Proton Drive
A cross-platform end-to-end encrypted cloud-drive client with on-demand files, offline retention, version history and desktop, mobile, web and command-line access.
What Proton Drive does
Proton Drive synchronizes encrypted files across supported desktop, mobile and web clients. On-demand placeholders reduce local disk use, while an always-offline state keeps a full local copy available without a network. The cross-platform CLI adds upload, download, sharing and automation workflows, but does not provide the same graphical file-provider experience as a desktop client.
On-demand, deletion and recovery boundaries
Releasing local space removes the full local copy while keeping the cloud item and placeholder. Ordinary deletion moves an item to the cloud recycle bin and affects other devices, so these actions must be distinguished. End-to-end encryption still depends on account recovery material, device security and independent offline backups.
Maintenance note
This page reviews Proton Drive desktop and mobile versions, on-demand files, offline retention, version recovery, account reset behavior, CLI access and GPL-3.0 client-source boundaries. Content review date: 2026-08-23.
Save to your cloud drive
Open the cloud drive to get the file directly, or save it for convenient access on another device.
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Proton Drive installation, on-demand sync and recovery guide
Install the package for the target platform, save account recovery information, test online-only, temporary offline, always-offline and delete states with small files, then sync important directories.
Before you start
- Match the Windows, macOS, Android, iOS or CLI package and back up unfinished uploads and local-only files from any previous client.
- Enable two-step verification, store recovery material outside the synchronized folder and check account capacity and disk space.
- Separate folders for two-way sync, archive-only storage and CLI automation; keep an independent offline backup even with encrypted cloud storage.
Installation steps
- 01
Choose the platform package
Match Windows 3.0.4 x64 or ARM64, macOS 3.0.0, Android 2.41.0 or the appropriate CLI build, and record platform-specific versions.
- 02
Sign in and enable sync
Sign in on a trusted device, confirm the Drive location and status indicators in the system file manager, and review organization policy on managed computers.
- 03
Set on-demand and offline behavior
Keep infrequently used items online-only, mark important folders always offline and use release-space actions instead of ordinary delete when preserving cloud data.
Quick start
- 01
Test four file states
Use a small sample to test online-only, opened locally, always-offline and released-space states, comparing icons, disk use and offline availability.
- 02
Test deletion, recycle bin and versions
Delete only a test file, observe other devices and the cloud recycle bin, edit another file and restore an older version while recording plan retention rules.
- 03
Review sharing and CLI scope
Share with an explicit recipient or link permission and revoke it afterward; use a dedicated CLI configuration and minimal directory, keeping credentials out of logs and scripts.
Usage tips
- Windows, macOS and Android releases have independent version numbers; do not represent every client with one version value.
- Cloud placeholders and release-space actions preserve the cloud item, while ordinary deletion synchronizes to the recycle bin.
- Files already downloaded in plaintext still depend on operating-system accounts, full-disk encryption and device security.
- CLI automation and graphical file-provider sync are different workflows with different local permissions and failure modes.
Troubleshooting and uninstall
Why is a file waiting to sync or a placeholder not opening?
Check network, disk space, system time, account capacity and file-provider permissions, then inspect activity logs without deleting the placeholder first.
Why are local files missing after sign-out?
Locate the platform's local or cloud-storage backup directory, verify that uploads finished and copy unique files to a non-synchronized location before cleanup.
- Pin files that must stay localMark important projects always offline, wait for complete downloads, copy a second local backup outside the sync folder and verify cloud recycle-bin and version state.
- Revoke devices and uninstallRevoke old devices and CLI sessions in account security, uninstall by platform and inspect local caches or backup directories so unfinished uploads are preserved.
Frequently asked questions
Does Linux have the same graphical folder sync as Windows and macOS?
The current cross-platform CLI supports upload, download, sharing and automation, while the full desktop file-provider experience is focused on supported desktop clients.
Does release space delete the cloud file?
No. It removes the full local copy while keeping the cloud item and placeholder. Ordinary delete moves the item to the cloud recycle bin and affects other devices.
Does resetting the account password restore encrypted Drive files automatically?
Recovery depends on the account recovery method, recovery phrase or a still-authorized device. A successful password reset does not by itself prove that encrypted files can be decrypted.