Proton adds Emergency Access to let trusted contacts recover your account securely

Proton has launched Emergency Access, a feature that allows users to appoint trusted contacts who can securely access their Proton account if the user becomes unable to do so due to death or serious illness. Users can select up to five trusted individuals, all of whom must have a Proton account, and specify a custom waiting period that can range from days to months before access is granted.

Account owners maintain control during the waiting period by choosing to approve or deny incoming access requests. If no action is taken, the system will automatically grant permission after the waiting time elapses. Users retain the flexibility to revoke access or modify their emergency contacts at any point.

These trusted contacts receive entry to all Proton apps through a single invitation, allowing them to access emails, passwords, and files securely once Emergency Access is granted. The feature is available to all paid Proton users immediately, and the company emphasizes that all data involved in the Emergency Access process remains fully protected by end-to-end encryption.