Confusion about PGP key encrypted message [RESOLVED]

[DarkState]

I have a confusion about PGP key encrypted messages. Does the sender of the message have the ability to decrypt their own encrypted message? Or does the recipient only have the ability to decrypt the message? I'm asking this because I'm talking about a scenario where I send an encrypted message with a PGP key to my friend. But due to busyness or some other reason my friend saw the message after a year and replied to me using PGP encrypted message. But by then I had forgotten what message I had sent to my friend. Can I now decrypt my own encrypted messages?

[Hatchy]

Can I now decrypt my own encrypted messages?

Yes you can. So long You have your PGP key and the message was encrypted and signed using it. Open or login in to your PGP app or software then click on decrypt message. Just copy the encrypted message you had sent to your friend Long time ago paste from clipboard and it will be decrypted by app for you.
Here are some other links to help you learn more about PGP

• ▶ [Eng: Tutorial] PGP Signature - Encrypt/Decrypt message (Linux Only) - Learn Bitcoin - English
• ▶ [Eng: Tutorial] PGP Signature - Encrypt/Decrypt message - Fingerprint -mdayonliner- English

[Davidvictorson]

It is possible for you to decrypt the message you sent to your friend. What you need to use is your own private key to decrypt the encrypted message you sent. But if you lose your private key, you will not be able to decrypt any messages which you have encrypted with your public key will not be possible. If your friend encrypts a message with your public key, then only you can decrypt it using your own private key.

[SquirrelJulietGarden]

I have a confusion about PGP key encrypted messages. Does the sender of the message have the ability to decrypt their own encrypted message? Or does the recipient only have the ability to decrypt the message?

It can be decrypted by anyone and if the sender can not decrypt it after encrypt it, the sender will no longer be able to know what he sent days, weeks or years ago.

Encrypted messages are not designed with this terrible format like you think.

[Eng: Tutorial] PGP Signature - Encrypt/Decrypt message - Fingerprint
Receive Merit - Post your PGP key, add an encrypted message, open for anyone.
Topics above can help you learning about PGP key and Encrypt/ Decrypt messages with practices too.

[Hatchy]

No, he can not.

I won't write a reply to him if I haven't tried it before. I even tried it again after seeing your quote. I was able to decrypt an old message I sent to @ BitcoinGirl.club, months ago using my own key. And I read the message in full. So its possible.

[BitcoinGirl.Club]

I was able to decrypt an old message I sent to @ BitcoinGirl.club, months ago using my own key. And I read the message in full. So its possible.

When you are encrypting a message which includes allowing decryption from your own key too then you can decrypt the message. You also become a receiver. Without becoming a receiver of the message you can not decrypt it.

Does the sender of the message have the ability to decrypt their own encrypted message? [...] Can I now decrypt my own encrypted messages?

I hope now you have your answer.

/*edited*/

[DarkState]

I hope now you have your answer.

Yes thanks I got my answer. Now my confusion is completely cleared.

So the summary is that the sender can decrypt his own encrypted message with his own key just like a receiver does.

Thanks everyone for clearing my confusion.

[BitcoinGirl.Club]

So the summary is that the sender can decrypt his own encrypted message with his own key just like a receiver does.

Only if you add yourself too in the receivers lists. You can add as many receivers as you want when encrypting a message.

[khaled0111]

I won't write a reply to him if I haven't tried it before. I even tried it again after seeing your quote. I was able to decrypt an old message I sent to @ BitcoinGirl.club, months ago using my own key. And I read the message in full. So its possible.

Charles-Tim answer is not completely wrong. When you encrypt a message with a certain public key then you need the corresponding private key to encrypt it.
You were able to decrypt the message you sent because you added yourself as a recipient (as BitcoinGirl.Club said) or the software you used has encrypt to self option enabled by default which means the message was encrypted with your own public key too.
In OP's case, we can't say if he can decrypt the message he sent without knowing if he did use his own pub key to encrypt it or not.

[Porfirii]

Also, the topics mentioned above are being translated into different languages for the better understanding of the non native users of the forum. Although once you set up everything and have some experience PGP is quite simple to use, this is not an easy topic for newbies.

You can find them and other interesting translations here

[DarkState]

Only if you add yourself too in the receivers lists. You can add as many receivers as you want when encrypting a message.

Okay, I got it. I tried it practically and I was able to decrypt my message. It worked. So thanks again.