ProtonBlog(new window)

Proton Mail Release Update

Share this page

As many of you know, Proton Mail was previously scheduled to release today(new window). However, we have had some issues getting our mobile app approved, specifically with the Apple App store. At the time of writing, our app still has not been approved for release. For certain technical and scheduling reasons, we need to be able to launch all features on all platforms simultaneously. Because of this, we will delay our release (iOS/Android/Custom Domains, etc) until we get app approval, which we are hoping will occur next week.

We did not anticipate getting delayed by this process, but the entire approval process turned out to be quite lengthy, especially since we needed to get permission from both the US and French governments. Even though Proton Mail is a Swiss company, Apple is a US company, so all apps provided through the app store must comply with US encryption export restrictions. This leads us to the surreal situation where software from a Swiss company needs US government approval to be distributed. We needed a similar approval from the French government to distribute the app in France.

To answer a commonly raised question today, we don’t believe the delay is related to the ongoing FBI case against Apple(new window), but that case is very concerning to us and could have far reaching implications. We have asked some legal experts to review the case and see if releasing Proton Mail in the App or Play stores could have any privacy or security risks.

It is hard to estimate how much longer the approval process could take, but we are hoping that everything is completed next week as we have already submitted all of the relevant documentation. We want to thank all users for your patience and apologize for this unfortunate delay. In the event that approval is not granted soon, we will find other ways to distribute the apps to the Proton Community. If the process drags on too long, we will also make modifications on our side to allow us to release custom domains separately and earlier.

Secure your emails, protect your privacy
Get Proton Mail free

Share this page

Proton Team(new window)

We are scientists, engineers, and specialists from around the world drawn together by a shared vision of protecting freedom and privacy online. Proton was born out of a desire to build an internet that puts people before profits, and we're working to create a world where everyone is in control of their digital lives.

Related articles

Can you password-protect a folder in Google Drive?
Protecting a folder with a password is a simple yet effective way of securing files. You may wonder whether you can password-protect a folder in Google Drive. We explain what access controls Google Drive offers and what you can do to improve your sec
Proton Pass now supports passkeys on all devices and plans
We’re excited to announce that Proton Pass supports passkeys for everyone, allowing you to manage and use passkeys across all devices seamlessly. Passkeys are an easy and secure alternative to traditional passwords that can help prevent phishing atta
what is a passkey?
Passkeys are a new way to secure your online accounts using cryptographic keys instead of passwords. They offer a high level of convenience and security, and are a real game-changer in the way we access and secure sites. What is a passkey, though, an
Apple’s marketing team has built a powerful association between the iPhone and privacy. The company’s ad campaigns claim that “what happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone.” And, “Privacy. That’s iPhone.” But Apple’s lawyers are telling a diffe
A cyberattack on national public employment service France Travail has exposed the personal data of as many as 43 million people.  The latest breach is the second major cybersecurity attack to happen in France in the past month, raising concerns abo
If I share a folder in Google Drive, can anybody see my other folders
Google Drive makes it easy to share files and folders, but you may have wondered at some point whether the people you’ve shared a folder with can see your other folders. We answer this question below and also share some tips for truly secure link sha
In 2014, Proton Mail was introduced as a web app, revolutionizing how we think about email privacy. Today, we’re excited to broaden the horizons of secure communication by launching the Proton Mail desktop app. Anyone can now use the new Proton Mail