How to Add ProtonMail to Apple Mail – 2 Easy Methods
Apple Mail, due to its intuitive user interface, seamless integration with iCloud, calendar and contacts and the ability to work offline, has become very popular among users from all over the world. There are many people who want to work with Apple Mail/Mac Mail including Proton Mail users. In this article we aim to provide the detailed instructions to add ProtonMail to Apple Mail for those who want to do so.
ProtonMail is the preferable Webmail service, when used in the paid version. The free version comes with limited features, storage space, etc. On the other hand, Apple Mail is the default email client for all Apple devices and is completely free to use. There are many benefits of adding ProtonMail to Apple Mail, which you may review below.
Why Add ProtonMail to Apple Mail
- Connecting Proton Mail and other accounts within Apple Mail can centralized your email management in one place.
- By adding Proton Mail to Apple Mail you enjoy the benefits of Apple iCloud, calendar, and contacts for more cohesive experience.
- Apple Mail’s offline capabilities will also allow you to access and working ProtonMail even without internet connection.
- You may categorize your ProtonMail emails based on specific criteria by using Apple Mail’s smart mailbox rules.
- Apple Mail’s interactive user interface can provide a familiar and comfortable environment for ProtonMail users.
These are the primary benefits of using ProtonMail with Apple Mail. Now let’s come to find the possible solutions to connect ProtonMail to Apple Mail.
Method 1: Add ProtonMail to Apple Mail with Bridge App
ProtonMail itself offers various options for connecting to other email clients and email services. ProtonMail offers the Bridge app, which can be used on Windows as well as macOS, and Linux devices. With the Bridge app, you can add Proton Mail to Apple Mail on iPhone and iPad (indirectly).
What You Need Before Connecting ProtonMail account to Mac Mail
You need to download the ProtonMail Bridge app first. ProtonMail Mail Bridge is a system based application. Allows you to add your Proton Mail account to your favorite email client via IMAP/SMTP by creating a local email server on your computer
Step-by-Step Process to Configure Bridge for Apple Mail
- Firstly; Sign in with your ProtonMail account in the Bridge app.
- Click the Add Account button, enter your username and password, and then click Next.
- Your account will be displayed in the bridge application.
- Now, click your account username in the Bridge App and select mailbox configuration.
- You will see a pop-up window from the bridge displaying IMAP/SMTP information.
- At the bottom of the pop-up window, click the Configure Apple Mail
- You will now be asked to install a new profile on your device. Click the Continue
- Here, you can choose the display name for your ProtonMail account and enter it in the Full Name field. This is how your ProtonMail account will be named in Apple Mail.
- When you’re ready, click Install to add ProtonMail to Mac Mail.
- Your ProtonMail account will now start loading in Apple Mail.
Some Additional Apple Mail Settings to Adjust
- Open Apple Mail, go to Mail & Preferences, then select the General tab
- Under the General tab, make sure that Check for a new message every minute is selected.
- Now go to the Junk Mail tab and disable the Enable Junk Filtering
- Once you’ve completed these modifications, your Proton Mail account is now ready to use on Apple Mail.
So, this is how you can add ProtonMail to Apple Mail using Bridge app. With the Bridge app and its created IMAP/SMTP credentials, you may also add ProtonMail to iPhone. However, if you want the simplest method and do not want to involve the bridge application in the process, consider the following method.
Method 2: Add ProtonMail to Mac Mail with Import-Export Function
This method does not require you to download and install the bridge app on your device. ProtonMail allows you to export mailboxes in MBOX format. Then, you can manually import them into your Mac Mail account.
We will guide you through all the steps to permanently add ProtonMail to Apple Mail without Bridge App. Please go through them.
Step 1: Export Mailboxes from ProtonMail
- First, sign in to your ProtonMail account and click to the import/export option.
- Now, check the folders you want to export and select MBOX as the export format.
- At last, select the location to save the Proton Mail mailboxes and click the Export.
- Your ProtonMail mailboxes will be saved to the selected location.
Note: If you want to export Proton Mail mailboxes and add them to Apple Mail easily and quickly without any restrictions, you can use 4n6 Email Backup Tool. This software allows you to add ProtonMail to Mac Mail through specific criteria such as time frame, specific date or email address. You can add any number of ProtonMail accounts in the tool, export data to your local drive in multiple formats, or you can add data directly to iCloud Mail in a few simple steps.
Once you’ve exported ProtonMail in mailbox format, it’s time to import it into Apple Mail. Please follow the mentioned steps to add ProtonMail to Apple Mail.
Step 2: Import ProtonMail Mailboxes in Apple Mail
- First, open your Apple Mail
- Click on the File option and then Import Mailboxes.
- Now, from the import options, select file in the MBOX format and click Continue.
- Now navigate to the location where the ProtonMail MBOX folder is saved. Select the folder and click Choose.
- The ProtonMail to Apple import procedure will start.
- Once the import procedures are completed, you will be notified. Then click Done.
- ProtonMail emails will be displayed in the Import folder in Mac Mail.
- Now, click on the folder to see all your Proton Mail emails in Apple Mail.
This is the complete procedure to connect ProtonMail to Apple Mail. If you are still facing any problem, you can ask the 4n6 support team at any time to get more personal assistance and information.
Bridge App vs. MBOX Import: Which Method Should You Use?
| Feature | ProtonMail Bridge | MBOX Import/Export |
|---|---|---|
| Sync Type | Live, ongoing | One-time copy |
| Setup Difficulty | Moderate, app installation + profile setup | Easy, export, then import |
| Works on Mac | Yes | Yes |
| Works on iPhone | Indirectly | No |
| Requires Paid ProtonMail Plan | Yes | No |
| Best For | Daily, ongoing use | Archiving or a one time migration |
| Internet Required for Setup | Yes | No |
How to Add ProtonMail to iPhone
There is no ProtonMail Bridge App that you can install on an iPhone directly. Bridge is a desktop-based application for Mac, Windows and Linux. It generates the IMAP / SMTP credentials that Apple Mail needs. In order to get ProtonMail working on iPhone, you first generate those credentials on a computer, then enter them manually into iOS Mail settings:
- Install ProtonMail Bridge on a Mac or PC
- Sign in with your Proton Mail account.
- Open the account’s mailbox configuration in Bridge to reveal its IMAP / SMTP credentials.
- On your iPhone, click “Settings” >> “Mail” >> “Accounts” >> “Add Account”.
- Select “Other” >> “Add Mail Account”.
- Now, enter your name, ProtonMail address, and the password shown in Bridge.
- Enter the IMAP and SMTP server details exactly as revealed in Bridge’s mailbox configuration window.
- Tap “Save”.
You need to note that this only works while the computer running Bridge is on and connected to the internet. However, if that computer is off, your iPhone will not send or receive new ProtonMail messages until it’s back online.
Troubleshoot Common Problems
Bridge is not showing the “Configure Apple Mail” option
You should check and update Bridge to the latest version. Usually, older releases only support IMAP / SMTP setup. Please check Proton’s Bridge download page for your current version.
Apple Mail shows “Cannot Get Mail” after Bridge setup
You need to confirm that the Bridge app is running in the background. The bridge app should stay open for Apple Mail to send or receive.
Bridge requires a paid Proton plan and I only have the free tier
Bridge is restricted to paid ProtonMail plans. Free-tier users should use the MBOX export / import method instead, because it does not require Bridge at all.
MBOX import finishes but some folders are missing
ProtonMail’s export only includes folders that you selected before exporting. You need to re-run the export and confirm every folder checkbox is ticked, including subfolders and custom labels.
People Also Ask
Does ProtonMail work with Apple Mail?
Yes, you can add ProtonMail to Mac Mail using the Proton Mail Bridge app. Alternatively, you can export Proton mailboxes and add them to Apple Mail manually.
Can I automate adding ProtonMail to Apple Mail?
Yes. You can use third-party 4n6 software to automate the process. It also allows you to add ProtonMail to iCloud directly and sync it with Mac Mail.
Is the setup process the same for all Mac Mail versions?
Yes. Since ProtonMail offers separate options for adding a Mac Mail profile, the process can be considered the same for all versions of Mac Mail.
Does ProtonMail Bridge work on an iPhone?
Not directly. Bridge app only runs on Mac, Windows and Linux. iPhone setup requires you to generate credentials with Bridge on a computer, and then, entering them manually in iOS Mail settings.
Why add ProtonMail to Apple Mail?
If you want to centralize email communication from ProtonMail and various email services in one place on iOS, it is best to add it to Apple Mail.
Does Bridge require a paid ProtonMail plan?
Yes. Free ProtonMail accounts cannot use Bridge and should use the MBOX export / import method instead.
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In Conclusion
Mac Mail has many advanced functions that will appeal to users of other email applications or webmail services including ProtonMail. Here, you can choose from multiple options to add ProtonMail to Apple Mail. You can either use the Bridge app to add ProtonMail to Mac Mail, or you can choose to export ProtonMail data and add it to mac Mail manually.
