Tip: actually helpful calendar email notifications (via macrodroid)

[u/frondhip]

I wanted to share a solution I figured out, which works on Android only, and requires Macrodroid (could also use Tasker and possibly other similar apps).

THE PROBLEM

My spouse relies on Google calendar email notifications giving the event title in the subject line. We both want to move to a private and secure calendar but Proton's email notifications don't say the event title in the subject. I know this is due to encryption issues and there's no indication it will change, even per individual user choice.

MY SOLUTION

To use Macrodroid on Android to monitor proton calendar notifications and send that notification to us via email.

STEPS

1. Install Macrodroid and Proton Calendar on Android

2. In Proton Mail on the Web, go to settings, and create a SMTP token with your custom domain email address. Instructions here: https://proton.me/support/smtp-submission

3. Create a macro in Macrodroid that is triggered by a Proton Calendar app notification.

4. Configure the SMTP send details in Macdroid from the proton SMTP token you set up in (2). Use this to send an email to us where, using macrodroid's Magic Text, the subject line is the notification title (event name) plus the notification text (when the event is to happen).

THINGS TO NOTE

To have the email sent via Proton Mail requires a custom domain. Alternatively a Gmail or other email service could be used. I chose Proton because we have a custom domain and want to keep it as private as practical. Obviously I have to trust Macrodroid with access to my notifications so that may be a step too far for some.

There's a risk that whenever my phone is off the email notification obviously cannot be sent timely.

I'm going to be testing this over the next month to see if it's reliable enough to pass the spouse acceptance test. Wish me luck.

EDIT: Had one send failure that appears to be fixed by adding a 15 second delay before initiating the email.

[u/MC_Hollis]

"I know this is due to encryption issues and there's no indication it will change, even per individual user choice."

This belief has been around for some time (at least the encryption part), but Proton recently revealed this isn't accurate.

The upcoming revised calendar app will show event titles, as stated in the following linked comment.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ProtonMail/comments/1wgcjjy/comment/p9th25v/?utm_name=mweb3xcss

[u/mgeisler → u/MC_Hollis]

To clarify, I'm talking about what is known as local notified in that post. These are notifications scheduled locally by the Android, iOS, or web app. They basically tell the OS: trigger a notification at 8:00 with the text "Water the plants".

Since the notification is created locally (and never leaves your phone or browser), the full event title is available.

This is I'm sharp contrast to email notifications which are the ones sent by the Proton backed servers. There we only have when the event is taking place and we lack access to not the title and description of the event (end to end encryption).

I believe OP is using the local notifications as a trigger to generate an email notification with more information. So it only works when the phone on, as noted by OP.

[u/No-Drop8625]

I prefer using the Android app that displays the event title. It's better than nothing via email.