How do I set up OpenPGP encryption in 60 seconds?
How do I set up OpenPGP encryption in 60 seconds?
Setting up OpenPGP with eclipso Mail Europe takes less than a minute - without technical knowledge. Our setup wizard guides you step-by-step through the process and automatically generates a secure key pair.
OpenPGP setup is available in all plans. Freemail users receive 1 key pair for free, Premium users can create multiple keys for different email addresses.
Requirements
- An active eclipso Mail Europe account (Freemail or Premium)
- Access to the desktop version of your account (recommended for initial setup)
- A secure passphrase (at least 12 characters) - use a password generator or think of a memorable sentence
- Important: Write down your passphrase in a password manager - without it you cannot read encrypted emails!
Step-by-Step Guide (60 seconds)
- Step 1: Open Setup Wizard (5 seconds)
- Log in to your eclipso account (desktop version)
- Click "Settings" in the left menu
- Select "E-Mail | PGP Keyring"
- Click "Generate Key"
- The setup wizard starts automatically
- Step 2: Welcome Screen (10 seconds)
- Read the brief explanation: "What is PGP encryption?"
- Understand the benefits: End-to-end encryption, privacy, zero-knowledge
- Important: Note the warning: "Don't forget your passphrase!"
- Click "Understood - Continue"
- Step 3: Set Passphrase (20 seconds)
- Select your email address from the dropdown (main address or sender alias)
- Enter a secure passphrase (at least 12 characters)
- The strength indicator shows in real-time: Weak / Medium / Strong
- Confirm the passphrase in the second field
- A green checkmark appears when both fields match
- Click "Continue"
- Step 4: Generate & Backup Key (20 seconds)
- Key generation starts automatically (takes approx. 10-15 seconds)
- A progress bar shows the status
- After successful generation, the download button for your private key appears
- Click "Backup Private Key (Download)"
- Save the file in a secure location (e.g., KeePass, USB stick)
- Enable the checkbox: "I have backed up my key"
- Click "Continue"
- Step 5: Share Public Key (5 seconds)
- You see your public key in a text field
- Optional: Click "Copy" to copy the key
- Optional: Send the key via email to contacts
- Tip: This is optional - thanks to auto-import, you don't need to manually distribute your public key!
- Enable the checkbox: "I have saved my public key" (optional)
- Click "Done - Go to Key Management"
- Step 1: Open Setup Wizard (5 seconds)
After Setup
- You are now in key management
- Your new key pair is displayed under "My Key Pairs"
- You can now receive and send encrypted emails
- Open "Compose Email" and test encryption
- Tip: Send yourself an encrypted test email!
Writing an Encrypted Email
- Click "New Email"
- Enter recipient, subject, and text
- Above the subject field you'll find two icons:
- ???? "Encrypt" - Click it (icon turns blue)
- ???? "Sign" - Optional for additional authentication
- If the recipient has no public key, a warning appears
- Click "Send"
- The email is automatically encrypted - only the recipient can read it!
Automatic Key Exchange
- eclipso automatically imports public keys from signed emails
- When you receive a signed email, a green checkmark ✅ appears
- The sender's public key is automatically imported into your key management
- From this moment you can send encrypted replies to the sender - without manual key import!
- Tip: Ask your contacts to send you a signed email - then everything runs automatically
Passphrase Tips for Maximum Security
- Length: At least 12 characters, better 16+ characters
- Complexity: Mix upper/lowercase, numbers, special characters
- Memorability: Use a sentence you can remember (e.g., "MyDog&Cat!play2026together")
- Password Manager: Store the passphrase in KeePass, 1Password, or Bitwarden
- Never: Birthdates, names, "123456", or dictionary words
- Test: Our live validation shows strength in real-time (Weak/Medium/Strong)
Backup of Your Private Key
- Your private key was downloaded in step 4 (e.g., "private-key-demo@eclipso.eu.asc")
- Recommended Storage Locations:
- Password manager (KeePass, 1Password) - easiest method
- Encrypted USB stick - for physical backup
- Secure cloud storage (only if GDPR-compliant, e.g., your eclipso Webdisk)
- DO NOT store: Desktop without encryption, public cloud (Dropbox, Google Drive)
- If you lose your key: You can export it again anytime in key management
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Do I have to use the setup wizard?
A: No, experienced users can generate keys manually in key management. - Q: Can I import my existing PGP key?
A: Yes! Click "Import" in key management and select your .asc file. - Q: How many keys can I create?
A: Freemail: 1 key. Premium: Multiple keys for different email addresses (e.g., main address + sender aliases). - Q: What happens if I forget my passphrase?
A: Then you cannot decrypt your encrypted emails anymore. eclipso cannot help - this is a feature (zero-knowledge)! - Q: Does this work on smartphones too?
A: We recommend initial setup on desktop. Afterwards you can use smartphones (via IMAP with K-9 Mail or FairEmail + OpenKeychain) to send/receive encrypted emails.
- Q: Do I have to use the setup wizard?
Important Notes
- Setup is free - even for freemail users
- Your keys are stored only in Germany (GDPR-compliant)
- eclipso can never recover your passphrase - please store it securely!
- The private key never leaves your account (except when exported for backup)
- You can generate additional keys or delete existing ones anytime
- OpenPGP works with all email programs: Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Outlook (with plugin), K-9 Mail, etc.
Related Articles:
- What is OpenPGP and how does it work with eclipso? ↗
- What's the difference between signing and encrypting? ↗
- Solving common OpenPGP problems ↗
- Should I publish my public key? ↗
