How to Backup ProtonMail Emails?
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 to backup Proton Mail 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 ProtonMail emails.
Real-life scenarios where this Proton Mail Backup Guide can prove helpful:
- Before switching to a different service or a paid plan, backup protonmail 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 ProtonMail emails 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 Proton emails depends upon one’s Proton Mail plan, mailbox size, urgency, and security compliance needs.
This covers reliable methods to backup ProtonMail emails:
- Three Manual & Native Methods
- BitRecover’s Secure ProtonMail backup tool
Each method is explained step by step, along with ideal use cases.
Proton Mail Export App
A legacy method to backup and easily migrate Proton Mail data.
It was a CLI-based tool compatible with both Mac & Windows devices. Users could earlier ProtonMail export all emails 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 backup Proton Mail email folders in 2026.
Method 1: ProtonMail Export Tool
If you are skilled with command-line utilities, the native Proton Mail export tool is the most secure and fastest way if you need to export ProtonMail emails to a PC in JSON and EML format.
Follow these steps to backup ProtonMail emails:
- Download the ProtonMail backup 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 email password or security code if you have 2FA enabled in Proton Mail.
- Enter B to choose ProtonMail 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 Manual Method Limitations
- Repeated login and authentication failure
- Take days with larger mailboxes
- Have a complex setup
Method 2: Backup ProtonMail Emails Using Webmail
To backup ProtonMail 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
- Log in to Proton Mail Webmail.
- Go to the email you need to back up.
- Click on More (the three horizontal dots icon).
- Click on Export.
Your ProtonMail 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 ProtonMail Emails
- 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 ProtonMail local backup 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 ProtonMail emails.
Using Proton Mail Bridge to backup ProtonMail emails 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 app password.
- Use these details to configure the ProtonMail account in desktop clients like Thunderbird.
- Finally, backup ProtonMail.
Real-World User Limitations
- Configuration often returns a “failed to connect to server” error.
- Manual intensive, although there is an option for bulk Proton Mail local backup.
Method 4: Professional ProtonMail Export Tool
BitRecover Email Backup Tool is the best Protonmail backup tool 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 export ProtonMail 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 ProtonMail emails from each folder.
How to Backup ProtonMail Emails? Using Pro Tool
- Download & Install the ProtonMail backup tool on your Mac or Windows device.
- Select Proton Mail from the email source. Enter your Proton Mail email address and your App Password to log in.
(Note: An App Password is strictly required to log in to Proton Mail via third-party software. Your standard account password will not work. You can find this dedicated App Password generated and displayed directly on the Proton Mail Bridge application.
- Select the Proton Mail email folders that you want to backup Proton Mail emails.
- Choose from 35+ saving options available in the Proton Mail export 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 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 ProtonMail 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 ProtonMail 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 ProtonMail 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 will help 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 ProtonMail 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, including an app-specific password.
Q3: Is the official Proton Mail export tool free to use?
Yes, the native Proton Mail export tool is free. However, using BitRecover’s software is more reliable in diverse scenarios. Although BitRecover’s solution is paid, it has a free trial available.
