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flowcrypt [2026.01.16 13:23] – [4. Back Up Your Private Key (CRITICAL)] Steve Isenbergflowcrypt [2026.01.16 13:55] (current) – Steve Isenberg
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-====== PGP Encrypted Email on iPad Using Gmail + FlowCrypt ======+====== I. PGP Encrypted Email on iPad Using Gmail + FlowCrypt ======
  
 This guide explains how to add true end-to-end encrypted email (OpenPGP / PGP) to a Gmail account on an iPad using FlowCrypt. This guide explains how to add true end-to-end encrypted email (OpenPGP / PGP) to a Gmail account on an iPad using FlowCrypt.
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 ==== 4. Back Up Your Private Key (CRITICAL) ==== ==== 4. Back Up Your Private Key (CRITICAL) ====
  
-You must back up your private key to avoid permanent data loss.  (I do this using my free password manager, KeePass.)+You must back up your private key to avoid permanent data loss.  \\ //I do this using my free password manager, KeePass. [[security presentation|Learn about KeePass and protecting your passwords]]//
  
 Recommended backup locations: Recommended backup locations:
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 ===== Gmail App Behavior ===== ===== Gmail App Behavior =====
- • Encrypted messages cannot be read in the Gmail app +  * Encrypted messages cannot be read in the Gmail app 
- • Gmail shows a placeholder such as: +  * Gmail shows a placeholder such as: “This message is encrypted” 
-“This message is encrypted” +  * You must open FlowCrypt to read or reply securely
- • You must open FlowCrypt to read or reply securely +
 This is expected and normal. This is expected and normal.
  
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-Here are clear, DokuWiki-formatted instructions for viewing and sharing your public key in FlowCrypt on an iPad. 
  
-You can paste this directly into your wiki. +====== II. Viewing and Sharing Your Public Key (FlowCrypt on iPad) ======
- +
-⸻ +
- +
-====== Viewing and Sharing Your Public Key (FlowCrypt on iPad) ======+
  
 Your public key is what others need in order to send you PGP-encrypted email. Your public key is what others need in order to send you PGP-encrypted email.
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-Anyone can have this key. Only you have the private key.+The … is hundreds of apparently random characters.  Anyone can have this (public) key. Only you have the private key (and don’t give the private key to anyone).
  
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 ===== Security Notes ===== ===== Security Notes =====
- • Sharing your public key is safe +  * Sharing your public key is safe 
- • Never share your private key +  * Never share your private key 
- • Protect your private key with: +  * Protect your private key with: 
- • Strong passphrase +    * Strong passphrase 
- • Secure backup (password manager, encrypted vault)+    * Secure backup (password manager, encrypted vault)
  
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 ===== Quick Troubleshooting ===== ===== Quick Troubleshooting =====
- • Can’t see the key? +  * Can’t see the key? 
- • Make sure a key exists under Settings → Encryption Keys +    * Make sure a key exists under Settings → Encryption Keys 
- • Multiple keys listed? +  * Multiple keys listed? 
- • Use the one marked Active +    * Use the one marked Active 
- • Recipient can’t encrypt to you? +  * Recipient can’t encrypt to you? 
- • Confirm they imported your public key correctly+    * Confirm they imported your public key correctly
  
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- +====== III. Sending Encrypted Email with a Shared Password (FlowCrypt) ======
-Short answer: Yes, but with important limitations. +
-FlowCrypt supports password-encrypted messages (shared secret) instead of public-key (PGP) encryption, but this is not the same as true PGP and works differently. +
- +
-Below is a DokuWiki-formatted explanation you can paste directly into your wiki. +
- +
-⸻ +
- +
-====== Sending Encrypted Email with a Shared Password (FlowCrypt) ======+
  
 FlowCrypt primarily uses public-key (PGP) encryption, but it also supports password-encrypted messages for recipients who do not use PGP. FlowCrypt primarily uses public-key (PGP) encryption, but it also supports password-encrypted messages for recipients who do not use PGP.
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 ===== How Password-Encrypted Messages Work ===== ===== How Password-Encrypted Messages Work =====
- • You choose a shared password +  * You choose a shared password 
- • The message is encrypted using that password +  * The message is encrypted using that password 
- • The recipient receives: +  * The recipient receives: An email with a secure FlowCrypt link 
- • An email with a secure FlowCrypt link +  * They enter the password in their browser to read the message 
- • They enter the password in their browser to read the message +  * No PGP software is required for the recipient
- • No PGP software is required for the recipient+
  
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 ===== When to Use This Method ===== ===== When to Use This Method =====
- • Recipient does not use PGP +  * Recipient does not use PGP 
- • One-time or infrequent secure messages +  * One-time or infrequent secure messages 
- • You can safely share a password out-of-band +  * You can safely share a password out-of-band 
- • Phone call +    * Phone call 
- • Text message +    * Text message 
- • In-person+    * In-person
  
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 ==== Steps ==== ==== Steps ====
- • Open FlowCrypt +  - Open FlowCrypt 
- • Tap Compose +  - Tap Compose 
- • Enter recipient email address +  - Enter recipient email address 
- • If no public key is found, FlowCrypt will prompt: +  - If no public key is found, FlowCrypt will prompt: Send a password-encrypted message 
- • Send a password-encrypted message +  - Choose a strong password 
- • Choose a strong password +  - Send the message 
- • Send the message +  - Share the password with the recipient via a different channel
- • Share the password with the recipient via a different channel+
  
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-This is a known and intentional behavior in FlowCrypt, not something you’re doing wrong. 
  
-Short answer: +====== IV. Why FlowCrypt on iPad and iPhone  Does Not Offer “Shared Key” Messages ======
-👉 On iOS (iPad/iPhone), FlowCrypt does NOT support password-encrypted (“shared key”) messages. +
-That’s why you only see “Send unencrypted” or “Cancel.” +
- +
-Below is a DokuWiki-formatted explanation you can paste into your wiki. +
- +
-⸻ +
- +
-====== Why FlowCrypt on iPad Does Not Offer “Shared Key” Messages ======+
  
 When composing an email in FlowCrypt on iPad, you may only see: When composing an email in FlowCrypt on iPad, you may only see:
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 ===== Why FlowCrypt Disabled Shared-Key on iOS ===== ===== Why FlowCrypt Disabled Shared-Key on iOS =====
  
-FlowCrypt has stated (and demonstrated by behavior) that: +  * FlowCrypt has stated (and demonstrated by behavior) that: Password-encrypted messages rely on a secure web portal 
- • Password-encrypted messages rely on a secure web portal +  * This requires browser-based flows that are: 
- • This requires browser-based flows that are: +    * Less reliable on iOS 
- • Less reliable on iOS +    * Harder to secure consistently 
- • Harder to secure consistently +  * FlowCrypt’s security model on iOS is: 
- • FlowCrypt’s security model on iOS is: +    * PGP only 
- • PGP only +    * Or plaintext
- • Or plaintext+
  
-So if no recipient public key is found, FlowCrypt will only offer: +So if no recipient public key is found, on iOS (iPad, iPhone) FlowCrypt will only offer: 
- • Send unencrypted +  * Send unencrypted 
- • Cancel+  * Cancel
  
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 ===== What This Means Practically ===== ===== What This Means Practically =====
  
-On an iPad:+On an iPad and iPhone:
  • You cannot send encrypted email to non-PGP users using FlowCrypt  • You cannot send encrypted email to non-PGP users using FlowCrypt
  • There is no hidden setting to enable shared passwords  • There is no hidden setting to enable shared passwords
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 ==== Option 1: Use PGP Only (Best Security) ==== ==== Option 1: Use PGP Only (Best Security) ====
- • Ask recipient to install: +  - Ask recipient to install: 
- • FlowCrypt +    * FlowCrypt 
- • Thunderbird +    * Thunderbird 
- • Proton Mail (PGP mode) +    * Proton Mail (PGP mode) 
- • Exchange public keys +  - Exchange public keys with recipient 
- • Communicate securely end-to-end+  - Communicate securely end-to-end
  
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 ===== Summary ===== ===== Summary =====
- • FlowCrypt on iPad cannot send shared-password encrypted messages +  * FlowCrypt on iPad and iPhone cannot send shared-password encrypted messages 
- • Seeing only “Send unencrypted” is expected behavior +  * Seeing only “Send unencrypted” is expected behavior 
- • PGP public-key encryption does work fully +  * PGP public-key encryption does work fully 
- • Shared-key encryption requires desktop FlowCrypt+  * Shared-key encryption requires desktop FlowCrypt
  
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flowcrypt.1768598635.txt.gz · Last modified: by Steve Isenberg