How to Switch from Gmail to Tutanota

Introduction

This guide will help you switch from Gmail to Tutanota, a privacy-focused email service based in Germany. Tutanota offers end-to-end encryption for emails, contacts, and calendars.

Why switch?

• Gmail scans your emails for advertising purposes
• Your data is stored on US servers subject to surveillance
• Google builds detailed profiles from your email content

Why Tutanota?

• German privacy laws (GDPR) protect your data
• End-to-end encryption by default
• Open source and independently audited
• No tracking, no ads, no profiling
• Encrypted calendar included

Prerequisites

• Active Gmail account with data you want to migrate
• Tutanota account (free tier available)
• About 30 minutes of time
• Stable internet connection

Info: The free Tutanota tier provides 1GB of storage. Consider a paid plan for larger mailboxes and custom domains.

Step 1: Create your Tutanota account

1. Visit tutanota.com and click “Sign up”
2. Choose your email address (username@tutanota.com)
3. Create a strong, unique password
4. Note: Tutanota requires a 48-hour verification period for free accounts
5. Set up your recovery code (very important - save it securely!)

Warning: Unlike other services, Tutanota cannot reset your password. Save your recovery code in a safe place!

Step 2: Export your Gmail data using Google Takeout

1. Go to Google Takeout
2. Click “Deselect all” first
3. Scroll down and select “Mail” and “Contacts”
4. Click “Next step”
5. Choose “Export once” and “MBOX” format for mail
6. Click “Create export”
7. Wait for the email notification and download your data

Tip: Large mailboxes can take several hours to export. Start this process early.

Step 3: Import contacts to Tutanota

1. Extract the downloaded Google Takeout archive
2. Find the contacts file (usually in Google Contacts folder)
3. In Tutanota, go to Contacts
4. Click the three dots menu and select “Import vCard”
5. Upload your contacts file
6. Review and confirm the import

Step 4: Set up email forwarding from Gmail

1. In Gmail, go to Settings > See all settings
2. Click the “Forwarding and POP/IMAP” tab
3. Click “Add a forwarding address”
4. Enter your Tutanota address
5. Check Tutanota for the confirmation email
6. Enable forwarding in Gmail

Info: Keep forwarding active for several months to catch emails from services you forgot to update.

Step 5: Update your email address with important services

Create a list of services using your Gmail address:

• Critical: Banking, government, healthcare
• Important: Social media, shopping, subscriptions
• Others: Newsletters, forums

Tip: Check your Gmail for common senders like banks, social media, and shopping sites to make sure you update them all.

Step 6: Configure Tutanota features

1. Set up push notifications on mobile
2. Configure spam filter settings
3. Create folders to organize your emails
4. Enable two-factor authentication for security

Tips & Gotchas

Warning: Tutanota uses its own encryption format, so you cannot use third-party email clients. Use their apps instead.

• Email import: Tutanota doesn’t support importing old emails directly. You’ll need to forward important emails manually or keep Gmail accessible for archives
• Search: Tutanota’s search is limited due to encryption. Consider organizing emails into folders
• Calendar: The encrypted calendar is included free - export your Google Calendar and import it
• Mobile apps: Download the Tutanota app for iOS/Android
• Aliases: Paid plans include email aliases for privacy

What’s Next?

After completing this guide:

1. Test your new inbox: Send test emails to ensure everything works
2. Set up calendar: Export Google Calendar and import to Tutanota
3. Download mobile apps: Available for iOS and Android
4. Consider premium: Unlock custom domains and more storage

Related Guides

• Gmail to ProtonMail - Another excellent Swiss alternative
• Google Drive to Nextcloud - Continue your privacy journey