One GnuPG/PGP key pair, two emails?

Question

I have two emails I use frequently, for both of which I'd like to use PGP keys generated/managed by GnuPG. I'd like to avoid creating a different key pair for each email, if possible, as that's unnecessary for my situation, i.e. I use the two emails interchangeably.

Is there a way to do this?

I am using Mac OS X 10.5 and Ubuntu 11.04, and Thunderbird 3.1.10.

Thanks in advance!

score 139 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 09 '15 at 10:35

139

If you want to add an user ID to an existing key from the command line (your input is in bold):

  $ gpg --edit-key <key-id>
  gpg> adduid
  Real Name: <name>
  Email address: <email>
  Comment: <comment or Return to none>
  Change (N)ame, (C)omment, (E)mail or (O)kay/(Q)uit? O
  Enter passphrase: <password>
  gpg> uid <uid>
  gpg> trust
  Your decision? 5
  Do you really want to set this key to ultimate trust? (y/N) y
  gpg> save
$ gpg --send-keys <key-id>

edited Apr 09 '15 at 10:35

Nicolas Ledez

3
3

answered Jun 05 '11 at 19:54

Aluísio A. S. G.

2,918

What does gpg> uid <uid> do? Is <uid> just my email address foo@bar.com? – Computist Jun 06 '11 at 01:43
2

@lumeng.dev: is the number right before your new user ID (the list is shown after adduid). Once you enter this command, there should be an asterisk near it, indicating that this is the uid trust will operate on. – Aluísio A. S. G. Jun 06 '11 at 01:51
Do I have to add new identities to the master key pair or can I add new identities directly to subkeys? – Kal Aug 16 '14 at 14:14
4

You may also make the old user id the primary user id again by selecting it with uid <uid> and making it primary with primary. – timakro Sep 16 '17 at 12:59
The semi-endorsed GUIs like Kleopatra and GPA also have reasonably easy to use controls that perform this action. – Justin Aug 29 '18 at 17:41

score 14 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 16 '13 at 21:12

14

Assuming that you use Enigmail for GPG support in Thunderbird, you can simply use the "OpenGPG Security" Tab for each of your identities. You can get there via

Account Preferences -> Manage Identities -> Edit.

Alternatively, you can select from the Menu:

 OpenPGP -> Key Management -> [Right-click on your key] -> Manage User IDs

And then add more IDs to your key.

edited Aug 16 '13 at 21:12

Mateng

107

answered Jun 05 '11 at 17:01

barbaz

2,994

1

Don't forget to add an user ID for the second email address to your key, through OpenPGP -> Manage keys. – u1686_grawity Jun 05 '11 at 19:48
@grawity, I added this in the edited answer – Mateng Aug 16 '13 at 19:58
2

Make sure to resend your updated public key to a keyserver – IceArdor Oct 19 '16 at 19:23

score 2 · Answer 3 · edited Sep 29 '22 at 02:44

2

Install kgpg
Select your key
Right click --> Add User Id

edited Sep 29 '22 at 02:44

Frak

582

answered Mar 31 '20 at 10:53

Rodrigo Graça

121

One GnuPG/PGP key pair, two emails?

3 Answers3

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