Proton Mail Backup: 4 Proven Ways to Export & Download Proton Mail Data
About Proton Mail
Proton Mail is an email service used by over 100 million users across Germany, the USA, Switzerland, and many other countries worldwide.
Widely preferred by users for security, end-to-end encryption, easy access, and flexible free and paid plans.
Proton Mail has both a Webmail interface to access emails online and a desktop application known as Proton Mail Bridge to view emails offline locally.
Although Proton Mail is secure, users may want a Proton Mail backup to safeguard against data loss during migration or accidental deletion, and to protect against potential hacks.
Why is Proton Mail Backup & Export Needed?
Practical situations where users need to export and download Proton Mail emails.
Real-life scenarios where this Proton Mail Backup Guide can prove helpful:
- Before switching to a different service or a paid plan, make a backup of your Proton Mail emails.
- Easy offline access to Proton Mail data – essential in server outages.
- Safeguard Proton Mail data against accidental deletion, hacks, and other threats.
- Businesses using Proton Mail as their email client, backup Proton Mail for legal compliance.
- To preserve Proton Mail information before account termination.
- For auditing or reporting purposes in enterprises.
- To convert Proton Mail data into a shareable format.
4 Tested Methods to Backup Proton Mail Emails
The best way to export/ backup Proton Mail data depends upon once Proton Mail plan, mailbox size, urgency, and security compliance needs.
This covers reliable methods to backup Proton Mail Emails:
- Three Manual & Native Methods
- BitRecover’s Secure Proton Mail Backup Tool
Each method is explained step by step, along with ideal use cases.
Proton Mail Backup Import-Export App
A legacy method to back up and easily migrate Proton Mail data.
It was a CLI-based tool compatible with both Mac & Windows devices. Users could earlier export all Proton Mail data in MBOX and EML file formats in bulk.
However, it was discontinued in late 2023 and early 2024. Hence, no longer a feasible way to back up Proton Mail email folders in 2025.
Method 1: Proton Mail’s Native Export Tool
If you are skilled at command-line utilities, the native Proton Mail Export Tool is the secure and fastest way if you need to bulk download Proton Mail Emails to a PC in JSON and EML format.
Follow the steps to backup Proton Mail emails:
- Download the Proton Mail Backup Tool. (https://proton.me/support/proton-mail-export-tool)
- Extract the program and finish the setup.
- You need to run the proton-mail-export-cli.
- Enter your Proton Mail username.
- Log in with your Password – your password won’t be visible when entering.
- Enter your Mail Password or security code, if you have 2FA enabled in Proton Mail.
- Enter B to choose Proton Mail Backup.
- Copy and paste the path where you need to save Proton Mail email data on your PC. – Keep “” intact.
- Type Yes if you have entered the correct path.
- Press any key to exit once the Proton Mail Backup is 100% complete.
Common User-Experienced Limitations
- Repeated login and authentication failure
- Take days with larger mailboxes
- Have a complex setup
Method 2: Proton Mail Backup Emails Using Webmail
To back up Proton Mail emails selectively or in small batches, using the Proton Mail Webmail interface is the easiest way.
Built-in Export option to download a single Proton email in EML format
- Log in to Proton Mail Webmail. (https://mail.proton.me/)
- Go to the email you need to back up.
- Click on More (three horizontal dots icon).
- Click on Export.
Your Proton Mail email is backed up in EML format with an attachment.
The exported file is saved in the downloads folder of your desktop.
Print Option to Backup Proton Mail Emails in PDF
- Once logged in to the Proton Mail webmail.
- Open the email you want to save as a PDF.
- Click on the More icon (three dots).
- Choose the Print option.
- Browse the saving destination, name the file, and hit save.
Warning: Using the built-in Print option for Proton Mail Backup makes them shareable across devices. However, it does not preserve email attachments and metadata.
Method 3: Using Proton Mail Bridge
Proton Mail Bridge is a well-suited method to get a Proton Mail backup locally if you have a paid Proton Mail account.
You need to connect Proton Bridge to desktop email clients, like Thunderbird, Outlook, or Apple Mail on Mac, to export Proton Mail emails.
Using Proton Mail Bridge to back up Proton Mail email messages allows you to save them offline on a PC in formats such as PST, MBOX, EML, and PDF.
Steps to Follow:
- Download the Proton Mail Bridge on Mac, Windows, or Linux.
- Log in with your paid Proton Mail account.
- Once logged in, the Proton Mail Bride will create a Local IMAP server, SMTP server, Username, and password.
- Use these details to configure the Proton Mail account in desktop clients like Thunderbird.
- Finally, backup Proton Mail emails by exporting emails from Thunderbird/ exporting folders from Outlook, or exporting emails from Mac Mail.
Real-World User Limitations
- Configuration often returns a “failed to connect to server” error.
- Manual intensive, although it has an option for bulk Proton Mail local backup.
Method 4: Professional Proton Mail Export Tool
BitRecover Email Backup Tool is the best Proton Mail Backup Software chosen by millions of home users, businesses, and IT experts to archive Proton Mail emails or desktop or to other cloud email services in bulk.
With our industry-grade solution, you can instantly download Proton Mail emails from multiple accounts at once without any mailbox size restrictions.
Download the BitRecover Proton Mail Export Tool today to back up your email from Proton Mail. Free trial is aslo available to export 25 Proton Mail emails from each folder.
How to Backup Proton Mail Emails? Using Pro Tool
- Download & Install the Proton Mail Backup Software on your Mac or Windows device.
- Select Proton Mail from the email source.
- Enter your Proton Mail email address and password to log in.
- Select the Proton Mail email folders that you want to back up.
- Choose from 35+ saving options available in the expert tool.
- Press the Backup button.
Proton Mail Backup Methods – Comparison Table
| Method | Export Options | Speed | Works on Free / Paid | Ease of Use | Best For |
| Native Proton Mail Export Tool | EML + JSON | Medium to Slow (very slow for large mailboxes) | Free & Paid | Difficult | Advanced users, developers, compliance exports |
| Proton Mail Webmail | EML (single email), PDF (print) | Extremely Slow (one email at a time) | Free & Paid | Very Easy | Individuals, few emails, quick manual backup |
| Proton Mail Bridge + Email Client | PST, MBOX, EML, PDF (via client) | Medium | Paid only | Moderate (manual configuration) | Paid users, desktop-client users |
| BitRecover Proton Mail Backup Tool | PST, MBOX, EML, PDF, 35+ formats | Fast | Free & Paid | Very Easy | Businesses, bulk backup, migration, non-technical users |
Why Choose a Professional Tool for Proton Mail Backup?
Based on our research, BitRecover Proton Mail Backup Tool is the recommended way to download Proton Mail emails due to the following reasons:
- Secure and Compliant with HIPAA, GDPR & CAPA.
- High-end algorithms for fast Proton Mail Backup.
- Filter option to backup Proton Mail emails based on date, to/from, search terms, and subject.
- You can back up unlimited Proton Mail emails without fail.
- Batch mode to download emails from multiple Proton Mail accounts at once.
- Backup Proton Mail data with complete integrity – include attachments, formatting, signature, and hierarchy.
Conclusion
Whether you’re preparing to migrate Proton Mail or want to protect your Proton Mail data, this guide helps you discover the best way to backup Proton Mail emails for your needs.
Although there are various methods like Proton Mail’s native export tool, Proton Bridge, manual export, and print, using the BitRecover Proton Mail Backup Tool is the most reliable method.
Contact our expert support team via LiveChat, available 24/7.
FAQs: Proton Mail Backup
Q1: Is Proton Mail still secure?
Yes, Proton Mail is known for its end-to-end encryption even in 2025. However, there are various emerging conspiracies regarding data leaks to Swiss officials.
Q2: Why can’t I configure Proton Mail directly in desktop email clients?
This is because Proton Mail has a Zero-Access privacy policy. You can not directly access Proton Mail emails on a third-party client without local configuration details.
Q3: Is the Official Proton Mail Export Tool Free to use?
Yes, the native Proton Mail Export Tool is free. However, using BitRecover Proton Mail Backup Tool is more reliable in diverse scenarios. Although BitRecover’s solution is paid, it has a free trial available.
