Canary Mail supports secure and encrypted email on iPhone, including PGP encryption, SecureSend, and SMTP connectivity. If you are looking for a secure email app for iPhone or want to send encrypted email on iOS, this guide explains what is supported, how to configure each feature, and what limitations apply on iOS.
What Secure Email Features Are Available on iPhone
PGP on iPhone - What It Is and How It Works
PGP stands for Pretty Good Privacy. It is a standard for encrypted email on iOS and enables secure email communication on iPhone by ensuring only the sender and recipient can read messages. No one in between, including email servers, can read the content.
Canary Mail supports native OpenPGP on iPhone. This means you can send and receive end-to-end encrypted email directly from your iPhone without needing a separate app or desktop setup.
What PGP on iPhone with Canary Mail lets you do:
- Send encrypted email to other PGP users
- Receive and decrypt encrypted email from other PGP users
- Manage your PGP keys inside the app
- Use SecureSend for recipients who do not have PGP set up
ℹ️ PGP requires both the sender and recipient to have PGP keys configured. If the recipient does not use PGP, use SecureSend instead.
ℹ️ PGP encryption is available on the Pro+ plan. Visit the Pricing page for full plan details.
For a full explanation of how PGP encryption works, visit the PGP encryption guide.
How to Set Up PGP on iPhone
- Open Canary Mail on your iPhone
- Tap the menu icon and go to Settings
- Tap Security
- Select PGP Keys
- Generate a new key pair or import an existing key
- Once your key is set up, Canary Mail will automatically encrypt emails to contacts who also have PGP keys and whose public keys are downloaded on the sender's end in Canary Mail
For full setup guidance, visit the Security features page.
SecureSend on iPhone - What It Is and How It Works
SecureSend is Canary Mail's solution for sending secure messages to recipients who do not use PGP. It allows you to send encrypted, expiring messages from your iPhone to any email address, regardless of whether the recipient has PGP configured. Recipients do not need to install Canary Mail or create an account.
What SecureSend on iPhone lets you do:
- Send a secure message to any email address
- Set an expiry time after which the message can no longer be accessed
- Revoke access to a message at any time after sending
- Send sensitive information without requiring the recipient to have any special setup
How SecureSend works:
- You compose a message and enable SecureSend before sending
- The recipient receives a secure link rather than a standard email
- The recipient completes an identity verification step to access the message
- The message opens inside the Secure Reader
- The message expires after the time period you choose
ℹ️ SecureSend is available on the Pro+ plan. Visit the Pricing page for full plan details.
How to Use SecureSend on iPhone
- Open Canary Mail on your iPhone
- Compose a new message
- Tap SecureSend toggle above keyboard to enable SecureSend
- Set an expiry time for the message if needed
- Send the message as normal
The recipient will receive a secure link. They complete an identity verification step and the message opens inside the Secure Reader in any browser. No Canary Mail account is required on the recipient's end.
For full details on the recipient experience, see SecureSend in Canary Mail: What It Is and How It Works
SMTP on iPhone - What It Is and How It Works
SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. It is the standard method email clients use to send email through your email provider. Canary Mail uses SMTP to connect to Gmail, Outlook, iCloud, and any other IMAP or Exchange compatible account on iPhone.
You do not need to configure SMTP manually in most cases. When you add your email account to Canary Mail, SMTP is set up automatically using your provider's standard settings.
When you may need to configure SMTP manually:
- When using a custom domain email
- When using a business or self-hosted email server
- When your provider requires a non-standard port or authentication method
ℹ️ SMTP is a connection protocol, not an encryption layer. Email encryption on Canary Mail is handled separately through PGP and SecureSend.
iOS vs Mac - Security Feature Comparison
For the most current platform parity details, visit the Security features page.
Where to Find Security Settings on iPhone
All security settings in Canary Mail on iPhone are in one place:
- Open Canary Mail on your iPhone
- Tap the menu icon in the top left
- Go to Settings
- Tap Security
From the Security settings screen you can manage PGP keys, configure SecureSend, and review encryption settings for each account.
Troubleshooting
PGP is set up but emails are not encrypting
- Check that the recipient also has a PGP key configured
- Canary Mail will only encrypt automatically when a valid recipient key is detected
- If the recipient does not use PGP, use SecureSend instead
Cannot import my existing PGP key
- Make sure your key is in a supported format - ASC or PGP file
- Try exporting the key from your desktop app and importing it via Files on iPhone
- If the issue continues, contact support at hello@canarymail.io
SMTP connection is failing
- Check that your account credentials are correct
- Check that your email provider allows SMTP access - some providers require you to enable it in their settings
- For Gmail, make sure you are using an App Password if two-factor authentication is enabled
- Visit the iPhone email app page for account-specific setup guidance
SecureSend is not available
- SecureSend is available on the Pro+ plan
- Check your current plan in Settings under Account
- Visit the Pricing page for plan details
Recipient cannot access a SecureSend message
- Confirm the recipient is using the correct email address for identity verification
- Check whether the message has expired or been revoked
- See How Your Recipients Can Access Secure Emails for full recipient guidance
Related Resources
- Security features overview
- Canary Mail for iPhone
- PGP encryption guide
- SecureSend: What It Is and How It Works
- SecureSend: Composing a Secure Email
- Setting Up Manual Encryption Mode on iOS
- Pricing and plan details
FAQ
Does Canary Mail support PGP on iPhone?
Yes. Canary Mail supports native OpenPGP on iPhone on the Pro+ plan. You can send and receive end-to-end encrypted email and manage PGP keys directly in the app under Settings - Security.
Can I send encrypted email from iOS?
Yes. Canary Mail supports encrypted email on iOS using PGP for secure email communication between PGP users on the Pro+ plan. For recipients without PGP, SecureSend lets you send encrypted expiring messages from your iPhone to any email address. SecureSend also requires the Pro+ plan.
Does Canary Mail work with SMTP on iPhone?
Yes. Canary Mail uses SMTP to connect to email providers on iPhone. For most accounts this is configured automatically when you add your account. Manual SMTP configuration is available for custom or business email setups.
Does Canary Mail support S/MIME on iPhone?
No. Canary Mail does not currently support S/MIME on any platform, including iPhone, Mac, Windows, or Android.
Are there any limitations on iPhone compared with Mac?
Core security features including PGP encryption, SecureSend, and phishing protection are available on both iPhone and Mac on the Pro+ plan. For the most current platform parity details visit the Security features page.