This guide explains how to add true end-to-end encrypted email (OpenPGP / PGP) to a Gmail account on an iPad using FlowCrypt.

FlowCrypt encrypts email on your device, so neither Google nor FlowCrypt can read your messages.

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•	True end-to-end encryption (OpenPGP)
•	Works with existing Gmail accounts
•	Messages and attachments encrypted locally on the iPad
•	Compatible with other PGP email clients (Thunderbird, Proton Mail, etc.)

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•	iPad (iPadOS)
•	Gmail account
•	FlowCrypt app from the App Store
•	Recipients who support PGP encryption

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•	Open the App Store
•	Install FlowCrypt – Encrypted Email
•	Launch the app

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•	Tap Sign in with Google
•	Select your Gmail account
•	Approve access

Note: FlowCrypt uses Google OAuth. Your Gmail password is never shared.

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When prompted:

•	Choose Create a new encryption key
•	Select 4096-bit key (recommended)
•	Create a strong passphrase

Important:

•	This passphrase protects your private key
•	If lost, encrypted email cannot be recovered

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You must back up your private key to avoid permanent data loss.

Recommended backup locations:

•	Encrypted password manager (e.g., KeePassXC)
•	Cryptomator vault
•	Encrypted USB drive

Backing up allows you to:

•	Add FlowCrypt on another device
•	Recover access after reinstalling the app

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To receive encrypted email, contacts need your public key.

You can:

•	Email it to contacts
•	Attach it once in a normal email
•	Publish it on a public key server

FlowCrypt can automatically fetch public keys for many recipients.

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•	Tap Compose in FlowCrypt
•	Enter the recipient
•	If a public key is available, a lock icon appears
•	Write the message
•	Attach files if needed (attachments are encrypted)
•	Send

If no public key exists, FlowCrypt will warn you before sending.

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•	Encrypted messages appear normally in FlowCrypt
•	Enter your PGP passphrase to decrypt
•	Decryption happens locally on the iPad

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•	Encrypted messages cannot be read in the Gmail app
•	Gmail shows a placeholder such as:

“This message is encrypted”

•	You must open FlowCrypt to read or reply securely

This is expected and normal.

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•	Fully encrypted
•	Only readable by intended recipients
•	Suitable for PDFs, images, documents, and text files

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PGP works best with:

•	FlowCrypt
•	Thunderbird with OpenPGP
•	Proton Mail (PGP mode)

It is not ideal for one-time or non-technical recipients.

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Avoid sensitive information in subject lines.

•	Bad: Medical test results
•	Good: Document

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•	Gmail cannot index encrypted content
•	Message previews and search will be limited
•	This is the privacy trade-off for encryption

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Go to Settings in FlowCrypt and enable:

•	Face ID / biometric unlock
•	Auto-lock timeout
•	Disable lock-screen message previews

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•	Regular communication with the same people
•	Privacy-sensitive email and documents
•	Recipients already using PGP
•	You want encryption without changing email providers

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•	Importing an existing PGP key
•	Sending password-encrypted messages to non-PGP users
•	Using FlowCrypt on macOS or Windows
•	Comparing FlowCrypt vs iPGMail or Canary Mail

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If you want, I can also:

•	Optimize this for your existing DokuWiki structure
•	Add screenshots placeholders
•	Create a short checklist version
•	Add a key recovery & rotation section

Just tell me what you’d like next.