This tool allows you to encrypt and decrypt files online using PGP public-key cryptography. All encryption and decryption operations are performed entirely on the client side using OpenPGP.js, ensuring your files, private keys, and passphrases are never uploaded, stored, or logged on any server.
Use this tool when you need to securely share files with one or more recipients using their PGP public keys.
Explore our complete set of PGP encryption tools:
All PGP file encryption and decryption is performed locally in your browser. Files, messages, and keys are never transmitted to any server.
All PGP encryption and decryption operations are performed locally in your browser. Files, keys, and passphrases are never uploaded, stored, or logged. This tool is intended for educational and personal use. Do not use online tools for protecting real production secrets.
PGP file encryption is a secure method for protecting files using public-key cryptography. Files are encrypted using one or more PGP public keys, ensuring that only recipients holding the corresponding private keys can decrypt and access the data. This makes PGP ideal for sharing sensitive files over email, cloud storage, or external drives.
PGP uses a hybrid encryption model. The file is encrypted using a fast symmetric cipher (such as AES), and the symmetric key is then encrypted using the recipient’s PGP public key. This approach allows PGP to efficiently encrypt large files while maintaining strong cryptographic security.
This error occurs when the encrypted file was not encrypted for the private key you are using, or when the wrong key is supplied.
Fix: Ensure the file was encrypted using your corresponding public key.
If the private key passphrase is incorrect, PGP cannot decrypt the encrypted session key.
Fix: Use the exact passphrase associated with the private key.
Any modification to the encrypted file will cause integrity verification to fail during decryption.
Fix: Do not rename, re-compress, or edit encrypted files.
While RSA encryption is suitable for encrypting small secrets, it is not designed for encrypting large files directly. PGP combines RSA with symmetric encryption, making it significantly more practical and secure for file encryption.
| Feature | PGP File Encryption | RSA Encryption |
|---|---|---|
| Large file support | Yes | No |
| Multiple recipients | Yes | No |
| Hybrid encryption | Yes | No |
| Recommended for file sharing | Yes | Limited |
PGP file encryption uses public-key cryptography to protect files so that only intended recipients with the correct private key can decrypt them. It is commonly used for secure file sharing over email, cloud storage, and external drives.
Yes. When implemented correctly, PGP file encryption is highly secure. It uses strong symmetric encryption (such as AES) for file content and public-key cryptography (RSA or ECC) to protect the encryption key. Security failures usually occur due to incorrect key usage, weak passphrases, or missing private keys.
PGP decryption may fail for several reasons, including using the wrong private key, an incorrect passphrase, corrupted encrypted files, or missing recipient key data. If you encounter issues, verify the correct key pair using the PGP Key Generator & Inspector.
Yes. PGP supports encrypting a single file for multiple recipients by encrypting the same symmetric key with each recipient’s public key. Each recipient can then decrypt the file using their own private key.
PGP and AES serve different purposes. AES is a fast symmetric encryption algorithm best suited for local file encryption. PGP combines AES with public-key cryptography, making it ideal for securely sharing files with others. For password-based encryption, consider the AES File Encryption Tool.
No. All PGP file encryption and decryption operations are performed entirely within your browser using OpenPGP.js. Your files, keys, and passphrases are never uploaded, stored, or logged.
Yes. PGP is designed to efficiently encrypt large files by using hybrid encryption. However, browser-based encryption performance may vary depending on file size and system resources.
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