NAME

sq-key-generate - Generates a new key

Generating a key is the prerequisite to receiving encrypted messages and creating signatures. There are a few parameters to this process, but we provide reasonable defaults for most users.

When generating a key, we also generate a revocation certificate. This can be used in case the key is superseded, lost, or compromised. It is a good idea to keep a copy of this in a safe place.

After generating a key, use "sq key extract-cert" to get the certificate corresponding to the key. The key must be kept secure, while the certificate should be handed out to correspondents, e.g. by uploading it to a keyserver.

SYNOPSIS

sq key generate [FLAGS] [OPTIONS]

FLAGS

-h, --help

Prints help information

--with-password

Protects the key with a password

--can-sign

Adds a signing-capable subkey (default)

--cannot-sign

Adds no signing-capable subkey

--cannot-encrypt

Adds no encryption-capable subkey

OPTIONS

-u, --userid EMAIL

Adds a userid to the key

-c, --cipher-suite CIPHER-SUITE

Selects the cryptographic algorithms for the key [default: cv25519] [possible values: rsa3k, rsa4k, cv25519]

--expires TIME

Makes the key expire at TIME (as ISO 8601). Use "never" to create keys that do not expire.

--expires-in DURATION

Makes the key expire after DURATION. Either "N[ymwd]", for N years, months, weeks, or days, or "never".

--can-encrypt PURPOSE

Adds an encryption-capable subkey. Encryption-capable subkeys can be marked as suitable for transport encryption, storage encryption, or both. [default: universal] [possible values: transport, storage, universal]

-e, --export OUTFILE

Writes the key to OUTFILE

--rev-cert FILE or -

Writes the revocation certificate to FILE. mandatory if OUTFILE is "-". [default: <OUTFILE>.rev]

EXAMPLES

# First, this generates a key

$ sq key generate --userid "<juliet@example.org>" --export juliet.key.pgp

# Then, this extracts the certificate for distribution

$ sq key extract-cert --output juliet.cert.pgp juliet.key.pgp

# Generates a key protecting it with a password

$ sq key generate --userid "<juliet@example.org>" --with-password

# Generates a key with multiple userids

$ sq key generate --userid "<juliet@example.org>" --userid "Juliet Capulet"

SEE ALSO

For the full documentation see <https://docs.sequoia-pgp.org/sq/>.

sq(1), sq-armor(1), sq-autocrypt(1), sq-certify(1), sq-dearmor(1), sq-decrypt(1), sq-encrypt(1), sq-inspect(1), sq-key(1), sq-key-adopt(1), sq-key-attest-certifications(1), sq-key-extract-cert(1), sq-key-generate(1), sq-keyring(1), sq-keyring-filter(1), sq-keyring-join(1), sq-keyring-list(1), sq-keyring-merge(1), sq-keyring-split(1), sq-packet(1), sq-sign(1), sq-verify(1)

AUTHORS

Azul <azul@sequoia-pgp.org>
Igor Matuszewski <igor@sequoia-pgp.org>
Justus Winter <justus@sequoia-pgp.org>
Kai Michaelis <kai@sequoia-pgp.org>
Neal H. Walfield <neal@sequoia-pgp.org>
Nora Widdecke <nora@sequoia-pgp.org>
Wiktor Kwapisiewicz <wiktor@sequoia-pgp.org>