ProtonMail Not Sending Mail on Android: Troubleshooting and Solutions

In today’s digital age, secure and private email communication is a priority for many. ProtonMail, a well-known encrypted email provider, has garnered a loyal user base for its privacy-focused features. However, like any app, it isn’t immune to occasional technical issues, particularly when using it on Android devices. One of the more common problems users encounter is ProtonMail not sending emails on Android. This can be frustrating, especially if you rely on ProtonMail for secure communication. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, fear not! This article will walk you through the potential causes and troubleshooting steps to help resolve the issue.

Understanding ProtonMail and Its Importance

Before diving into solutions, let’s briefly discuss why ProtonMail is a popular choice among privacy-conscious individuals. ProtonMail offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only the sender and recipient can read the contents of an email. This makes it highly attractive for people concerned about data security, such as journalists, activists, and everyday users seeking to protect their personal information. ProtonMail also offers strong privacy policies, including the fact that they don’t track user data and are based in Switzerland, where strict privacy laws are in place.

Common Reasons Why ProtonMail Might Not Send Emails on Android

If your ProtonMail app is not sending emails on Android, there could be several potential causes. Below are some common issues that might be affecting the functionality:

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2. Internet Connection Problems The most straightforward reason why ProtonMail may not be sending emails is a poor or unstable internet connection. If your device has weak Wi-Fi or mobile data, the app might not be able to connect to the ProtonMail server to send the email.
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4. Outdated ProtonMail App Using an outdated version of the ProtonMail app can result in unexpected bugs or glitches. App updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements, and failing to update the app regularly might lead to issues like the inability to send emails.
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6. Full Mailbox ProtonMail offers a limited amount of storage space, especially for free-tier users. If your mailbox is full, you may not be able to send emails. ProtonMail will likely alert you when you’re close to exceeding your storage limit, but it’s something to check if you're experiencing problems sending mail.
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8. Incorrect Account Settings If the account settings aren’t configured correctly, ProtonMail may struggle to send emails. This could involve incorrect SMTP settings, an issue with your ProtonMail login credentials, or a problem with the email server configuration.
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10. Server-Side Issues While ProtonMail is generally reliable, there could be rare server-side issues causing interruptions to the sending of emails. These issues might be temporary, but it’s worth checking the ProtonMail status page or social media channels to see if there are any ongoing outages.
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12. App Permissions On Android devices, apps require certain permissions to function correctly. If ProtonMail doesn’t have the necessary permissions, such as access to your device’s network or storage, it might encounter problems when trying to send emails.
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14. Battery Saver or Background App Restrictions Some Android devices implement battery saver modes or restrict apps from running in the background. This could cause ProtonMail to fail in sending emails if it’s being actively restricted by the system to conserve battery life.
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16. Corrupted App Data or Cache Sometimes, the ProtonMail app’s data or cache can become corrupted, causing it to behave unexpectedly. Clearing the app’s data or cache might fix the issue and allow you to send emails again.

Troubleshooting Steps to Resolve the Issue

Now that you have an idea of potential causes, let’s walk through some troubleshooting steps to resolve the issue of ProtonMail not sending emails on Android.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

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2. Wi-Fi/Cellular Network: Ensure that your Android device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi network or has sufficient cellular data. Try opening a webpage or another app that requires the internet to verify that your connection is working properly.
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4. Switch Networks: If you’re on Wi-Fi and encountering issues, try switching to mobile data and vice versa. This can help rule out any network-specific problems.

2. Update the ProtonMail App

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2. Open the Google Play Store on your Android device.
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4. Search for "ProtonMail" and check if there’s an available update.
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6. If an update is available, tap “Update.” Once the update is complete, try sending an email again.
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8. Keeping your app updated is critical for security and performance.

3. Free Up Space in Your Mailbox

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2. Log into your ProtonMail account on the web version or app and check the storage capacity. If you’ve reached your storage limit, try deleting old emails, attachments, or clearing out spam folders to free up space.
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4. If you’re on the free plan and running low on storage, consider upgrading your account to get more space.

4. Verify Account Settings

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2. Open the ProtonMail app and go to Settings.
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4. Double-check your account settings to make sure your login credentials are correct. If you have two-factor authentication enabled, ensure that your authentication method is working.
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6. If you’re using ProtonMail Plus or a higher-tier plan, verify that your SMTP settings are properly configured.

5. Check for Server Issues

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2. Visit ProtonMail’s official status page or their social media accounts to check if there are any ongoing outages or server maintenance activities.
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4. If ProtonMail is experiencing server issues, you might need to wait until they resolve the problem.

6. Ensure App Permissions Are Enabled

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2. Go to your Android device’s “Settings” and open the “Apps” or “App Manager” section.
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4. Find ProtonMail in the list of installed apps and make sure it has the necessary permissions, such as access to the internet and storage.
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6. If permissions seem correct, try toggling them off and on to reset the app’s access.

7. Disable Battery Saver or Background Restrictions

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2. Open your Android device’s “Settings” and navigate to the “Battery” section.
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4. Check if ProtonMail is being restricted in any way by battery saver mode or background app management.
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6. Disable any restrictions and try sending the email again.

8. Clear App Cache and Data

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2. Go to your device’s “Settings” > “Apps” > “ProtonMail.”
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4. Tap “Storage” and then choose the option to “Clear Cache.” You can also select “Clear Data,” but keep in mind this will log you out of the app, and you may need to sign in again.
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6. Restart the app and try sending an email.

9. Reinstall ProtonMail

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2. If all else fails, try uninstalling the ProtonMail app from your Android device and reinstalling it.
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4. After reinstalling, sign in with your credentials and check if the issue persists.

Additional Tips

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2. Test with a Different Device: If possible, try accessing your ProtonMail account from another device (such as a desktop or another phone) to see if the issue is specific to your Android device.
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4. Contact ProtonMail Support: If none of the troubleshooting steps resolve the problem, consider reaching out to ProtonMail’s customer support for further assistance. They can help you troubleshoot and identify any specific issues related to your account or the app.

Conclusion

Experiencing issues with sending emails on ProtonMail can be frustrating, especially when relying on it for secure communication. However, most problems can be resolved through simple troubleshooting steps, such as checking your internet connection, updating the app, freeing up space, or adjusting settings. By following the steps outlined in this article, you should be able to resolve the issue and get back to securely sending emails on your Android device.