Proton Drive is end-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Proton, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail. It encrypts files, photos, and documents on your device before upload, then syncs them across Windows, macOS, mobile, and the web.
Proton Drive is end-to-end encrypted cloud storage that lets you store, back up, sync, and share files without trusting a provider with the contents. Files, photos, and folders are encrypted on your device before they upload, so Proton itself cannot read them. The desktop client keeps a chosen folder mirrored in the cloud, mobile apps back up camera rolls automatically, and the web interface gives you access from any browser. Sharing works through links you can protect with a password or expiry date, and Proton Docs and Proton Sheets let you write and collaborate on encrypted documents. For anyone weighing privacy against convenience, it removes the tradeoff.
Sync behaviour is where Proton Drive differs from most consumer cloud services. The Windows and macOS clients let you choose which folders to mirror and whether to stream files on demand, so large libraries do not consume local disk space. Version history keeps earlier copies of files you have overwritten, and deleted items sit in a trash folder before permanent removal. On mobile, camera backup runs in the background and albums can be shared with other people. If your priority is hosting your own storage instead, Nextcloud offers a self-hosted route. For everyone else, Proton Drive balances strong encryption with everyday usability.
The main benefit of Proton Drive is that privacy stops being something you configure and becomes the default. Files, file names, folder structures, and thumbnails are encrypted before they leave your device, which means a breach at the provider exposes scrambled data rather than your documents. Because Proton is based in Switzerland and its apps are open source and independently audited, you get verifiable claims instead of marketing promises. Practical advantages follow from that: sharing links stay revocable and can expire, version history recovers overwritten work, and photo backups keep camera rolls off advertising-driven platforms. Cross-device access means the same encrypted library appears on a Windows laptop, a Mac, a phone, and a browser. You also get Proton's wider ecosystem on one account, so mail, calendar, and password management inherit the same privacy model. The result is cloud storage you can use for legal, medical, or client material without a second thought.
Key capabilities and highlights.
Files, file names, folder structures, and photo thumbnails are encrypted on your device before upload, so the servers only ever hold ciphertext. Decryption keys stay in your possession, which means neither the provider nor an attacker who breaches the infrastructure can read the contents of your account.
Desktop file syncing in Proton Drive mirrors selected folders between your computer and the cloud continuously. Changes made in either location propagate automatically, and on-demand streaming keeps files visible without downloading the whole library, which matters when local drive space is limited.
Mobile apps upload new camera roll items in the background so photos survive a lost, stolen, or wiped phone. Albums can be shared with other people, and every photo inherits the same encryption as your documents, keeping personal memories away from platforms that profile images for advertising.
Any file or folder can be shared through a link that outsiders open without creating an account. You control access with optional passwords and expiry dates, and links stay revocable, so a recipient who should lose access does so immediately rather than keeping a permanent copy.
Online document and spreadsheet editors open straight from your storage and stay end-to-end encrypted while you type. Several people can edit, comment, and suggest changes in real time, which makes Proton Drive practical for drafting and review work without exporting files into less private tools.
Proton Drive keeps earlier copies of files you overwrite or edit, letting you roll back to a previous state when something is changed by mistake. Recovery windows are longer on paid plans, and deleted items rest in trash before permanent removal, adding a buffer against accidents.
The same encrypted library in Proton Drive is reachable through web, Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS apps, and a command line client is available for scripted workflows. You can start a task on a desktop and review the file from a phone without re-uploading anything manually.
Proton is headquartered in Switzerland, outside US and UK jurisdiction, and publishes its applications as open source for independent inspection. External security audits and a public bug bounty programme let researchers verify the privacy claims rather than accepting them on trust.
Browse historical releases and previous builds.
Common questions about Proton Drive.
Yes. Files, file names, and folder structures are encrypted on your own device before they are uploaded, and the decryption keys never leave your control. The service stores ciphertext it cannot read, so even a server-side breach would expose scrambled data rather than the contents of your documents.
Yes. A free tier provides a modest storage allowance plus access to the online document and spreadsheet editors, which is enough to test whether Proton Drive fits your workflow before committing. Paid plans increase capacity, extend version recovery windows, and add Proton's other privacy services on the same account.
You send a link that anyone can open in a browser without signing up. The link carries what the recipient needs to open the file, so keeping it private matters, and you can add a password or an expiry date. Access remains under your control and the link can be revoked at any time.
Yes. Proton Docs and Proton Sheets run in the browser and remain end-to-end encrypted while several people edit, comment, and suggest changes. Work saves into your storage automatically, so you are not juggling separate copies or exporting files between unrelated tools.
Earlier copies are retained and can be restored from a file's version history, while deleted items stay in trash before permanent removal. Recovery windows are longer on paid plans, so it is worth checking which tier you are on if you rely on long-term rollback for important work.
Proton publishes migration tooling and step-by-step guidance for importing data from other cloud services, and you can also copy files manually through the desktop apps. Once the data lands in Proton Drive it is protected by the same end-to-end encryption as anything created there.
Proton Drive is end-to-end encrypted cloud storage from Proton, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail. It encrypts files, photos, and documents on your device before upload, then syncs them across Windows, macOS, mobile, and the web.
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