Add Shared Folders to Proton Drive Sync
My wife and I fully utilize the Proton sharing features across the platform. We share files in Proton Drive, but the biggest gap for us is not being able to sync shared folders/files (using Proton Drive Sync for MacOS). The only way we can access the files that have been shared is through the Proton Drive web application.
Why is it so important that we be able to sync using MacOS?
Because we heavily utilize the MacOS Spotlight feature to find specific files that contain specific search terms in the body of the document. For reasons we understand, this feature cannot be made available in Proton Drive (the web application or mobile applications). However, we use MacOS Spotlight to deliver what Proton Drive cannot. As such, it is imperative that we be able to sync shared folders to MacOS,
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Alex commented
I totally agree !
this is a must, I cannot automate workflows on my macOS because I simply can't access the files shared with me via proton.
Because of this I have to do a few hours of work at the end of each month to manually process and upload files via the web app.Guys, we love Proton and we already give up to lots of confort only to use it, make it compatible for all of us !
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Dennis
commented
This is essential? It’s possible on windows, so please make
It available on Mac. It’s the only reason I still have to use dropbox 😭 -
FJ
commented
I absolutely agree that this is critical feature. And it is somehow in conflict with the statement here. What is going wrong ?
https://www.reddit.com/r/ProtonDrive/comments/1iwm3ux/accessing_shared_folders_from_macos/
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M
commented
I agree with SF, this is more critical than adding online spreadsheet editor.
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SF
commented
It's absolutely mind blowing this isn't already a feature. This is barebones basic functionality stuff. I just assumed you already had it when I subscribed.
This is much more critical than adding online excel knock off apps.
You know what I do every single day? Share files with colleagues via other cloud apps. You know what I do two or three times a year? Edit an online shared document. It's baffling that desktop shared folder sync this isn't a feature, and even more baffling that it doesn't even exist in group plans, like partner plans or family plans.
This is basic functionality, and not having it keeps Proton Drive from being a serious tool.
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d
commented
The lack of capacity to have shared files synced and available locally makes it almost impossible to convince colleagues that Proton is a viable business alternative. When are we going to get it?
If the reason for not developing this function is really that it would mean that unencrypted files can be stored locally, as suggested below, then this seems to me major overreach on Proton's part; surely it is up to users, and not Proton, to make decisions about what we are prepared to share with the possibility they may be unencrypted locally.
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Irwin
commented
A shared, non-personal drive is also very much needed for Business users.
Now, as intermediate solution, the admin has set up a shared section in his account to which all users have access. -
David Bertsche
commented
Accessing shared ProtonDive folders from the desktop apparently exists for the Windows app:
https://proton.me/support/shared-with-me-windowsWhy not for the macOS app? How is this a security concern for one OS and not the other?
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R
commented
The lack of sync for Macs a critical gap in the Proton Drive app. Mac users need the ability to:
1) Select any folder(s)
2) Sync those folders with Proton drive
3) Share!I get the arguement that the files are not encrypted if they're stored locally, but Proton already offers local copies of files. I would like specific files backed up locally, and currently I don't even have the option to do it with Proton Drive.
It's the biggest feature gap with the service in my mind.
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John Doe
commented
I strongly support this feature request.
Shared folders that other Proton users have shared with me are currently not visible in the Proton desktop app on macOS, which is a major usability gap compared to the web and mobile apps.
This is especially problematic because many shared folders contain files that are primarily or exclusively used in desktop workflows (e.g. Photoshop files, thesis documents, design assets, large PDFs, project folders). These files are often irrelevant or impractical to work with on mobile and significantly harder to manage through the web interface compared to a native desktop app.
The inconsistency between platforms breaks real-world usage:
- Shared folders are accessible on web/mobile
- But invisible in the macOS desktop app
- This forces users to constantly switch platforms just to access shared contentFor a desktop app, visibility and full parity with shared folders is essential, not optional. Without it, the macOS app cannot realistically replace the web app for collaborative or academic/professional use cases.
Adding full support for viewing and accessing shared folders in the macOS desktop app would greatly improve usability, platform consistency, and trust in the desktop client as a primary tool.
Just do it like Dropbox, please.
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Nicolas R
commented
This has been on the Proton roadmap for a long time and still no shared folders on Drive. It's a frustratingly long wait.
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TNDF
commented
We also have the same issue as the original poster. We need to be able to choose and sync files on MacOS so that they become searchable. Also, we need to be able to not just select some folders to be downloaded to be offline but need to have the option of selecting everything to be offline all the time. We do not live in an environment that allows continuous connectivity.
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Rob
commented
Two days ago I had upgraded my unlimited account to the Duo so that my wife and I could replace our box.com accounts with ProtonDrive. After waiting two days for our 1TB of box.com data to migrate to ProtonDrive, when I went to configure a shared folder that we use so we can both access our common and critical documents (5GB, 9K files...), I find out that oops, shared folders only work with ProtonDrive on Windows, not with ProtonDrive for MacOS.
Of course the web version of the shared folders is useless as I'm never going to tell her "honey, when you search for something, if you can't find it with Spotlight, please open your browser, login proton, and search for it there too. Oh... ergh... sorry, uhm... ehm.., don't be too upset, but if you download it and then update the document, please don't forget to re-upload it in the same place, you know, the directory 4 levels down from the top".
I want a happy marriage, so unfortunately I'm going to cancel Duo, keep on spending an extra $45/month to keep our Box accounts, and hope that eventually the guys at Proton will improve the MacOS version.
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O
commented
Isn't it a privacy risk? This is an answer from Lumo:
Syncing shared folders would indeed be convenient, but it would force Proton Drive to store decrypted copies on your Mac. macOS Spotlight (and any other local process) could then read those files in plain text, which defeats Proton’s end‑to‑end encryption and zero‑access guarantees. Because of that, Proton has deliberately left shared‑folder sync unavailable on macOS, and there’s no indication it will change in the near term. The safest workaround is to keep shared items in the web/app interface and only download the specific files you need to search locally.
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Mark
commented
This is critically important to me. I learned the hard way that folder and file sharing is not so robust with a certain large tech company. My wife and I share sensitive data, so I absolutely need this feature and I need it done right. Proton, I'm counting on YOU!
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Stéphane
commented
Same here : it's a “must have" feature to share documents with my family
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JT
commented
It would be very adventageous to get this on the urgent line. The lack of this feature is really preventing us from working efficiently.
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Ge Org commented
I would like to switch to proton drive with my entire family and small business but this feature ist a must have that prevents me from doing so.
Current sharing solution is insufficient. -
JOSHomme73
commented
I agree, and not just for spotlight. As a business user I want to be able to create shared folders that are much more conveneient to access for my small team - having to go onto the web for files doesn't cut it.
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Henri
commented
This is super important to me as well. This is the one last bit I miss to ditch most of the other cloud storage I'm currently using. I have a proton family account and we need to be able to share files in the mac OS desktop app.