flowcrypt
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| flowcrypt [2026.01.07 08:11] – Steve Isenberg | flowcrypt [2026.01.07 14:15] (current) – [Recommendation] Steve Isenberg | ||
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| - | If you want, I can also: | + | Here are clear, DokuWiki-formatted instructions for viewing and sharing your public key in FlowCrypt on an iPad. |
| - | • Optimize this for your existing | + | |
| - | • Add screenshots placeholders | + | You can paste this directly into your wiki. |
| - | • Create | + | |
| - | • Add a key recovery & rotation section | + | ⸻ |
| + | |||
| + | ====== Viewing and Sharing Your Public Key (FlowCrypt on iPad) ====== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Your public key is what others need in order to send you PGP-encrypted email. | ||
| + | It is safe to share publicly and does not expose your private key. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Method 1: View & Share from FlowCrypt Settings (Recommended) ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Steps ==== | ||
| + | • Open FlowCrypt on your iPad | ||
| + | • Tap the ☰ menu (top left) | ||
| + | • Go to Settings | ||
| + | • Tap Encryption Keys | ||
| + | • Select your active key | ||
| + | • Tap Public Key | ||
| + | |||
| + | You can now: | ||
| + | • View the full public key text | ||
| + | • Copy it to the clipboard | ||
| + | • Share it via email or other apps | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Method 2: Email Your Public Key Directly ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | FlowCrypt can automatically send your public key to a contact. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Steps ==== | ||
| + | • Open FlowCrypt | ||
| + | • Tap Compose | ||
| + | • Enter the recipient’s email address | ||
| + | • If they do not already have your key, FlowCrypt will prompt: | ||
| + | • Send your public key | ||
| + | • Confirm and send | ||
| + | |||
| + | This sends a normal (unencrypted) email with your public key attached. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Method 3: Attach Your Public Key Manually ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | If you want to include your public key with other information: | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Steps ==== | ||
| + | • Open FlowCrypt | ||
| + | • Go to Settings → Encryption Keys | ||
| + | • Select your key | ||
| + | • Tap Export Public Key | ||
| + | • Attach the exported file to an email or message | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== What a Public Key Looks Like ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | A public key is plain text and begins and ends like this: | ||
| + | |||
| + | < | ||
| + | -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- | ||
| + | ... | ||
| + | -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- | ||
| + | </ | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | Anyone can have this key. Only you have the private key. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Optional: Publish Your Public Key ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | You may publish your public key so others can find it automatically. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Options include: | ||
| + | • PGP public key servers | ||
| + | • Personal website | ||
| + | • Wiki page | ||
| + | • Email signature (link or attachment) | ||
| + | |||
| + | FlowCrypt can automatically discover keys published on common key servers. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Security Notes ===== | ||
| + | • Sharing your public key is safe | ||
| + | • Never share your private key | ||
| + | • Protect your private key with: | ||
| + | • Strong passphrase | ||
| + | • Secure backup (password manager, encrypted vault) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Quick Troubleshooting ===== | ||
| + | • Can’t see the key? | ||
| + | • Make sure a key exists under Settings → Encryption Keys | ||
| + | • Multiple keys listed? | ||
| + | • Use the one marked Active | ||
| + | • Recipient | ||
| + | • Confirm they imported your public key correctly | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | 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. | ||
| + | |||
| + | This method uses a shared secret (password) instead of a public key. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== How Password-Encrypted Messages Work ===== | ||
| + | • You choose a shared password | ||
| + | • The message is encrypted using that password | ||
| + | • The recipient receives: | ||
| + | • An email with a secure FlowCrypt link | ||
| + | • They enter the password in their browser to read the message | ||
| + | • No PGP software is required | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== When to Use This Method ===== | ||
| + | • Recipient does not use PGP | ||
| + | • One-time or infrequent secure messages | ||
| + | • You can safely share a password out-of-band | ||
| + | • Phone call | ||
| + | • Text message | ||
| + | • In-person | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Limitations Compared to PGP ===== | ||
| + | • Not true end-to-end PGP | ||
| + | • Relies on FlowCrypt’s secure message portal | ||
| + | • Less suitable for long-term or repeated communication | ||
| + | • Password must be shared securely ahead of time | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Sending a Password-Encrypted Message ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Steps ==== | ||
| + | • Open FlowCrypt | ||
| + | • Tap Compose | ||
| + | • Enter recipient email address | ||
| + | • If no public key is found, FlowCrypt will prompt: | ||
| + | • Send a password-encrypted message | ||
| + | • Choose a strong password | ||
| + | • Send the message | ||
| + | • Share the password with the recipient via a different channel | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Recipient Experience ===== | ||
| + | • Recipient receives an email with a link | ||
| + | • Clicks the link | ||
| + | • Enters the shared password | ||
| + | • Reads the message in a secure web page | ||
| + | • Can reply securely using the same password | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Security Best Practices ===== | ||
| + | • Use a long, unique password | ||
| + | • Never send the password in the same email | ||
| + | • Avoid reusing passwords | ||
| + | • Set expiration dates if offered | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Comparison: Public Key vs Shared Password ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ^ Feature ^ PGP (Public Key) ^ Shared Password ^ | ||
| + | | Encryption type | True end-to-end | Password-based | | ||
| + | | Key exchange | Public key | Shared secret | | ||
| + | | Recipient setup | Required | None | | ||
| + | | Best for | Ongoing secure email | One-off messages | | ||
| + | | Reliance on FlowCrypt | Minimal | Required | | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Important Notes ===== | ||
| + | • Subject lines are not encrypted | ||
| + | • Gmail cannot index encrypted content | ||
| + | • Password-encrypted messages may expire depending on settings | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Recommendation ===== | ||
| + | • Use PGP public keys for regular, privacy-critical communication | ||
| + | • Use password-encrypted messages only when PGP is not feasible | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | This is a known and intentional behavior in FlowCrypt, not something you’re doing wrong. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Short answer: | ||
| + | 👉 On iOS (iPad/ | ||
| + | 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: | ||
| + | • Send unencrypted | ||
| + | • Cancel | ||
| + | |||
| + | and no option to send a password-encrypted (shared secret) message. | ||
| + | |||
| + | This is by design. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Platform Limitation (Important) ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | FlowCrypt features differ by platform: | ||
| + | |||
| + | ^ Platform ^ PGP (Public Key) ^ Password / Shared Key ^ | ||
| + | | Chrome extension (desktop) | Yes | Yes | | ||
| + | | Web app (desktop) | Yes | Yes | | ||
| + | | Android | Yes | Limited | | ||
| + | | iOS (iPad / iPhone) | Yes | No | | ||
| + | |||
| + | 👉 iOS FlowCrypt only supports PGP public-key encryption. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Password-encrypted messages are not implemented in the iOS app. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Why FlowCrypt Disabled Shared-Key on iOS ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | FlowCrypt has stated (and demonstrated by behavior) that: | ||
| + | • Password-encrypted messages rely on a secure web portal | ||
| + | • This requires browser-based flows that are: | ||
| + | • Less reliable on iOS | ||
| + | • Harder to secure consistently | ||
| + | • FlowCrypt’s security model on iOS is: | ||
| + | • PGP only | ||
| + | • Or plaintext | ||
| + | |||
| + | So if no recipient public | ||
| + | • Send unencrypted | ||
| + | • Cancel | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== What This Means Practically ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | On an iPad: | ||
| + | • You cannot send encrypted email to non-PGP users using FlowCrypt | ||
| + | • There is no hidden setting to enable shared passwords | ||
| + | • Reinstalling or changing settings will not help | ||
| + | |||
| + | This is a hard limitation, not a configuration issue. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Your Available Options ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Option 1: Use PGP Only (Best Security) ==== | ||
| + | • Ask recipient to install: | ||
| + | • FlowCrypt | ||
| + | • Thunderbird | ||
| + | • Proton Mail (PGP mode) | ||
| + | • Exchange public keys | ||
| + | • Communicate securely end-to-end | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Option 2: Use Desktop FlowCrypt for Shared-Key Messages ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | If you occasionally need password-encrypted messages: | ||
| + | • Use FlowCrypt Chrome extension on a desktop | ||
| + | • Send the password-encrypted message there | ||
| + | • Continue PGP communication on iPad | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Option 3: Use a Different Tool for Shared Password Messages ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | If your use case is mostly shared-secret messaging: | ||
| + | • Proton Mail (password-protected emails) | ||
| + | • Secure file sharing + separate email | ||
| + | • Encrypted notes + link sharing | ||
| + | |||
| + | FlowCrypt on iOS is not designed for this scenario. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Summary ===== | ||
| + | • FlowCrypt on iPad cannot send shared-password encrypted messages | ||
| + | • Seeing only “Send unencrypted” is expected behavior | ||
| + | • PGP public-key encryption does work fully | ||
| + | • Shared-key encryption requires desktop FlowCrypt | ||
| + | |||
| + | ⸻ | ||
| - | Just tell me what you’d like next. | ||
flowcrypt.1767802306.txt.gz · Last modified: by Steve Isenberg
