Note: This article refers to a feature that is still in beta and currently available only to Plus, Professional, Visionary, and Lifetime users.
This article explains how to use the Import-Export application to import emails to your ProtonMail account either from another email account or from a local MBOX or EML file on your device. When you import email files to using the Import-Export app, they are immediately encrypted using your public key.
Getting started
The first step is to download the Import-Export app.
Windows users can download the app here.
MacOS users can download the app here.
Then log into the Import-Export app using your ProtonMail username and password.
Next, click on your username to reveal a list of your email addresses. Select the email address where you want to import the emails by clicking on the “Import” button to the right of the address.
Then you are given two choices: “Import from account” or “Import local files”. If you want to import emails from another cloud email service, such as Gmail or Yahoo!, click on “Import from account”. If you want to import emails from files stored locally on your device, including from an email client, such as Apple Mail, Outlook, or Thunderbird, then click on “Import local files”.
Below we explain the next steps depending upon which option you’ve chosen.
Import from account
1) To import emails from another email account, you may first need to adjust your settings on that account. Read our article about allowing IMAP access, which explains the process for some major email providers.
2) Then enter the email and password for the account you are importing from. If you have completed step one properly, the server address and port number will be filled in automatically.
3) Click on “Next”.
4) A new window will open where you can select which emails you would like to import and where you would like them to appear in your ProtonMail account.
The “From” column lists the folders in the email account you are importing from. Each has a set of corresponding options to the right of the arrow. These allow you to select:
- The folder in your ProtonMail account where you would like to import the emails (you may also select “Do not import” next to any folders from which you do not want to import emails);
- The label you would like to apply to these emails, if any;
- And the date range of the emails you want to import. (If you do not specify a date range, all emails will be imported.
There are also optional “Master import settings”. With these settings, you can apply a date range to all the folders you are importing from and a label to all the emails you are importing.
5) Click on “Import”.
Import local files
1) After clicking on “Import local files”, you will be prompted to select the folder on your device which contains files you want to import. The program recursively search folder structure for MBOX and EML files. (This article explains the difference)
2) Selected folder structure will appear in the “From” column on the left. To the right of the arrow, you will have the option to choose:
- The folder in your ProtonMail account where you would like to import the emails (you may also select “Do not import” next to any folders from which you do not want to import emails);
- The label you would like to apply to these emails, if any;
- And the date range of the emails you want to import. (If you do not specify a date range, all emails will be imported.
There are also optional “Master import settings”. With these settings, you can apply a date range to all the folders you are importing from and a label to all the emails you are importing.
3) Click on “Import”.
Thank you so much for developing this feature!
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I want to import emails from my gmail account to my proton mail account.
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Please check the instructions here: https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/export-import-emails/.
If you need further assistance, please contact our support team using the support form at https://protonmail.com/support-form, via the report bug button or at contact@protonmail.ch and support@protonmail.ch.
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I need to import email from my POP 3 account to Protonmail.
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Please contact our support team using the support form at https://protonmail.com/support-form.
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I restarted the process multiple times because some emails from Gmail generated unknowns error. I didn’t notice if doubles were made because I have thousands of emails importing. Do the process notice emails previously imported?
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Please contact our support team using the support form at https://protonmail.com/support-form or at importexport@protonmail.com.
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I want to import emails from my pop3 Thunderbird email program, local folders, on my computer. Neither the bridge nor the import/export program will work for me. I am not using the free version. Advice?
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Please contact our support team using the support form at https://protonmail.com/support-form or at bridge@protonmail.com or importexport@protonmail.com.
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Will there be support for Maildir format?
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I have tried the import/export and moving emails with the bridge running. Either way it keeps timing out shortly after starting the process. Can you help? Thanks
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Please contact our support team: https://protonmail.com/support-form.
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Need details on steps if you are migrating a domain – email address is going to be the same – for example myuser@mydomain.com hosted on google to hosted on protonmail.com account(s)
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Please see https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/transitioning-from-gmail-to-protonmail/.
If you need further assistance, please contact our support team: https://protonmail.com/support-form.
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For some reason the import application wouldn’t access the gmail account I have. I followed the article for allowing IMAP access and still I keep getting invalid credentials message. any recommendations ?
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Please contact our support team: https://protonmail.com/support-form.
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I followed the instructions and used the Import/Export Application to try and transfer circa 4,000 emails from Gmail to Proton. Some emails have transferred but not all? However, the Application reported no errors and confirmed all emails had been transferred.
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Please contact our support team: https://protonmail.com/support-form.
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I run Linux and have a mbox format file to import. Is there a web-based or linux version to import my local files?
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Unfortunately, there’s no Linux version of the Import/Export tool yet. It’s planned, but we don’t have an ETA for now. If you have access to a Windows or Mac machine, you can use one of the available versions for those OSes.
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Wow, really rubbish.
Does not work properly
Documentation is really poor
Wish I am not upgraded after being told by support staff it would work.
Oh well i will find a third party that works… but kinda wastes the point of protonmail! 🙁
You would think there would be an API exposed to use
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Hi! If you’re having trouble with the Import/Export app, please contact our Support Team: https://protonmail.com/support-form.
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I’m having issues using the app. I was able to successfully import mails from my (really old) google account. For the past two years I’ve been using my own email server (postfix + dovecot), and no matter what I do, I can’t seem to make it work: It fails trying to connect saying “incorrect server address and port.” even though it’s the same address and port I’ve been using for ever. Is there something specific the import app is expecting? (in terms of IMAP capabilities)
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Please contact our Support Team: https://protonmail.com/support-form.
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