= Create you own key pair

//This tutorial is for Gpg4win 4.0.3. For new versions this process may differ.//

**under construction**

If you want to start with encryption it is necessary to create your own pair of keys so that you have a private and a public key. Sometimes they are also called "certificates" which is a term coming from the encryption via S/M~IME. For many users (and especially those who are unsure) encryption via OpenP~GP is the right way. Since Gpg4win/Kleopatra can handle both the certificates and the keys are called certificates in the program.

=== Create the key pair

* Click on **File** in the menu bar
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* Click on **New Key Pair...** in the menu
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* Click on **Create a personal OpenP~GP key pair**
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* In the next window enter your name and the email address the new keys will belong to.
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*  It is also recommended to set a password so activate the checkbox **Protect the generated key with a passphrase.**
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*  Click on **Create**
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* A small window appears. Here you now have to enter a password/passphrase twice.
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* Confirm with a click on **OK**. (Please save your password for example with a password manager like Kee~Pass~XC because if you don't know your password you can't decrypt files and messages so you can't read them anymore.)
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* Now click on **Finish**
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