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Proton announced its dedicated Mail and Calendar desktop app on March 14, 2024. Windows and macOS were generally available at launch; Linux was in beta. As of Proton’s support and download pages accessed September 28, 2026, Linux is still labeled beta. The app gives you a dedicated way to use Proton Mail and Calendar outside a browser, but it is optional: Proton’s web app and Bridge remain alternatives.
What the Proton Mail desktop app offers
Proton presented the app as a desktop home for both Mail and Calendar, with native notifications, behavior that follows desktop light and dark appearance settings, and quick switching between the two services. At launch, Proton also described Easy Switch for importing messages from Outlook or Gmail and forwarding new Gmail messages. That announcement describes the feature set at the time; check Proton’s current app information for details that may have changed.
Proton says the desktop and web apps provide the same complete Mail and Calendar features and protections, and that changes stay synchronized between them. The desktop app is therefore primarily a different way to access the services, rather than a separate mailbox or a prerequisite for using Proton Mail.
Which platforms and plans are supported?
Proton’s support and download pages, accessed September 28, 2026, list these minimum operating-system requirements and installation options:
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| Platform | Minimum requirement | Availability and installation |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 10 | Desktop app download; generally available at launch in March 2024. |
| macOS | macOS v12.0 | Desktop app download; generally available at launch in March 2024. |
| Linux | Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | Beta. Proton lists DEB and RPM packages and also points to the Ubuntu Snap Store. |
These are Proton’s stated minimum requirements, not a guarantee that every distribution or configuration will work. Check the current download page for the package that matches your system.
According to Proton’s current support article, paid-plan and trial-plan users can use the desktop app. Free-plan users can try it for 14 days, according to that article; plan terms can change, so confirm eligibility in Proton’s current guidance.
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Is the Proton Mail desktop app available for Linux?
Yes. Proton lists a Linux desktop app, but its support and download materials still identify it as beta as of September 28, 2026. Proton advises people who are unfamiliar with beta software to use the web app until the desktop app exits beta. Linux users who are comfortable with beta software can choose among the listed DEB and RPM packages or the Snap Store option, subject to Proton’s current download instructions.
How Proton describes the app’s security
Proton says the desktop app inherits security work from its web app, including zero-access and end-to-end encryption, tracker and phishing protection, and Proton Sentinel. These are Proton’s descriptions of its product features, not independent test findings. At launch, Proton also said a separate app could reduce exposure to rogue browser extensions and update independently of the browser. That is the company’s rationale, not a guarantee that a desktop app eliminates extension-related risks or other threats.
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Desktop app, web app, or Bridge?
The right choice depends mainly on where you want to read and manage mail, and whether you need a conventional third-party mail client.
| Option | Best fit | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Proton Mail desktop app | You want a dedicated desktop app for Proton Mail and Calendar, with notifications and quick switching between them. | Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux; Linux remains beta. Paid or trial plan users can use it, and Proton’s support article describes a 14-day tryout for free-plan users. |
| Proton Mail web app | You prefer browser access or would rather avoid beta software. | Proton says it has the same complete Mail and Calendar features and protections as the desktop app, with changes synchronized between them. |
| Proton Mail Bridge | You want to use Proton Mail through a third-party client such as Outlook, Thunderbird, or Apple Mail. | Bridge is Proton’s route for connecting an account to supported third-party mail clients; it serves a different purpose from the dedicated Proton desktop app. |
Proton’s launch announcement described the desktop app as a response to a popular community request, but did not provide a count or methodology. It quoted David Dudok de Wit, who led Growth for Proton Mail and Calendar: “At Proton, we believe you should be able to access your email however you want to without compromising your privacy.” That statement expresses Proton’s positioning rather than independently established comparative privacy.
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