Proton
Illustration of Proton Mail in iOS

If you’re an iPhone or iPad user, you can now set Proton Mail(nové okno) as your default email app in the latest version of iOS. This is a welcome decision from Apple to allow users to choose their preferred email service, and means that “mailto” links can now open in Proton Mail instead of Apple’s Mail app. 

Although this is a small change, it represents a win for privacy because you can now more meaningfully control how you send and receive data on your own device. Here we talk about why this matters and, toward the bottom, how you can change your default mail app to Proton Mail.

What this means for Proton users

iOS has always been a “walled garden” that Apple keeps under tight control. One of the ways it has done this is to prevent third-party apps that compete with its own apps from being set as the default apps used by iOS.

The result was that most iOS users take the path of least resistance and settle for using Mail as their email client and Safari as their browser. In this way, Apple ensures most of its users stay within the Apple ecosystem, including using lucrative premium services, such as Apple TV, Apple Music, iTunes, and iCloud.

This has been hugely profitable(nové okno) for Apple but is hostile to the interest of its customers. Recently, however, people have begun to push back. Following efforts from developers including Proton(nové okno), Apple has made moves to placate critics, including allowing users to change their default email client and browser starting with iOS 14. 

Although a relatively minor concession for Apple, this is great news for Proton Mail users. You can now send secure end-to-end encrypted messages by default, using an open source app and a service that never spies on you or shares your data with third parties. 

Change your default email app to Proton Mail

How to set Proton Mail as default app

Here are the steps to update your default email settings:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Scroll down until you see the Proton Mail app and tap it.
  3. Tap “Default Email App.”

For more detailed instructions, including information about how to update iOS to the latest version, please our knowledge base article

Final thoughts

At Proton, our mission is to build a more secure and private internet for everyone. This is why we are developing exciting new end-to-end encrypted products, such as Proton Drive(nové okno) and Proton Calendar(nové okno), that give you control over your own data.

Control over your data is, after all, the bedrock of online privacy. The ability to use Proton Mail as your default email app in iOS gives you greater control over your data, and is therefore a win for privacy.

You can get a free secure email account from Proton Mail here.

We also provide a free VPN service(nové okno) to protect your privacy. Proton Mail and Proton VPN are funded by community contributions. If you would like to support our development efforts, you can upgrade to a paid plan. Thank you for your support.


Feel free to share your feedback and questions with us via our official social media channels on Twitter(nové okno) and Reddit(nové okno).

Související články

A phone screen with a speech bubble with a phone number in it
en
Your email address and passwords aren't the only information hackers can use to scam you. Here's what someone can do with your phone number — and how to protect it.
A web application screen with an unlock icon in the bottom right corner
en
Your best defense against a data breach could be improving your web application security: Find out how Proton Pass can help.
Investigative journalist Vegas Tenold explains the gear he uses to protect his privacy and stay safe.
en
  • Novinky o soukromí
Follow investigative journalist Vegas Tenold as he explains his gear and how it keeps him safe from surveillance as he works in the field.
Coinbase, the largest Bitcoin exchange in the US, suffered a data breach
en
  • Novinky o soukromí
  • Proton Wallet
Coinbase employees sold sensitive personal information to attackers, including government IDs and BTC transaction history. Proton Wallet is built to avoid these risks.
Whistleblower's whistle. Journalists must use secure channels to communicate with whistleblowers.
en
  • Průvodce ochranou soukromí
Whistleblowers risk everything to expose the truth. This guide helps journalists keep their sources safe using secure tools like Proton Mail, Signal, and SecureDrop.
An image showing a phone screen with a child icon and three icons with '17+' '8-12' and '3-5' to indicate age ratings
en
  • Průvodce ochranou soukromí
Parents can help their children develop healthy screen habits by learning about dark design patterns — Proton investigates how