How to Migrate Gmail to ProtonMail: Complete Migration Guide (2026)

Quick Answer: To migrate Gmail to ProtonMail, you can use ProtonMail’s built-in Easy Switch feature, which imports emails directly from Gmail via OAuth, or use a dedicated migration tool for more control over folder selection and scheduling. Both methods preserve email content, attachments, and folder structure.

Privacy concerns, end-to-end encryption, and dissatisfaction with Google’s data practices are pushing a growing number of users toward ProtonMail. If you have been using Gmail for years, the thought of migrating thousands of emails can feel daunting. But the process is more straightforward than most people expect. This guide covers every migration method available in 2026, explains what to expect during the process, and helps you avoid the most common mistakes.

Why Migrate Gmail to ProtonMail?

ProtonMail stores emails with zero-access end-to-end encryption. This means that even ProtonMail’s own servers cannot read your email content. If you are concerned about privacy, data mining, or handing your correspondence to an advertising platform, ProtonMail addresses all three issues by design.

Some users also migrate because they want to consolidate their digital presence under privacy-first tools, since ProtonMail integrates with ProtonVPN, ProtonDrive, and ProtonCalendar. Others simply prefer an interface free of ads or AI scanning.

What You Need Before You Start

• An active ProtonMail account (free accounts support Easy Switch)
• Access to your Gmail account with IMAP enabled (Settings > See all settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP > Enable IMAP)
• A stable internet connection for the duration of the migration
• Enough ProtonMail storage for your Gmail archive (free accounts get 1 GB; upgrade if you need more)

How to Migrate Gmail to ProtonMail: Step-by-Step

Method 1: ProtonMail Easy Switch (Built-In, Free)

Easy Switch is ProtonMail’s native import tool. It connects directly to your Gmail account using OAuth and copies your emails to ProtonMail. No third-party software is needed.

Step 1: Log In to ProtonMail

Open mail.proton.me and sign in to your account. Make sure you are on the ProtonMail web app, not the ProtonMail Bridge desktop app.

Step 2: Open Settings and Go to Import via Easy Switch

Click the gear icon in the top right to open Settings. From the left sidebar, click Import via Easy Switch. You will see an option to start a new import from Gmail.

Step 3: Authorize Gmail Access

Click Start import next to the Gmail option. ProtonMail will open a Google sign-in popup. Sign in with your Gmail account and grant ProtonMail permission to access your emails. This uses Google’s official OAuth 2.0 flow, so your Gmail password is never shared with ProtonMail directly.

Step 4: Select Folders to Import

Once connected, you will see a list of your Gmail labels and folders. Select the ones you want to import. You can import everything or choose specific labels like Inbox, Sent, Starred, and any custom labels you have created. You can also set a date range to import only emails from a certain period.

Step 5: Start the Import

Click Start import. ProtonMail will begin copying your emails. Large mailboxes can take several hours to several days. You can close the browser window and the import will continue running on ProtonMail’s servers in the background. You will receive a notification when it finishes.

Step 6: Verify the Import

Once the import completes, check your ProtonMail inbox and labels to confirm the emails arrived correctly. Search for a few specific emails from Gmail and verify they appear in ProtonMail with their original dates, attachments, and senders intact.

Method 2: Using Email Backup Wizard (For Bulk or Custom Migrations)

If you need more control over the migration, such as mapping Gmail labels to specific ProtonMail folders, filtering by sender, or migrating multiple accounts, Email Backup Wizard gives you those options.

Step 1: Download and Install the Tool

Download Email Backup Wizard and install it on a Windows computer. The installation is straightforward and takes about two minutes.

Step 2: Set Gmail as the Source

Open the tool and select Gmail as the source. Sign in with your Gmail account using OAuth 2.0. The tool will scan your account and show you a list of folders and labels with message counts.

Step 3: Set ProtonMail as the Destination

Select ProtonMail as the destination. You will be prompted to sign in to your ProtonMail account. Note: because ProtonMail uses end-to-end encryption, you will need to have ProtonMail Bridge installed on your computer for IMAP access. Email Backup Wizard connects to ProtonMail through ProtonMail Bridge’s local IMAP interface.

Step 4: Map Folders and Set Filters

Configure which Gmail labels should map to which ProtonMail folders. You can also set date range filters, filter by sender, or exclude certain labels. This level of control is not available in Easy Switch.

Step 5: Run the Migration

Click Start to begin. Progress is shown in real time. Once complete, open ProtonMail and verify that your emails arrived in the correct folders.

What Gets Preserved During Gmail to ProtonMail Migration

• Original sender, recipient, and date information
• Email attachments and inline images
• Gmail label structure mapped to ProtonMail folder names
• Read and unread status
• Starred items (mapped to ProtonMail’s Starred folder)
• HTML formatting and plain-text versions

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Easy Switch shows an error connecting to Gmail

Make sure IMAP is enabled in your Gmail settings. Go to Gmail > Settings > See all settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP > Enable IMAP and save changes. Then try the Easy Switch connection again. If you use 2-factor authentication on your Google account, you may also need to allow access for less secure apps or use an App Password generated from your Google Account security settings.

The import is stuck at a certain percentage

Large imports can pause or appear frozen during processing. Check the Easy Switch status page in ProtonMail settings to see if the import is still running. If it shows as paused, click Resume. If it has genuinely stalled for more than 24 hours, cancel the import and restart it. ProtonMail will skip emails that were already imported and continue from where it left off.

Some emails are missing after the import

Gmail has a category system (Primary, Social, Promotions, Updates, Forums) that does not always map cleanly to standard IMAP folders. Emails in these categories may not appear under Inbox in ProtonMail. Check your ProtonMail All Mail folder to see if the emails are there but organized under a different label.

ProtonMail Bridge is not connecting for Email Backup Wizard

Open ProtonMail Bridge and check that it is running and signed in. The default local IMAP port is 1143 and the SMTP port is 1025. Make sure your firewall is not blocking these ports. If you recently updated ProtonMail Bridge, restart the application and try reconnecting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Gmail to ProtonMail migration delete emails from Gmail?

No. Both Easy Switch and third-party tools copy your emails to ProtonMail without deleting anything from Gmail. Your Gmail account remains intact. You can keep using Gmail alongside ProtonMail or delete your Gmail account manually after you confirm the migration is complete.

Can I migrate Google Workspace emails to ProtonMail?

Yes. The process is the same as for a personal Gmail account. You connect your Google Workspace account to Easy Switch or a migration tool using OAuth 2.0. Your Google Workspace administrator may need to grant access permissions first.

How long does a Gmail to ProtonMail migration take?

For a typical Gmail account with 10,000 to 50,000 emails, Easy Switch usually completes within a few hours to a day. Very large accounts with 100,000 or more emails can take several days. The import runs in the background on ProtonMail’s servers, so you do not need to keep your browser open.

Will my ProtonMail address change after migration?

No. Your ProtonMail address stays the same. Migration only brings your historical emails from Gmail into ProtonMail. It does not change your ProtonMail address or account settings in any way.

Is there a size limit for Gmail to ProtonMail migration?

The practical limit is your ProtonMail storage quota. Free accounts come with 1 GB. If your Gmail archive is larger, upgrade to a paid ProtonMail plan before starting the import. You can check your Gmail storage usage in Google Account settings.

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