Initializing Your Cipher Machine
Welcome to your new encryption workspace. GpgFrontend is built to make OpenPGP/LibrePGP encryption reliable, simple, and easy to use on any system. This guide walks you through the first setup of your machine, so your environment is secure and ready to use.
Step 1: Choose Your Engine
Section titled “Step 1: Choose Your Engine”GpgFrontend uses a backend engine to do the actual encryption work. Find your system in the table below to see which engine is best for you:
| Platform | Recommended Engine | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | GnuPG (Bundled) | No separate installation required. |
| macOS | GnuPG | Install via Homebrew: brew install gnupg. |
| macOS (Lite) | rPGP (Built-in) | App Store version; runs in a sandbox. |
| Linux | GnuPG | Pre-installed in most distros. Check with gpg --version. |
| BSD | GnuPG | Must be installed manually via ports/pkg. |
Note: GpgFrontend needs GnuPG 2.2.0 or newer for full support. If GnuPG is missing, or older than 2.1.0, GpgFrontend does not use it. It switches to the built-in rPGP engine instead, so the basics keep working.
Step 2: Install GpgFrontend
Section titled “Step 2: Install GpgFrontend”Pick your operating system to see the recommended steps. For other methods (WinGet, Flatpak), visit our Downloads page.
Installer (Recommended)
Section titled “Installer (Recommended)”- Download the
.msiinstaller from the Downloads page. - Launch the file. Accept the license, then click Next until it is installed.
- Open GpgFrontend from the new shortcut on your desktop.
Portable Version
Section titled “Portable Version”- Download the
windows-x86_64-portable.zipfrom the Downloads page. In the download box, open More download options to find it. - Extract the ZIP to your preferred folder.
- Run
GpgFrontend.exelocated in thebindirectory.
- Install GnuPG via Homebrew:
brew install gnupg. - Download the
.dmgfile from the Downloads page. - Mount the DMG and drag GpgFrontend to your Applications folder.
- Verify GnuPG: Ensure
gpgis installed (sudo apt install gpgorsudo dnf install gnupg). - Download the
.AppImagefrom the Downloads page. - Set Permissions: Run
chmod u+x ./GpgFrontend-xxx.AppImage. - Launch: Double-click the file or run it via terminal.
Currently, GpgFrontend must be compiled from source on BSD systems. Please refer to our Build Instructions on GitHub for a step-by-step guide.
Step 3: The First Time You Open It
Section titled “Step 3: The First Time You Open It”When GpgFrontend starts, a small Starting GpgFrontend window may appear. It shows a progress bar while your keys and modules load. Wait for it to finish. The main window then opens.
A short Welcome to GpgFrontend window appears the first time GpgFrontend runs.
- The first page has a Language: setting. Pick yours there and the window switches to it straight away, so you do not have to read the rest in English.
- The next page offers links to the basics.
- The last page, Ready to use, has a Check for updates on startup checkbox. It is off unless you tick it. If you tick it, GpgFrontend quietly checks for a new version at most once a day. See Settings. Sandboxed builds, such as Flatpak, do not show this checkbox. The same page has Don’t show this setup wizard again, which is ticked. Finish the window with it ticked, and it does not come back. If you untick it, or close the window early, it opens again at the next start.
Nothing in it is permanent. You can close it at any point, and everything it sets can be changed later in Settings. To see it again, click Help > Open Wizard.
Step 4: Next Steps
Section titled “Step 4: Next Steps”If you are new to PGP, we strongly recommend reading our Fundamental Concepts guide first.