Should I Share My Passphrase with an Email Recipient?

Q: Do I need to give the recipient my passphrase to open the email I sent them?

No, you should never share your passphrase with anyone. Your passphrase is private and only for you to keep. Make sure to write it down on paper or store it securely to avoid losing access to your emails.

If the recipient uses FlowCrypt (or similar software), they already have their own passphrase. In this case, you can send encrypted emails directly, and their email address will appear green in Secure Compose, indicating that no additional password is needed. See how to send to a FlowCrypt user for details.

If the recipient’s email appears gray, you will be sending a password-protected message. You can choose any password you like and share it with the recipient through another secure method (not email). This one-time password should never be your personal passphrase, because your passphrase is private and should never be shared. Learn more about sending password-protected emails.