Tips to open PGP file

Can't open the PGP file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open PGP files as well as a list of programs that support PGP files.

PGP file extension

File Name PGP Security Key
File Developer PGP
File Category Misc Files

The PGP file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the PGP files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the PGP file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 1
  • 2
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is PGP file?

The file in the PGP format belongs to the Misc Files category. The author of this format is PGP. In addition to this file, the Misc Files category includes 6033 related files. PGP Security Key is most often found on 2 operating systems. These systems consist of Mac OS, Windows, although it may occasionally be found on another system, it will be non-functional. This file type can also be opened by 2 other programs. PGP Encryption software, Pretty Good Privacy will apply when it is not possible to use PGP Desktop.

How to open PGP file?

The main problem with PGP Security Key is that the PGP file is incorrectly associated with programs. This is manifested by the fact that PGP files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the PGP file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install PGP Desktop

The first step is to check if the computer has the PGP Desktop program installed. This can be achieved by typing PGP Desktop into the operating system search engine. In the absence of an appropriate program, its installation in the vast majority of cases will fix the problem. Below you will find a list of applications that support PGP files.

Programs to open PGP file

Remember to download programs supporting PGP files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.

Step 2. Create association of PGP Desktop with PGP files

However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the PGP file to open in the PGP Desktop application, but you can set it manually. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. It may happen that in the next window there will be no appropriate program - however, this can be corrected with the "Browse" option where you should manually indicate the program location. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the PGP Desktop application as the default for handling the PGP file.

Step 3. Update PGP Desktop to the latest version

The fault may also lie with the PGP Desktop program, it is possible that PGP Security Key requires a newer version of the program.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the PGP file

If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. The most common file problems are:

The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the PGP file. The only repair option is to download the file again.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. If this is not possible, you can use the online scanner. For the best results, we will scan the entire operating system, not just our PGP file. However, remember that not every infected PGP file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the PGP file. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
The file may be corrupted in a number of ways. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular PGP file corruption.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file PGP except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. If possible, you can try to move the PGP file to another location.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If this does not work either, restart the device.