This article will walk you through the process of creating a free ProtonMail account. Additional information includes instructions on how to obtain your public ProtonMail PGP key and authentication logs.
- How to Begin Using ProtonMail
- Securely Access ProtonMail
- ProtonMail is compatible with POP, IMAP, and SMTP
- Download Your Public ProtonMail PGP Key
- Activate ProtonMail’s Authentication Logs
How to Begin Using ProtonMail
Setting up a ProtonMail account is simple and requires no sharing of personal information, though the service may log your IP address when you sign up.
To create a new ProtonMail account, follow these steps:
- Launch a web browser and navigate to the ProtonMail registration page.
- Choose Sign Up > Free > Free Plan. Alternatively, upgrade to a premium ProtonMail account plan to receive additional storage, filters, and other features, as well as to support the development of ProtonMail.
- On the Create Your Account page, click the Username and Domain section and enter the username for your ProtonMail email address.
- In the Password section, type the desired password and confirm it with a retype. This is the password for your ProtonMail account.
- Alternatively, you can enter one of your alternate email addresses in the Recovery email (optional) section. If you need assistance remembering your account name or password, ProtonMail will contact you at this address.
- Click on the Create Account option.
Securely Access ProtonMail
When accessing ProtonMail via a browser, log in at https://mail.protonmail.com/login and verify that the browser displays the site’s verified and validated security certificate. In the address bar, look for a lock symbol.
ProtonMail is compatible with POP, IMAP, and SMTP
ProtonMail does not support IMAP or POP, and your ProtonMail address cannot be used to send email via SMTP. It is not compatible with Microsoft Outlook, macOS Mail, Mozilla Thunderbird, or iOS Mail, among other email clients. Similarly, ProtonMail cannot be forwarded to another address.
Download Your Public ProtonMail PGP Key
Others may send you encrypted emails through ProtonMail if their email service provider supports inline OpenPGP and has your public PGP key. Upload your public PGP key to a key server, such as the MIT PGP public key server, to share it. From there, email programs can automatically retrieve the key.
To obtain a copy of your ProtonMail email address’s public PGP key, follow these steps:
- Log in to your ProtonMail account via a web browser.
- Click on Settings.
- Select the Keys tab.
- Copy the Fingerprint link from the Contact encryption keys section.
Activate ProtonMail’s Authentication Logs
Turn on authentication logs to have ProtonMail log all attempts to access your account and the IP address associated with each attempt.
- Click on Settings.
- Select the Security option.
- Select Advanced from the Authentication Logs section.
- If prompted, enter the password for your ProtonMail account.
- Click the Submit button.