Quick Tutorial: How to encrypt files using public keys with gpg

This tutorial covers how to encrypt files using public keys with gpg. If you have not created key pairs yet, Click Here to know the steps of generating key pairs using gpg. I assume you have created key pairs, now below are the steps that need to be followed:

(1) Extract public keys and save them in the current directory

cd .gnupg

gpg --export -a -o user-public-key.txt

(2) Share public keys with another user via mail

A public key is no secret and can be shared via email or any other electronic means. Other users encrypt it by using the public key.

gpg -s -e test.txt

(3) Now decrypt it with the private key

gpg -d test.txt.gpg

Conclusion

This is a quick tutorial to know how to encrypt files using public keys with gpg. You may refer to another tutorial in which you can sign data and verify it using gpg.