How to Send PGP-Encrypted Email on Linux With Evolution

When privacy matters, encrypting your email is a must. On Linux, Evolution makes sending PGP-encrypted messages easy, whether you’re protecting business secrets or just value your digital privacy. Here’s how to set it up and use it—step by step.

What You Need

• A Linux system (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.)
• Evolution email client installed
• GnuPG (GPG) installed for PGP encryption

Step 1: Install Evolution and GnuPG

First, make sure you have both Evolution and GnuPG installed. Open a terminal and run:

sudo apt install evolution gnupg   # On Ubuntu/Debian
sudo dnf install evolution gnupg2  # On Fedora

Step 2: Create or Import Your PGP Key

If you don’t already have a PGP key, create one:

gpg --full-generate-key

Follow the prompts to set your name, email, and passphrase. If you already have a key, you can import it with:

gpg --import your-private-key-file.asc

Step 3: Get Your Key ID

You’ll need your key ID for Evolution. List your keys:

gpg --list-keys

Look for a string like ABC12345 after rsa4096/.

Step 4: Set Up Your Email in Evolution

• Open Evolution.
• Go to Edit > Preferences.
• Click Add to create a new account, or select your existing one and hit Edit.
• Under Security, find the PGP/GPG key ID field and enter your key ID from the previous step.
• Click OK and finish setting up your account if needed.

Step 5: Share Your Public Key

For someone to read your encrypted email, they need your public key. Export it with:

gpg --armor --export [email protected] > publickey.asc

Email or send this file to your contacts.

Step 6: Import Contacts’ Public Keys

If you want to send encrypted mail, you need the recipient’s public key:

gpg --import theirkey.asc

Step 7: Sending an Encrypted Email

• Start a new message in Evolution.
• Add your recipient (make sure you’ve imported their public key!).
• Click the Security dropdown (or the lock icon) in the email composer.
• Select PGP Encrypt (and Sign if you want to digitally sign the message).
• Write your message and send.

That’s it! Evolution will handle the encryption using GnuPG.

Troubleshooting

• If you don’t see encryption options, double-check that you entered the right key ID and have GnuPG installed.
• Both you and your recipient need each other’s public keys to send and receive encrypted emails.
• If something’s not working, try restarting Evolution after key changes.

Why Use PGP Encryption?

Encrypting your email keeps your messages private, protects sensitive info, and is a strong signal that you care about security. With Evolution on Linux, you don’t need to be a cryptography expert to do it right.

Wrap Up

Once you’ve set up PGP encryption in Evolution, sending secure email becomes part of your routine. Spend a few minutes now, and your messages stay private for as long as you need them to.

Questions? Drop them in the comments, and I’ll help you out!

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!