{"id":5422,"date":"2026-10-12T06:47:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T06:47:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.softaken.com\/guide\/?p=5422"},"modified":"2026-10-12T06:53:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-12T06:53:20","slug":"de-mail-shutdown-officially-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.softaken.com\/guide\/de-mail-shutdown-officially-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"De-Mail Shutdown Officially: Migrate Data Before the Deadline"},"content":{"rendered":"

Using De-Mail? It\u2019s time to switch from this digital communication tool because the German-made De-Mail service is scheduled to shut down officially on December 31, 2026. It was introduced for individuals and businesses to make their digital communication safer and faster, but the service didn\u2019t perform as well as expected. Now, the German government has decided to discontinue it.
\nIf you still use De-Mail for personal or professional communication, it is high time to plan to switch. Backing up important emails and attachments can help prevent data loss, as once the service is discontinued, it may be difficult or almost impossible to retrieve your data.
\nIn this article, we provide details on how to switch from De-Mail both manually and automatically. In addition, you will learn about the official shutdown timeline and the reasons for its failure.<\/p>\n

German De-Mail Shutdown Timeline<\/span><\/h2>\n

De-Mail, a digital communication service, was introduced in 2011 with the intention of offering a secure and legally reliable communication service among businesses, individuals, and public authorities. Unlike other common digital communication services, De-Mail supports only verified sender and recipient identities and generates evidence of electronic delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, this secure digital communication service is scheduled to shut down at the end of 2026. Existing accounts will work until the shutdown date, but new account registration has stopped. This news has affected its users, especially those who have been using the service for a longer duration. Now, they need to look for the best alternative to De-Mail because data privacy is one of the biggest priorities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why De-Mail is Shutting Down and Has Failed?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Several reasons contributed to the decision to shut down De-Mail. Here, we have outlined the most common reasons.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. De-Mail Failed to Gain Popularity<\/strong><\/p>\n

De-Mail was introduced to serve individuals, businesses, and government authorities. However, it didn\u2019t gain much popularity among Germans. Some users also found it less convenient.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Complex Registration and Usage<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unlike conventional email service providers, De-Mail required users to verify their identities before creating an account. The primary intention was to provide a high level of security, but these extra steps made the registration process complex. Users who wanted to use email services occasionally found maintaining a separate account unnecessary for official document communication. Thus, De-Mail gradually lost its popularity.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Paid Service<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many conventional email services are available for free, but De-Mail charged fees for some services while offering additional security and legal benefits. Users who rarely exchanged legally significant messages may have found maintaining a separate account unnecessary.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Criticism of Security and Delivery Features<\/strong><\/p>\n

De-Mail was introduced to provide a safer data communication experience, but it did not provide end-to-end encryption by default. This raised concerns among people who expected only the sender and recipient to be able to read their messages.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Discontinuation of Services by Major Providers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gradually, several major De-Mail providers withdrew from the service, including Deutsche Telekom, United Internet, and 1&1. This contributed to a loss of confidence among users and made the service less attractive.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Government Decision to End the Service<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maintaining De-Mail required ongoing administrative work, technical infrastructure, and compliance with legal requirements. As the service struggled to gain widespread adoption, the decision was made to discontinue it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Manual Solutions to Migrate from De-Mail<\/span><\/h2>\n

Luckily, several manual solutions are available to export data from De-Mail. We have provided you with some popular methods.<\/span><\/p>\n

Method 1: Download and Save De-Mail Messages<\/h3>\n

You can use this method to preserve important messages on your system.<\/span><\/p>\n

Steps to Follow:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Access the De-Mail website and sign in to your account.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Now, locate the important messages by browsing folders like Inbox and Sent Items.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Now, select the target message and look for the <\/span>Download<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>Export<\/span><\/strong>, or <\/span>Save<\/span><\/strong> option<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Save the exported data in a local folder in EML format, as it is compatible with several email clients. <\/span><\/li>\n
  5. You can repeat the same process for other emails.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Note:<\/em><\/strong> You have another option available if the De-Mail provider doesn\u2019t offer a download option. Save each message as a PDF file using the \u201cPrint\u201d option.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Method 2: Download Email Attachments<\/h3>\n

    If you are concerned about attachments in your De-Mail account, you can store attachments separately. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Steps to Follow:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Locate the De-Mail message containing an attachment.<\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Press the attachment’s <\/span>Download<\/span><\/strong> option.<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Select a folder where you want to save the attachment.<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Rename the attachment if you want.<\/span><\/li>\n
    5. Repeat the same process for attachments you want to download locally.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Method 3: Forward Messages to Another Email Account<\/h3>\n

      Another option is to forward each email to an email account where you want to restore data.<\/span><\/p>\n

      Steps to Follow:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Access the target De-Mail message.<\/span><\/li>\n
      2. Now, press the <\/span>Forward<\/span><\/strong> tab.<\/span><\/li>\n
      3. Provide the alternative email address.<\/span><\/li>\n
      4. You can add a note before sending <\/span><\/li>\n
      5. Now, check the exported email.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Note:<\/em><\/strong> De-Mail was legally significant precisely because of its cryptographically signed delivery receipts (Versandbest\u00e4tigung and Abholbest\u00e4tigung). When warning users about manual methods, emphasise more strongly that neither PDFs nor forwarded emails retain legal validity, making them insufficient for official court or government correspondence archives where proof of delivery is legally required.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

        Method 4: Save Messages as PDF Files<\/h3>\n

        Since PDF is a universally accepted file format, you can save emails in PDF format.<\/span><\/p>\n

        Steps to Follow:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Access the target message in your De-Mail account.<\/span><\/li>\n
        2. Hit <\/span>Ctrl + P<\/span><\/strong> on your system.<\/span><\/li>\n
        3. Press <\/span>Save as PDF<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n
        4. Now, press <\/span>Save<\/span><\/strong> and define the output location.<\/span><\/li>\n
        5. Rename the file if you wish.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Risks Behind Manual Switch from De-Mail<\/h4>\n

          The above-mentioned manual methods may sound easy, but they have some hidden disadvantages that you cannot ignore before selecting any manual method.<\/span><\/p>\n