GPG commands overview

GPG-commands.txt

# list all public keys stored in your keyring:
gpg --list-keys

# list all private keys stored in your keyring:
gpg --list-secret-keys

# generate a new key(pair):
gpg --gen-key

# generate a revocation certificate:
use gpg --gen-revoke

# import a public key or a private key, use the --import switch:
gpg --import key.pgp

# export a public key, use the --export switch:
gpg --export KEY_ID

# export a private key, use the --export-secret-keys switch:
gpg --export-secret-keys KEY_ID

# In order to operate in ASCII mode, use the --armor (or -a) switch.

# encrypt a file in GPG, use the --encrypt (or -e) switch. Note: you have to specify the recipient as well so GPG knows which public key to use. To do that, use the --recipient (or -r) switch:
gpg --encrypt --recipient RECIPIENTS_EMAIL FILE_NAME
or
gpg -e -r RECIPIENTS_EMAIL FILE_NAME

# sign files, use the --sign (or -s) switch:
gpg -s FILE_NAME
or to encrypt it as well:
gpg -e -s -r RECIPIENTS_EMAIL FILE_NAME

# decrypt files you can use the --decrypt (or -d) switch, or no switch at all - it’s the default option:
gpg FILE_NAME
or
gpg -d FILE_NAME

# in order to find the fingerprint of a key, use the --fingerprint option.

# verify a file, run the following command in the directory with both files: file you want to verify and the file with the signature:
gpg --verify FILE_NAME FILE.sig
or skip .sig if the signature file is named exactly the same as the target file
gpg --verify FILE_NAME