How to get emergency access to someone else’s account
The Emergency Access feature allows anyone with a paid Proton plan to designate trusted contacts who can gain access to their accounts and data in an emergency.
Check out our separate support article to learn how to set up Emergency Access and designate contacts.
If you need access to someone else’s account in an emergency, follow these steps. Below, we’ll also show you how to update someone else’s account settings, such as their payment method, after you’ve been granted emergency access.
How to access an account in an emergency
If your friend, colleague, or loved one is unable to access their Proton Account, you can log in to their account by requesting emergency access. They would have needed to add you as a trusted contact in advance. If you’re a trusted contact, you would have received an email notification informing you that you’ve been designated.
If you’re a trusted contact, here’s how to gain access:
- In your Proton Account settings, go to the Recovery tab.
There you’ll see the person’s name listed under People who trust me.
- From there, you can request access by selecting Request access.
Depending on the person’s settings, you may receive access immediately, upon approval, or after a designated waiting period.
Update settings after receiving account access
After you’ve gained access to the other person’s account, you may want to cancel their plan or update their billing details. To make these changes, first go to the account dashboard → Recovery and reset their account password. After changing the password, you will have ownership of the account and the ability to change settings.