Gpg4win is an email and file encryption package for most versions of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Outlook, which utilises the GnuPG framework for symmetric and public-key cryptography, such as data encryption, digital signatures, hash calculations etc.
The original creation of Gpg4win was initiated and funded by Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) in 2005, resulting in the release of Gpg4win 1.0.0 on 6 April 2006; however Gpg4win and all included tools are free and open source software, and it is typically the non-proprietary option for privacy recommended to Windows users.
As Gpg4win v1 was a much overhauled derivate of GnuPP, both were using GnuPG v1 for cryptographic operations and thus only supported OpenPGP as cryptography standard.
Hence in 2007 the development of a fundamentally enhanced version was started, also with support from the German BSI (Federal Office for Information Security); this effort culminated in the release of Gpg4win 2.0.0 on 7 August 2009 after a protracted beta testing phase, which was based on GnuPG 2.0, included S/MIME support, Kleopatra as a new certificate manager, the Explorer plug-in GpgEX for cryptography operations on files, basic support of smart cards, a full set of German dialogue texts in addition to the English ones, new manuals in English and German, plus many other enhancements.
What is Gpg4win?
Gpg4win is an open-source encryption program for Windows from The Gpg4win Project. The first release dates back to 2006. It is written in shell script.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as EXE (NSIS). The main installer is 44.8 MB. Installation asks for administrator rights. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation.
Updates and version history
The current version is 5.1.1, released on September 23, 2026. 18 versions are listed since March 30, 2021, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 3.3 releases a year.
Popularity and file types
Wikipedia has an article about it in 11 of our languages. On Windows it registers 18 file types, including .asc, .p7m, .pgp, .sig and .cer. Similar programs include Cryptomator, Keybase and i2pd.
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Documented silent install
- Updated in the last two months
- Mature project (since 2006)
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- Installation needs administrator rights
In short: Gpg4win is an open-source encryption tool for 64-bit PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Screenshots
Is Gpg4win safe to download?
- The file is served by files.gpg4win.org, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
ED19C0C89EC42FE32C52A7ABD6E3DA5F491752700546B9EED7DDF82FD303CDDF· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link answered when we last checked it (October 22, 2026)
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 18 versions ›18 versions over 5 years · about 3.3 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1.1Latest | September 23, 2026 | 44.8 MB | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 5.1.0 | July 29, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 5.0.2 | March 16, 2026 | — | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 5.0.1 | January 28, 2026 | — | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 5.0.0 | January 14, 2026 | — | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 4.4.1 | May 21, 2025 | — | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 4.4.0 | November 27, 2024 | — | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
| 4.3.1 | March 11, 2024 | — | 32-bit EXE (NSIS) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id GnuPG.Gpg4win -egpg4win-5.1.1.exe /SProgram files (.exe): dirmngr.exe, dirmngr_ldap.exe, gpg.exe, gpg-agent.exe, gpg-card.exe, gpg-check-pattern.exe, gpg-connect-agent.exe, gpg-preset-passphrase.exe, gpg-wks-client.exe, gpgconf.exe, gpgme-w32spawn.exe, gpgsm.exe, gpgtar.exe, gpgv.exe, keyboxd.exe, scdaemon.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- The Gpg4win Project
- Category
- Encryption
- Licence
- GPL-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Written in
- shell script
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- EXE (NSIS)
- Version
- 5.1.1
- Released
- September 23, 2026
- First release
- 2006
- Added to the catalogue
- March 30, 2021
- Versions listed
- 18
- Updates / year
- 3.3
- Website
- gpg4win.org
- winget ID
- GnuPG.Gpg4win
File types it opens (18)
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to Gpg4win
See all ›-
Open source166.2K ↓ -
Keybase6.6.3.3End-to-end encryption for things that matter. Keybase is secure messaging and file-sharing.Open source36.6K ↓ -
Open source78.8K ↓ -
KopiaUI0.23.1Cross-platform backup tool for Windows, macOS & Linux with fast, incremental backups, client-side end-to-end encryption, compression and data deduplication. CLI and GUI included.Open source31.8K ↓ -
age1.3.2A simple, modern and secure encryption tool (and Go library) with small explicit keys, no config options, and UNIX-style composability.Open source15.6K ↓ -
Open source19.2K ↓ -
Open source9.4K ↓ -
NordLocker6.5.0.0NordLocker is a secure and easy-to-use cloud for your files, ideas, and memories. Encrypted at all times, your data is always within reach.Proprietary16.1K ↓
Frequently asked questions
Is Gpg4win free?
Yes. Gpg4win is open-source software under the GPL-2.0 licence.
Is Gpg4win safe to download?
The download comes from files.gpg4win.org, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Gpg4win with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Gpg4win be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Does Gpg4win run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of Gpg4win?
The versions page lists all 18 versions with links to their official installer files, back to March 30, 2021.
What are alternatives to Gpg4win?
Cryptomator, Keybase, i2pd, KopiaUI and age. The alternatives page compares them.
