I hate forgetting things. Here are a few GPG commands for doing the basics from the command line.

Examples

See what version you’re at:

gpg --version

List your keys:

gpg --list-keys

Import some keys:

gpg --import pubring.gpg
gpg --import secring.gpg
gpg --import file.asc

Delete keys associated with a certain name:

gpg --delete-keys Uriah

Delete secret keys:

gpg --delete-secret-keys Daniel

Sign a file with ASCII armor (prevents mangling in transit):

gpg -sa file.txt

Sign and encrypt with ASCII armor:

gpg -sea file.txt

Decrypt:

gpg -d file.asc

Main Functions

Commands:

-s, --sign [file]                 make a signature
--clearsign [file]                make a clear text signature
-b, --detach-sign                  make a detached signature
-e, --encrypt                      encrypt data
-c, --symmetric                    encryption only with symmetric cipher
-d, --decrypt                      decrypt data (default)
--verify                           verify a signature
--list-keys                        list keys
--list-sigs                        list keys and signatures
--check-sigs                       list and check key signatures
--fingerprint                      list keys and fingerprints
-K, --list-secret-keys             list secret keys
--gen-key                          generate a new key pair
--delete-keys                      remove keys from the public keyring
--delete-secret-keys               remove keys from the secret keyring
--sign-key                         sign a key
--lsign-key                        sign a key locally
--edit-key                         sign or edit a key
--gen-revoke                       generate a revocation certificate
--export                           export keys
--send-keys                        export keys to a key server
--recv-keys                        import keys from a key server
--search-keys                      search for keys on a key server
--refresh-keys                     update all keys from a keyserver
--import                           import/merge keys
--card-status                      print the card status
--card-edit                        change data on a card
--change-pin                       change a card's PIN
--update-trustdb                   update the trust database
--print-md algo [files]           print message digests

Options:

-a, --armor                       create ascii armored output
-r, --recipient NAME              encrypt for NAME
-u, --local-user                  use this user-id to sign or decrypt
-z N                              set compress level N (0 disables)
--textmode                        use canonical text mode
-o, --output                      use as output file
-v, --verbose                     verbose
-n, --dry-run                     do not make any changes
-i, --interactive                 prompt before overwriting
--openpgp                         use strict OpenPGP behavior
--pgp2                            generate PGP 2.x compatible messages

Links

GPG Mini HowTo | gpg.org