Update: As of September 2025, I am sad to report that I went back to Gmail. The search functionality in Proton Mail was not sufficient for my day-to-day work requirements. Hopefully I’ll go back to Proton mail in the future when search funcionality is better.
Why Leave Google?
Google’s motto has evolved from “Don’t be evil” to “Do the right thing,” but in the recent years, the company has abandoned these principles entirely. Through Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion contract with the Israeli government, Google and Amazon are providing cloud computing and AI technology that directly supports Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and apartheid regime in Palestine. Despite protests from their own employees, Google has chosen to:
- Provide AI and cloud infrastructure enabling Israel’s military ongoing genocide
- Suppress internal dissent and fire workers who speak out
- Continue profiting from human rights violations
- Enable surveillance and targeting systems used against Palestinian civilians
This is just one example of Google’s increasing complicity in human rights violations. For those who value privacy, human rights, and ethical technology, migrating away from Google’s ecosystem is an important step.
Moving from Gmail to ProtonMail? Here’s a simple guide to help you make the transition smoothly.
Why ProtonMail?
ProtonMail offers end-to-end encryption and enhanced privacy features, making it a popular choice for those looking to switch from Gmail. Their data centres are in Switzerland, and your emails, your data, is protected by the laws of one of the most privacy focused countries in the world. The migration process is straightforward, and we’ll guide you through it.
Step-by-Step Migration Guide
- Create a ProtonMail Account
- Visit ProtonMail
- Choose your plan (Free or paid)
- Complete the registration process
- Use ProtonMail’s Easy Switch Tool
- Log into ProtonMail
- Go to Settings → Import-Export
- Click “Import messages” and follow the wizard
- Transfer Your Emails
- Select the folders/labels you want to transfer
- Start the import process
- Wait for the transfer to complete
Video Tutorials
For visual guides, check out these helpful video tutorials:
Complete Migration Guide:
Understanding the Migration Process
The above steps help you migrate your existing emails from Gmail to ProtonMail. However, to ensure a smooth transition without losing any new emails, follow this two-phase approach:
- Phase 1: Initial Email Migration
- Use the Easy Switch tool as described above to transfer your existing emails
- This creates a foundation with all your historical emails in ProtonMail
- Phase 2: Gradual Transition
- Set up email forwarding from Gmail to ProtonMail (see video below)
- Begin updating your email address across various services:
- Start with critical accounts (banking, government, work)
- Then move to regular subscriptions and newsletters
- Finally, notify personal contacts
- Monitor both accounts during the transition period
- As more services switch to your ProtonMail address, your dependency on Gmail forwarding will decrease
This methodical approach ensures:
- No emails are lost during or after migration
- You have time to update all your accounts
- A smooth transition without disrupting your communication
Setting Up Email Forwarding:
Need Help?
If you encounter any issues during the migration, ProtonMail’s support team is available to help. You can also refer to their official migration guide for detailed instructions.
Remember to take your time with the migration process to ensure all your important emails and contacts are properly transferred.
Further Reading
For more information about Google’s involvement in human rights violations and why many are choosing to leave Google’s ecosystem:
Salman Naqvi - 2xCCIE 