adding the tool again or reach out to support.

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Available Tools

Spinnable supports 35+ integrations across communication, productivity, development, and specialized tools.

Browse All Tools

See the complete list of available tools and integrations →

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Important Security Notes

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Best Practices:

1. Use worker-specific accounts for sensitive tools — Consider creating dedicated accounts for workers that handle financial data, customer information, or other sensitive materials.
2. Use granular tools when available — If you only need a worker to read emails, don’t give them send permissions.
3. Review connected tools regularly — Go to your worker’s Tools page periodically to make sure they only have access to what they need.
4. Disconnect tools when no longer needed — If a worker’s role changes, remove tools they no longer use.

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Quick Reference: Which Connection Method Should I Use?

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Need Help?

If you’re stuck or unsure which approach to use, just ask your worker conversationally:

“I want you to access my Gmail, but I’m not sure how to set that up. Can you walk me through it?”

Your worker can guide you through the process step-by-step.