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Switch from Gmail to Tuta

🇩🇪 Tuta, GermanySome effortAbout an hour, plus waiting for the Google exportChecked 25 September 2026

Tuta is an encrypted email service from Germany. You export your Gmail data with Google Takeout, import it in the Tuta desktop app, move contacts and calendars, forward new mail and finally remove Gmail.

Good to know

  • Importing old emails currently needs the Tuta plan Legend or Unlimited and works only in the Tuta desktop app (Windows, macOS, Linux).
  • Without that plan you can still switch: keep the Takeout export as your archive and start fresh in Tuta.
  • Menu names are given as the official help pages name them. They can differ slightly depending on app version and language.

Steps

  1. Create a Tuta account and install the desktop app

    Sign up for Tuta and install the free desktop client for Windows, macOS or Linux. You need it for the email import.

    Source: Tuta: How to use Tuta Mail (step-by-step guide), Tuta: Desktop clients for Linux, Windows and macOS

  2. Export your emails from Gmail

    Download your Gmail data with Google Takeout. The export contains your messages with attachments and labels. Google emails you a link when it is ready.

    Source: Gmail Help: Export your data from Gmail, Google Account Help: How to download your Google data

  3. Import the emails into Tuta

    In the Tuta desktop app, open Settings > Email import, choose the target folder, click Import and select your .mbox or .eml files. The app encrypts the emails on your device before uploading them. The import history shows how many emails were imported and whether any failed.

    Source: Tuta: How to use Tuta Mail (step-by-step guide)

  4. Move contacts and calendars

    In Google Contacts, select all contacts and export them as a vCard file. In Tuta, open Contacts, click the three dots next to All contacts and import the vCard file. Calendars come along as .ics files: import them in Tuta via the three dots next to a calendar.

    Source: Google Contacts Help: Export, back up, or restore contacts, Tuta: Contacts feature improvements (vCard import), Tuta: How to set up and use Tuta Calendar

  5. Forward new Gmail messages

    In Gmail, open Settings > Forwarding and POP/IMAP, add your Tuta address as forwarding address and confirm it with the link Google sends there. Then select forwarding a copy of incoming mail. Spam is not forwarded.

    Source: Gmail Help: Automatically forward Gmail messages to another account

  6. Update your accounts and remove Gmail

    Change the email address in your online accounts and tell your contacts. When nothing important arrives at Gmail any more, remove Gmail in your Google account under Data & privacy from the services you no longer use. You need an alternate email address for this. Gmail deletes your emails and settings after 30 days. Your Google account and other Google services remain.

    Source: Google Account Help: Remove Gmail from your Google Account

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Sources

Official help pages of the providers, last checked on 25 September 2026. Providers change their apps: if a step no longer matches, the linked help page is authoritative.

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