Error message (since upgrade ?)
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"GnuPG cannot query your passphrase via pinentry.
This is a system setup or configuration error that prevents Enigmail from working properly and cannot be fixed automatically."
Everything was working fine since original installation just a month or two ago, until this week...Is this related to upgrade? I don't know where to begin to troubleshoot.
Which OS, GnuPG version, and Enigmail version are you using?
OS 10.13.4, Enigmail 2.0.6.1. And I thought it was GPG 1.4.3 but I seem to have possibly automatically downloaded an upgrade to GnuPG sometime in the last week or two. Since June 4th.
Sorry if this is confused, but I am.
I'm in View Console mode now and it seems to say GnuPG/MacGPG2) is 2.2.7
Last edit: Eddy Falconer 2018-06-09
Please make sure that
~/.gnupg/gpg-agent.confdoes not contain a line starting withpinentry-program. Then executekillall gpg-agentThanks, sounds promising. But to be honest, I don't know how I'd do a line command sort of task. I am but an untutored end user who's in over my head! Is it possible to walk me through? Where do I look for this (hopefully absent or to be deleted) line, and how execute the killall command? So sorry.
Hi Eddy, basically your encounter an incompatibility between the assumptions MacGPG mada against those Enigmail made. While I am not a Mac user, I'll try to point you in the right direction:
To issues these commands and to access these files, Patrick assumed you to use "Terminal", a program you may execute by starting to type "ter..." in "App Launcher". I'll narrow down the displayed apps quickly with each letter you type. There is no specific text entry field, just start App Launcher (via shelf or its key) and start typing. Once you have "Terminal" up'n'running, there's the 'shell' running, waiting for your commands:
Now, "nano", a text editor displays your GnuPG Agent configuration file. Check whether there's a line starting with
pinentry-program. If so, moce the cursor to the beginning of that line and type '# ' (a dash and a space). This comments out that line so it's not gone but inactive. Press CONTROL-O to save that file, and CONTROL-X to exit nano. Your're back in shell.There, type
killall gpg-agent. You should be done: Switch back to your Thunderbird windows and test whether your issues is gone. If so, switch back to Terminal and typeexit. It should close. If not, just terminate Terminal. If your issue persists, report here what you've done, where you struggled or what the result was.Hi Olav, I tried your method, however after typing the nano line into terminal, I did not get a line starting with pinentry .... now what? So appreciate your expertise! Not a programmer, just want my email encryption back. Thank you!
Hi Nancy, please start by stating your system details (Mac? OS version? Thunderbird version? Enigmail version?). Then tell us if your system once used to work and what you changed since then. What exactly do you encounter? AND: I think you should better start a new issue, not hijack this one EXCEPT if your issue seems to be identical (OS, error messagem etc.). Olav
Thank you Olav, I believe this problem follows since an upgrade. I am using Mac OS Sierra, Thunderbird 60.6.1 (up to date, it says), I don't see how to find my Enigmail version.
Yes, it worked perfected prior (yes some update).
I believe this is since upgrade. Mac OS Sierra, Thunderbird 60.6.1 (up
to date, it says), I don't see how to find my Enigmail version.
Yes, it worked perfected prior (yes some update).
N
On 5/6/19 3:42 PM, Olav Seyfarth wrote:
Somehow, I was able to follow along, Olav, and I've got it up and running again. Encrypted message opened at last! Thank you so much for your help, everyone.
Please write a reply and use your words to describe what you've done to get it working. That may help others that are in the same situation.
Hi Nancy
what is the precise error message you get from Enigmail?
GnuPG cannot query your passphrase via pinentry. This is a system setup
or configuration error that prevents Enigmail from working properly and
cannot be fixed automatically.
Nancy
On 5/8/19 12:06 PM, Patrick Brunschwig wrote:
I tried on my MacBook (all up-to date: latest MacOS, latest TB, latest EM, latest GPGtools) and cannot reproduce your issue here. Please try to upgrade GPGtools to the latest version, reboot and retry. You said there's no line that contains "pinentry" in your gpg.conf - but that file DOES exist, doesn't it? Please post the contents of your gpg.conf and gpg-agent.conf here if your issue persists.
If that doesn't help, then I'd recommend you follow our Guide for Resolving issues with GnuPG 2.x and gpg-agent