How to Migrate from Gmail to Proton Mail: A Step-by-Step Guide

Moving from Gmail to Proton Mail isn’t merely an email transfer; it’s a return to a world where your digital privacy is prioritized. Despite its useful features, Gmail collects too much personal information, displays excessive adverts, and could potentially expose your inbox to unauthorized access. In contrast, when you migrate from Gmail to Proton Mail, you gain the benefit of end-to-end encryption, ensuring that no one but you can read your communications.

If you’ve been a long-time Gmail user, the thought of making the change may seem overwhelming. Fortunately, switching to Proton Mail is simpler than you may imagine. Just copy and paste your contacts, emails, and files. Whether you’re seeking a more secure email provider, worried about privacy, or sick of Big Tech’s monitoring, this article will help you make the switch.

After reading this post, you will be well-equipped to transfer your email in a safe and organized manner without sacrificing accessibility. Is a private inbox something you’re ready to embrace? Allow me to walk you through the process of switching from Gmail to Proton Mail.

Prerequisites to Follow Before Migrating From Gmail to Proton Mail

Make sure your Gmail and Proton Mail accounts are ready for the migration before you start the process. By taking a few preliminary actions, you can avoid data loss, ensure seamless email access, and maintain correct organization. Some important things to remember are:

1. If you don’t already have one, go ahead and create one. Pick a plan that works for you.
2. Before making any changes to your Gmail account, make sure you have backed up your emails, contacts, and crucial data using Google Takeout.
3. To make the email conversion go smoothly, you need to enable IMAP in your Gmail settings.
4. As you go through your inbox, sort through the important messages you wish to retain and delete the rest.
5. Make sure you don’t miss any essential notifications by updating your linked accounts with Gmail.
6. To get your Gmail contacts ready to import into Proton Mail, click the “Export Contacts” button.
7. To make sure you don’t miss any emails, temporarily turn on email forwarding from Gmail to Proton Mail.
8. To avoid any lapses in communication, you must notify important contacts of your email switch.
9. To make the switch easier, familiarize yourself with Proton Mail by exploring its UI and features.
10. To make Gmail more secure, you should check for third-party app access and remove any that aren’t necessary.

Also Read: How Can I Resolve Proton Mail Not Working

Step By Step Guide to Migrate From Gmail to Proton Mail

Though it may appear daunting at first, switching from Gmail to Proton Mail is rather simple and safe if you follow the correct procedures. If you’re looking to switch to a more secure email provider or just want to move for privacy concerns, this detailed tutorial will walk you through the process of transferring all of your data, including contacts, emails, and settings. 

Let’s make sure your migration goes smoothly by going over the steps together.

1. Make an account with Proton Mail if you aren’t already a member. Pont provides both free and premium plans, with the latter offering extra storage and features, so you may pick the one that’s best for you.
2. Do not make any changes until you have exported your contacts, emails, and attachments using Google Takeout. Should you lose any data during the transfer, you will have a backup copy available.
3. To migrate your emails from Gmail to Proton Mail, you must grant access to your inbox:
4. Press See All Settings, then proceed to Forwarding and POP/IMAP.
5. Click “Save Changes” after you’ve enabled IMAP access.
6. Select Settings > Import-Export after opening Proton Mail.
7. Get the Import Assistant (desktop version available) and set it up.
8. When asked, enter your Gmail login information.
9. Pick out the folders and emails you wish to transfer.
10. After you’re ready, click Start Import and then wait for it to finish.
11. Select Google Contacts in Gmail and then choose Export.
12. To ensure compatibility, choose the vCard format (.vcf).
13. Go to Proton Mail > Contacts > Import Contacts and then drag and drop the file.
14. Select Forwarding and POP/IMAP in Gmail’s settings.
15. Type in your Proton Mail address and click on Add a Forwarding Address.
16. Please validate your Proton Mail account by responding to the verification email.
17. Doing so will guarantee that you receive all necessary emails throughout the changeover.
18. Before you switch to Proton Mail, you need change all of the accounts (banking, social media, subscriptions, etc.) that are connected to Gmail.
19. To make sure there are no hiccups in communication, make sure to notify your important contacts via email of your new Proton Mail address.
20. Remove any unused apps linked to Gmail in Google Account > Security > Third-party apps with account access for extra security.
21. Make the most of your new private inbox by exploring Proton Mail’s features, which include encrypted emails, aliases, and self-destructing communications.

Keeping your emails safe and organized throughout the transfer from Gmail to Proton Mail is easy if you follow these instructions.

Conclusion

As demonstrated above, migrating from Gmail to Proton Mail is not a difficult task. This guide has covered the detailed step-by-step instructions that you can follow to easily complete the migration process. However, if you still encounter any issues during the migration process, then we recommend you get in touch with our trained and professional experts. They are just one call away from you to help you in using your email accounts efficiently. So, don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance if needed to make the migration process as seamless as possible.