1. Connection status should match the tools available
On September 21, 2026, WorkBuddy 5.6.2 improved connector authorization and toggle feedback. Connector icons appear after authorization, and disabling a connector removes its tools from the conversation. The update also fixed cases where the status remained “connecting” after authorization, or reconnecting was difficult after access had been removed.
Connectors let AI use authorized external services, such as searching email or finding documents. For users, the practical change is that connection indicators should better reflect the capabilities available to a task. Seeing an icon does not prove that a particular task successfully retrieved material; check the output and its sources.
2. Separate connecting an account from using it in a task
Three actions with different purposes
Suppose you are organizing a community event and want AI to collect venue details, materials and open questions from the past week’s planning emails. The mailbox may be authorized, but the current conversation may not have its connector enabled. Conversely, pausing access after the summary need not mean binding the whole account again next time.
The official guide distinguishes these actions:
| Your intention | Action | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Use an external service in the current task | Authorize it and enable it in the task’s connector panel | The account is correct and the task retrieved the material it needs |
| Temporarily stop using the connector | Turn it off | This does not by itself mean the connection or third-party authorization has been revoked |
| Stop keeping this connection | Unbind it in connector management; manage authorization with the provider when needed | Whether provider authorization remains, and how to retain earlier output you still need |
This helps avoid treating “connected” as “available in every task,” or treating “off” as “all permissions revoked.” It also gives troubleshooting an order: check the account and authorization, then activation within the task, then the actual result. Reinstalling everything need not be the first response.
The update improves state feedback and tool use. It does not decide which email is current or which arrangement has been confirmed. Two emails sent close together may conflict, so the checklist still needs verification against the originals.
3. Follow an email checklist from connection to completion
These steps start with an existing WorkBuddy desktop account and a QQ Mail account. Check for client updates first. Authorization and entry points follow the current official connector guide. For a first attempt, use event-planning emails without sensitive information.
- Connect your mailbox. Open Connectors under the left-hand “Experts · Skills · Connectors” area and add QQ Mail. Use a QQ Mail app version meeting the guide’s requirements to scan the code. Review the account and requested reading, sending and optional deletion permissions before authorizing. This is not read-only authorization; intending only to summarize does not narrow the permissions granted.
- Return to WorkBuddy and enable the connector. After authorization, use the browser’s Open prompt to return to WorkBuddy. Check the mailbox account and connection status. Create a task and enable QQ Mail under “+ → Connectors” at the lower left of the input area. Complete authorization first if necessary; simply closing its web page may interrupt connection.
- Give a bounded task. For example: “Find emails from the past seven days about preparations for the community repair event. List the venue, materials and unresolved matters, identifying the email and date behind each item. Only organize the information in this conversation; do not send, delete or move emails. Mark anything you cannot find as unconfirmed.” This is a task instruction, not an enforced read-only permission boundary.
- Check the output item by item. Open important messages in the original mailbox. Check coverage, dates and senders. If two messages conflict, retain both references and mark the matter unresolved. Do not turn a search miss into proof that something never happened. Check recipients and content separately before any outward reply.
- End access according to your intention. To pause the connector in tasks, turn it off under “+ → Connectors.” To disconnect it, select the connected item in connector management and unbind it. To revoke QQ Mail authorization, also inspect the QQ Mail app’s security and application-authorization controls. Before ending use, inspect the generated checklist and save material you still need according to your own filing practice.
The useful result is a preparation checklist you can trace back to emails, rather than a “connected successfully” screenshot. Calling an external service through a connector and having AI understand or summarize its content are billed differently. The official guide says the latter consumes WorkBuddy credits; check your plan before using it.