Add Email to GPG Key

TL;DR

Yes, you can add an email address to your existing GPG key using the gpg --edit-key command. This guide shows you how.

How to Add an Email Address to Your GPG Key

1. Open your key for editing: Use the following command, replacing [email protected] with the email address associated with your key (or one of them if you have multiple).

   gpg --edit-key [email protected]

2. Enter edit mode: Once the key is loaded, you’ll be in the GPG editing prompt. Type list to see a list of commands.
3. Add user ID: To add your email address as a new User ID (which includes your name and email), type uid and press Enter. You will then be prompted for your full name, comment, and finally the email address.

   gpg> uid
   Please enter what to do (Change UID/Add UID/Delete UID): Add UID
   Your name:
   Real name: Your Full Name
   Email: [email protected]
   Comment: (optional)
   

4. Confirm the User ID: GPG will display the new User ID you’ve entered. Confirm it is correct.
5. Save the changes: Type save and press Enter to save your changes.

   gpg> save
   

6. Exit GPG: Type quit and press Enter to exit the editing session.

   gpg> quit
   

7. Verify the changes: Use the following command to list your keys and confirm that the new email address is associated with your key.

   gpg --list-keys [email protected]

Important Considerations

• Key IDs: Adding a User ID doesn’t change the primary Key ID of your key. It simply adds another identity associated with it.
• Trust: You may need to rebuild trust for the new User ID if you are using a web of trust.
• Multiple Emails: You can add multiple email addresses to a single GPG key by repeating steps 3-6 for each address.