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/MIME. For many users (and especially those who are unsure) encryption via OpenPGP 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
Click on New Key Pair... in the menu
Click on Create a personal OpenPGP key pair
In the next window enter your name and the email address the new keys will belong to.
It is also recommended to set a password so activate the checkbox Protect the generated key with a passphrase.
Click on Create
A small window appears. Here you now have to enter a password/passphrase twice.
Confirm with a click on OK. (Please save your password for example with a password manager like KeePassXC because if you don't know your password you can't decrypt files and messages so you can't read them anymore.)
Now click on Finish