Enigmail reported that my private key migration failed
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 8:59 am
You have two options to work around this limitation.
The first option is to use GnuPG's graphical key manager and export your keys into separate files. For example, if the total size of all public keys is 17 MB, you would have to create 4 files and select a quarter of the public keys for each exported file. This is a bit cumbersome.
Alternatively, you can try using the Enigmail version 2.2.x migration plugin to import your public key into Thunderbird, even if you haven't used Enigmail before.
To do this, use Thunderbird 78 and search for Enigmail Add-on. You will be asked to install version 2.2.x. Once installed, you can manually access the command "Migrate Enigmail Settings" from the Tools submenu in Thunderbird's top menu bar. Note that this may fail depending on how you have the GnuPG software set up on your computer, so this method is not guaranteed to work.
If you have the GnuPG software correctly installed on your computer, the Enigmail migration plugin will find it homeowner database and import all public keys from GnuPG into Thunderbird one by one, without being affected by the above size limit.
This probably means that you are trying to import a key that is not yet supported by RNP. Another possible cause is an incomplete setup of the GnuPG software on your computer, especially if you are not prompted for a password to export your private key - this should not apply if you have recently used Enigmail successfully on your computer.
A good way to ensure that you have GnuPG installed correctly is to use the following procedure:
Install Thunderbird 68 into a separate directory, then run Thunderbird 68 with the -P parameter and run it with a separate profile. (You do not need to configure an email account, you can dismiss that suggestion.)
Then install Enigmail to your Thunderbird 68 profile and run the Enigmail setup wizard, which will help you properly set up the GnuPG software.
The first option is to use GnuPG's graphical key manager and export your keys into separate files. For example, if the total size of all public keys is 17 MB, you would have to create 4 files and select a quarter of the public keys for each exported file. This is a bit cumbersome.
Alternatively, you can try using the Enigmail version 2.2.x migration plugin to import your public key into Thunderbird, even if you haven't used Enigmail before.
To do this, use Thunderbird 78 and search for Enigmail Add-on. You will be asked to install version 2.2.x. Once installed, you can manually access the command "Migrate Enigmail Settings" from the Tools submenu in Thunderbird's top menu bar. Note that this may fail depending on how you have the GnuPG software set up on your computer, so this method is not guaranteed to work.
If you have the GnuPG software correctly installed on your computer, the Enigmail migration plugin will find it homeowner database and import all public keys from GnuPG into Thunderbird one by one, without being affected by the above size limit.
This probably means that you are trying to import a key that is not yet supported by RNP. Another possible cause is an incomplete setup of the GnuPG software on your computer, especially if you are not prompted for a password to export your private key - this should not apply if you have recently used Enigmail successfully on your computer.
A good way to ensure that you have GnuPG installed correctly is to use the following procedure:
Install Thunderbird 68 into a separate directory, then run Thunderbird 68 with the -P parameter and run it with a separate profile. (You do not need to configure an email account, you can dismiss that suggestion.)
Then install Enigmail to your Thunderbird 68 profile and run the Enigmail setup wizard, which will help you properly set up the GnuPG software.