I use Zorin OS 16.3 64bit and Seahorse 3.36 and am a relatively new user of Zorin OS. I wanted to import existing pgp keys into Seahorse. However, when I click on "open" to open and import the keys, nothing happens and after the window for selecting the file has closed, the key list is still empty.
Is there anything extraordinary to consider when importing existing pgp keys?
Does anyone see the same behavior?
I have also tried it under Linux Mint and it works there smoothly. So it seems like it is a problem of the combination of Zorin OS and Seahorse.
This is a pity, because I really like Zorin OS, but having pgp keys for email encryption is a crucial functionality for me and makes Linux Mint the more attractive option.
Seahorse is an application to manage your keys and certificates. It is not an email client. As far as I can see, you cannot import the pgp keys directly in Thunderbird and Evolution (which I use both), because both applications rely on the keys that you have saved inside your default key management application, which is Seahorse. I can only specify a pgp key ID which I assume would refer to the ID of the imported key in Seahorse, if the list was not empty.
If you have information how to import the pgp keys directly in the mail applications, please let me know, I am happy to try it.
Thanks for the suggestion. However, the thread from the link is not exactly about the issue I am having. It seems like the user there created the keys with Seahorse while being root user and cannot access while being regular user.
I have created the keys actually on a different computer and in my old mail client.
I have run Seahorse withsudo seahorse to get elevated rights. When I try to import the keys, I get the following error messages in the terminal:
(seahorse:9382): Gcr-WARNING **: 21:05:23.108: couldn't write output data to gnupg process
(seahorse:9382): Gtk-CRITICAL **: 21:05:23.108: gtk_widget_hide: assertion 'GTK_IS_WIDGET (widget)' failed
(seahorse:9382): GLib-GObject-WARNING **: 21:05:23.108: invalid unclassed pointer in cast to 'GtkSpinner'
(seahorse:9382): Gtk-CRITICAL **: 21:05:23.108: gtk_spinner_stop: assertion 'GTK_IS_SPINNER (spinner)' failed
(seahorse:9382): Gtk-CRITICAL **: 21:05:23.108: gtk_widget_hide: assertion 'GTK_IS_WIDGET (widget)' failed
^C
Frankly speaking, I am not sure what all this means exactly, but I will do some research and am happy to get some suggestions.
yes, I did. when you type "seahorse" into the search of the start menu, the only entry I can see there is "Password and Keys". So I am assuming Zorin OS refers to the Seahorse application under a different alias.
Yes, it is what Ubuntu also uses, or perhaps I should say what Gnome now uses. It is like the file explorer Nautilus is now named simply 'Files' again, Gnome Devs behind this. So Password and Keys is seahorse. I find it bizarre that it should open at the blank page when it should start with the window with the '+' top left. Please note I have updated my post whilst you responded to my first posting of screenshots.
The menu exists on my end and I can select the import option. The issue is when I select a key file (.asc), I first see an overview of the key to be imported in another window, then I click on "_Import" in the upper right corner and then nothing happens. The list of keys remains empty.
All of these are simple warnings that refer to the GTK Widget coding. They are not errors and will not impact application performance. They can be ignored.
SeaHorse is used for managing GnuPG keys. I have done what you are describing without ever using SeaHorse every time I re-installed Zorin OS since I maintain three repositories.
Usually, you can just transfer ~/.gnupg/ and then change ownership of the directory to your new user account.
If you have more complexity, you may need to use the --export and --export-secret-keys commands. These will require your password.
So I believe it is a bug with the user interface of seahorse. I was able to import the keys through the terminal using gpg --import keyfile.asc. After running the command in the folder with the keys and providing their passphrases, the keys are now also listed in Seahorse (Passwords and Keys).
