Using the program — Import a key

Where: Keys → Import, Import key block / clipboard, or Bulk import (separate topic).

Use import when the key already exists (yours from another program, or someone else’s public key).

What you can import

  • .asc, .pgp, .gpg files
  • ASCII blocks:

text

-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----

-----BEGIN PGP PRIVATE KEY BLOCK-----

Public and secret may be in one paste; the store accepts what is valid. RSA 1024 is not imported for encrypt use; you are told it is obsolete.

Import from a file

  1. Keys → Import (or Import file).
  2. Choose the key file.
  3. Read the result: how many keys imported, or why a key was skipped.
  4. Find the new row; open Properties and check the fingerprint.

Import from a block or clipboard

  1. Copy the entire block, including BEGIN and END lines.
  2. Open Import key block (or Import from clipboard).
  3. Paste and import.
  4. “Zero key(s) imported” means the paste was incomplete, already in the store, or not OpenPGP key material.

Do not put a BEGIN PGP MESSAGE here. That is ciphertext; use File Task or Text Task.

What the program checks

  • Duplicate fingerprint — already in the store; you are told it is a duplicate.
  • Expired — imported or skipped per the message; do not encrypt to it.
  • Revoked — same; row will be red if it is stored.
  • Weak / 1024 — blocked for encryption use; you get a policy message.
  • Malformed user ID — warning.
  • Public only vs secret — Properties and the grid show whether private material is present.

After import

  1. Compare the fingerprint with the owner (Properties or QR).
  2. Set Verified only after that check. Import does not mean verified.
  3. If you imported your secret key, test decrypt of a file encrypted to it.
  4. Assign a group if you use groups.

If it fails

  • Wrong file (a message file, not a key).
  • Only the public half when you needed the secret.
  • Key already in the store under a user ID you did not recognize (read the message; the “name” may be the user ID string).
  • Idle lock closed the import window — paste again after sign-in.