Export PGP Keys in PGP Desktop (Symantec Encryption Desktop) for Windows (2024)

book

Article ID: 153252

calendar_today

Updated On:

This article has two sections. The first one details how to import PGP keys using Encryption Desktop. The second section details how to export PGP keys using Encryption Desktop.

You can import PGP public keys and PKCS-12 X.509 certificates (a digital certificate format used by most Web browsers) to your PGP Keys keyring. You can also import Privacy Enhanced Mail (PEM) format X.509 certificates from your browser by copying and pasting into your public keyring.

There are many ways to importa PGP public key and add it to your keyring. These methods include:

• Double-clicking the file on your system. If Encryption Desktop recognizes the file format, it will open and ask if you want to import the key(s) in the file.
• Choosing to import the key file in Encryption Desktop.
• Dragging the file containing the public key onto the PGP Keys window.

You can export PGP keys from your PGP Keys keyring with one of the following ways:

• Export within PGP Desktop - the user can select if the Private key should also be exported, by default only the Public key is selected
• Send to method within PGP Desktop - applicable only to the Public key
• Drag and Drop Method - it exports only the Public key
• Copy Public Key Block - it copies to the clipboard the public key block

Import PGP Keys

There are several ways to import someones public key and add it to your keyring.

Double-click Method

1. Double-click the .asc file that includes the public key. Encryption Desktop recognizes the file format and opens the Select key(s) dialog box.
2. If prompted, specify to open the file.
3. Select the public key(s) you want to add to your keyring and click Import. The key is then added to your keyring.

Import within Encryption Desktop

1. Open Encryption Desktop through the system tray or the Programs/All Programs menu.
2. Click the File menu and select Import.
3. Select the key file (i.e. keyname.asc), and then click Open.
4. Enter the passphrase protecting the key (if applicable) and click Open.
5. Click Import. The key is then added to your keyring.
   

Drag and Drop Method

1. Open Encryption Desktop.
2. Click PGP Keys so that the list of keys is displayed on the right pane.
3. Drag the file containing the public key (e.g. keyname.asc) onto the PGP Keys window, enter the passphrase protecting the key (if applicable).
4. Click Open, and then click Import. The key will be imported.

Note: After importing keys to Encryption Desktop, you may need to Sign or change the Trust level of the key.

• Private keys - When private keys are imported, you will receive a PGP Information pop-up that the trust values of the key must be set. To set the Trust for the key, double-click the key and click Trust in the key properties then change the value to Implicit. The key will then display a green checkmark in the Verified column.
• Public keys - After importing a public key, you must Sign the key to use the key for encryption. To Sign a key, right-click the key and select Sign. Click OK when prompted then enter the passphrase for your key and click OK. The key will then display a green checkmark in the Verified column.

Export PGP Keys

There are several methods available to export keys out of Encryption Desktop.

Export within Encryption Desktop

1. Open Encryption Desktop.
2. Click PGP Keys to display the keys available for export.
3. Highlight the PGP key you wish to export
4. Pull down the File menu, and click Export. In alternative may also right-click on the key you wish to export and click Export in the drop down menu.
5. When the Export Key to File window appears, select a location to export the key, and then click Save. The key will then be exported to an .asc file (e.g. keyname.asc) to the location you specified.

Note: This will only export the public key. If you wish to include the private key (not recommended unless you are exporting the private key to another machine which you will be using), you may select the check box in the lower left titled "Include Private Key(s)".

Send to method within Encryption Desktop - (Public key only)

1. Open Encryption Desktop.
2. Click PGP Keys to display the keys available for export.
3. Right-click on the key you wish to export and point to Send To within the drop down list.
4. You may send the public key to a keyserver listed in the drop down list, a smart card, or to an email recipient. If you choose a mail recipient, this will open a new mail message and automatically attach the public key.
   

Drag and Drop Method - (Public key only)

1. Open Encryption Desktop.
2. Click PGP Keys to display the keys available for export.
3. Click and drag the key you wish to export outside of the Encryption Desktop window. You may drag the file to your Desktop or a drive/folder of your choice.
   

Copy Public Key Block

1. Open Encryption Desktop.
2. Click PGP Keys to display the keys available for export.
3. Right-click the key to export, then select Copy Public Key.
4. You can then paste the key block of the public key to a text file.