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ASC GPG
File conversion

Convert ASC to GPG

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Jul 8, 2026
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Is it possible to convert ASC to GPG?
Yes - ASC converts to GPG.

Run gpg --dearmor < file.asc > file.gpg in a terminal for a clean output filename, or gpg --dearmor file.asc to get file.asc.gpg (then rename). The content is bit-for-bit identical in both forms.

Also to GPG: LOCKER · SEC · PGP

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert ASC to GPG?

A .asc file is ASCII-armored OpenPGP data: the binary content is wrapped in Base64 text so it survives email and copy-paste. A .gpg file holds the same data as raw binary. Some tools - particularly Linux package managers and keyring import routines - require the binary .gpg form and reject armored input, which is why gpg --dearmor appears in many software installation guides.

How to convert ASC to GPG

GnuPG FREE

Run gpg --dearmor file.asc in a terminal; the output is file.asc.gpg (rename to file.gpg), or use gpg --dearmor < file.asc > file.gpg to write the correct filename directly.

Gpg4win FREE

Install Gpg4win (which includes GnuPG), open Command Prompt or PowerShell, and run gpg --dearmor file.asc; rename the output from file.asc.gpg to file.gpg.

About these formats

.ASC OpenPGP ASCII-Armored File

An ASC file is almost always an OpenPGP ASCII-armored block: a digital signature, a public key, or an encrypted message from PGP or GnuPG, encoded as readable Base64 text. Open it in a text…

Open .ASC details →
.GPG GnuPG Encrypted File

A .gpg file is binary data produced by GnuPG (GNU Privacy Guard), the free OpenPGP encryption tool. Most .gpg files are encrypted - to read one you need GnuPG plus the right passphrase or…

Open .GPG details →

Quality & what to watch

  • Dearmoring is a pure encoding operation equivalent to Base64 decoding - the cryptographic content is bit-for-bit identical in both files and verification works the same way with either.
  • The reverse operation gpg --armor < file.gpg > file.asc converts binary back to ASCII-armored.
  • Kleopatra's GUI does not expose a standalone dearmor button - the GnuPG command line is the practical path even when Gpg4win is installed.

Frequently asked questions

Does dearmoring change the cryptographic content?
No - it is a pure encoding change equivalent to Base64 decoding; the signature, key, or ciphertext is identical in both forms.
Why does GnuPG name the output `file.asc.gpg` instead of `file.gpg`?
GnuPG appends .gpg to the input filename; use gpg --dearmor < file.asc > file.gpg to control the output name directly.
How do I tell if a `.gpg` file is actually ASCII-armored inside?
Open it in a text editor; if the first line is -----BEGIN PGP...-----, the content is armored regardless of the .gpg extension.