There are several HOWTOs available. Unfortunately some of them are not up-to-date.

We are working on a HOTWO for the Web Key Directory. For now please consult the Wiki.

Written "in house" by the GnuPG Project core team, the GPGME Python Bindings HOWTO provides detailed instructions and examples for using the Python bindings of the GPGME API with Python 3 code.

This HOWTO is available:

• in its original Emacs Org Mode source form in the GPGME repository ( en )
• as a single HTML file ( en )
• as a single HTML file with dark background and light text ( en )

GnuPG supports the use of smartcards. This HOWTO explains how to install and work with these cards.

• as on-line browsable HTML files ( en )
• as one big HTML file ( en )
• as plain text ( en )

This smartcard howto is also available in the source repository.

These howtos mostly describe the legacy version 1.4 of GnuPG

You may get the best overview about the GnuPG system by reading the mini HOWTO available in several formats:

• as on-line browsable HTML files ( ca · de · en · es · fr · it · tr · vn · zh )
• as one big HTML file ( ca · it )
• as PDF ( ca · de · it · vn )
• in postscript format ( ca · en · de )
• as DVI file ( ca )
• in RTF format ( ca )
• as plain text ( ca · en · it )
• as SGML ( ca · de · en · it · tr )
• as gzipped tarball of them all ( ca )

Due to problem with the keyservers, this howto should be considered historic.

Once you get familiar with GnuPG's mechanisms, you surely wouldn't miss one of its funnest (and useful) aspects: to meet your Internet buddies and get your key signed by as many of them as possible.

But having to check tens or even hundreds of keys at a meeting may become quite frustrating. Here it is where this HOWTO by V. Alex Brennen comes in handy. It is a guide to understanding and organizing a PGP keysigning party. Keysigning parties help build and strengthen the web of trust which serves to make the use of GnuPG more secure.

This HOWTO is available:

• as an on-line browsable set of HTML files (

de · en · es · it · ru · si · zh-TW.big5 · zh-TW.euc-tw )

This howto might not be up to the current GnuPG version.

Firstly, because everyone should be using encryption and signatures in their email. Secondly, because there are absolutely no reason for you not to be using PGP-compatible software. Thirdly, because documentation is mostly geared toward someone who is already familiar with PGP. Fourtly, because we like to promote both GnuPG and Mutt as free software project, for use in everyday communications. Lastly, because Justin R. Miller likes writing tutorials.

For all these reasons, you can find below a link to Justin's HOWTO on how to send and receive cryptographically signed and/or encrypted email with GnuPG and the Mutt mail reader.

This HOWTO is available:

• as plain text ( en )

This howto might not be up to the current GnuPG version.

With the preponderance of javascript based OpenPGP solutions to various functions on the web, the desire to perform certain types of server side functions on a PHP driven website also has its merits.

While PHP support for GPGME is either lacking, or too arcane for most developers to decipher, or both; Piotr Masełkowski at Maslosoft has an alternative guide using the CLI programs.

This HOWTO is available:

• as an online HTML article ( en )