How to make GPG4Win portable app

Lately I been using PGP more and more… and I wanted to have my portable application on a flash drive where I could carry all of the private and public keys (of course that if I loose my flash drive, I am at risk – I know that). But, there is really not good documentation that walks through a first time user on how to accomplish this.  So, here is my attempt to those first time users on how to do it.

  1. You need a Windows machine (physical or virtual)
  2. Download Gpg4Win -> http://www.gpg4win.org/
    In my case, I tested this with version 2.2.4
  3. When installing Gpg4Win, make sure that you have enable all of these options
    GnuPG 2.0.27
    Kleopatra 2.2.0-git945878c
    GPA 0.9.7
    GpgOL 1.2.1
    GpgEX 1.0.1
    Claws Mail 3.9.1
    Kompendium (de) 3.0.0
    Compendium (en) 3.0.0
  4. Once you are done with the installation, then you can run the following command in order to make your own Gpg4Win portable application.  Keep in mind that you can go two different routes.  Full or Lite.  In my example, I will show you how to have it fully loaded.
  5. Open command prompt (CLI)
  6. cd to the path where GPG4Win is located
    If you use the defaults it will be at “C:\Program Files (x86)\GNU\GnuPG\”
  7. Run “mkportable.exe –full –verbose TARGETDIR”
    where TARGETDIR in this case will be “E:\gpg4winapp”
  8. Then once the program runs, you will be able to open Kleopatra and there you have it
  9. Enjoy!!!

7 thoughts on “How to make GPG4Win portable app

  1. Mike

    Broken:

    C:\Program Files (x86)\GNU\GnuPG>mkportable.exe c:\gpgwin
    mkportable: file ‘pub/libgcc_s_sjlj-1.dll’ not found in the source directory
    mkportable: file ‘pub/libstdc++-6.dll’ not found in the source directory

    Reply
  2. Mr Herisson

    Hey..did not expect a reply.
    I am also on Windows 7

    I actually use GPG4USB…not as many options as GPA and stuff but really enough for my needs

    Reply
  3. JohnF

    Cannot safely remove the USB stick because of background processes it creates. How do you get around that without shutting down the PC?

    Reply
    1. blacknred0 Post author

      When does this occur? After your are done creating the USB portable app or when you open the portable app? I usually close the app and make sure that I’ve killed the process.

      Reply
  4. Mr Herisson

    hi,
    in my case, the portable version did not work. It created all the needed files but kept looking for .dll and keys on C: instead of on the usb. Son it only worked on PC’s where GPG4Win was already installed…not exactly the required effect.
    I have no idea on how to change this, can’t find a config file, wouldn’t know what to put in it.

    Reply
    1. blacknred0 Post author

      That’s interesting. I’ve tested this on my PC’s and haven’t had that issue. What win version are you using? all of my testing I’ve done it in Win 7.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.