Two-password mode

Lectura: 2 minutos

With two-password mode, you can secure your Proton Account with two passwords instead of one.

Two-password mode is a legacy feature. We now have other authentication security features that are easier to use and more secure.

In this article

How it works
How to enable two-password mode
How to disable two-password mode
Why we recommend one-password mode
Alternatives to two-password mode

How it works

When two-password mode is enabled, you’ll need to enter two separate passwords to sign in to your Proton Account.

Technically, the two passwords have different purposes:

Main (login) password: Verifies your identity
Second (mailbox) password: Decrypts your mailbox and your account data

But practically, your account will behave the same as in one-password mode. Both passwords are required at sign-in, and if you lose either password, you’ll need to recover your account.

How to enable two-password mode

Select Account and password from the sidebar and turn on the Two-password mode toggle.

You’ll be asked to enter your current password to continue.

Create a main password by entering it in the New login password and Confirm login password fields. Click Save to confirm.

You can also click Generate password to have Proton create a secure password for you. Either way, it’s important to set two strong passwords.

Now create a second password by entering in the New second password and Confirm second password fields.

You’re now in two-password mode. The next time you sign in, you’ll need to enter both passwords to access your account.

Learn how to store and manage your passwords safely

How to disable two-password mode

Select Account and password from the sidebar and turn off the Two-password mode toggle.

You’ll be asked to enter your main password to continue.

Create a new password by entering it into the New password and Confirm password fields. Click Save to confirm.

You can also click Generate password to have Proton create a secure password for you.

You’re now in one-password mode. The next time you sign in, you’ll only be asked for one password.

Why we recommend one-password mode

When Proton Mail was first released, two-password mode was the default for all accounts. But since then, our research team has developed a way to offer the same level of encryption with a single password.

One-password mode has been the default for all new accounts since December 2016, and it’s no less secure.

We’ve kept two-password mode available for those who want to use it, but we generally don’t recommend enabling it. Here’s why:

Two passwords are harder to remember and store securely (especially if they’re strong passwords).
Alternative account security features like two-factor authentication are easier to use and have greater security benefits.

Alternatives to two-password mode

Two-factor authentication

Requires two different forms of verification to sign in to your Proton Account — something you know (your password) and something you have (a security key or authenticator app).

How to set up two-factor authentication

Auto-lock

Secure your Proton Mail, Proton Drive, or Proton Pass app with a pin code or biometrics.