# Recovery Method for Proton Account (Mail)

**URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/recovery-method-for-proton-account-mail/18943
**Category:** Questions
**Created:** 2024-06-17T12:00:43Z
**Posts:** 6

## Post 1 by @Margueritte — 2024-06-17T12:00:43Z

Hello,

I’ve stated using Proton Mail recently. I’ve set up my account with my Gmail address, which is my login identifier and also my account recovery email. I want to move away from Gmail, but I do not know what recovery mail to use, since my proton email address is my main now. Furthermore, I do not want to use my phone as a recovery method because it feels less secure. Is it even useful to have a recovery address/more secure? Do you know any way to solve this situation?

Thank you very much.

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## Post 2 by @anon48875053 — 2024-06-17T12:12:47Z

Don’t have a recovery address or a phone number.

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## Post 3 by @anon55464882 — 2024-06-17T13:03:07Z

I also do not utilize any specific form of recovery. Naturally, this approach is contingent upon your individual circumstances.

Have you considered employing a recovery phrase and securely storing it offline, provided that your threat level permits such a measure?

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## Post 4 by @anon48875053 — 2024-06-17T13:06:52Z

You can only use an email address or a phone number for account recovery.

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## Post 5 by @anon55464882 — 2024-06-17T15:12:07Z

Sorry, I mistook account recovery with data recovery.

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## Post 6 by @anon73886004 — 2024-06-17T21:34:22Z

> [@anon48875053](#):
>
> You can only use an email address or a phone number for account recovery.

You can recover both account and data without setting a phone or email. I just tested on my Proton test account and was able to recover both my ~~password~~ account and my data without providing a phone number or email.

I used the recovery phrase option which does both account and data.

> There are four methods of **account recovery**.
> 
> **Account recovery** : Reset your password using one of the following four options:
> 
> - **Recovery email:** If you’ve provided an email address, we can send a message to that address so you can reset your password.
> - **Recovery phone number** : If you’ve given us a mobile phone number, we can send you a text to reset your password.
> - **Recovery phrase** : If you’ve enabled your recovery phrase, you’ll be able to enter your 12-word phrase to reset your password.
> - **Device-based recovery** : If you enable data device recovery, Proton will store an encrypted backup keychain as a file in your browser’s [web storage(new window)(new window)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_storage).
> 
> There are 3 methods of **data recovery**.
> 
> **Data recovery** : Recover your emails and other encrypted files using one of the following two options:
> 
> - **Recovery phrase** : If you’ve enabled your recovery phrase, you’ll be able to use it to restore your emails and other encrypted data.
> - **Recovery file:** If you’ve downloaded a recovery file, you can upload it to restore your emails and data.
> - **Device-based recovery** : If you forget your Proton password and need to reset it, the next time you sign in on a trusted device using your new password, full access to your Proton Account will be restored.

Additional Source: [Set account recovery methods in case you forget your Proton password | Proton](https://proton.me/support/set-account-recovery-methods#what-is-an-outdated-recovery-method)

@jonah - Your previous concerns on this may have been addressed. I no longer see a similarly described notification to set an email / phone after creating a recovery phrase. It’s a much easier shade of blue :slight_smile:

> **[Jonah Aragon (@jonah@neat.computer)](https://mastodon.neat.computer/@jonah/112412744201757744)**
>
> Attached: 1 image
> 
> If @protonprivacy@mastodon.social is serious about the recovery email/numbers being optional, they should remove this non-dismissable (dark pattern) warning in their settings tbh
> 
> It's even worse now that it shows an orange dot on...