Questions on Encrypt/Decrypt Message

[RustyNomad]

Tried searching the forum for more information on this function in Electrum but could not come up with much. Saw one post about this function being disabled in version 1.9.8 due to a bug.

I'm currently running version 2.3.2, is the encrypt/decrypt functional in this version?

Tried it but keep on getting an error/warning "Non-hexadecimal digit found"

[ColderThanIce]

I just tested it on my copy of Electrum 2.3.2 on Windows and I get the same error as you, so I think it's safe to say that the function is still disabled on 2.3.2.

[EcuaMobi]

Tried searching the forum for more information on this function in Electrum but could not come up with much. Saw one post about this function being disabled in version 1.9.8 due to a bug.

I'm currently running version 2.3.2, is the encrypt/decrypt functional in this version?

Tried it but keep on getting an error/warning "Non-hexadecimal digit found"

I just tested it now and it's working. Are you sure you're entering the public key and not the address when encrypting? The whole public key is always required. You can get it by left-clicking an address and selecting 'Public Keys'. Then use that value to encrypt.

[RustyNomad]

I just tested it now and it's working. Are you sure you're entering the public key and not the address when encrypting? The whole public key is always required. You can get it by left-clicking an address and selecting 'Public Keys'. Then use that value to encrypt.

WORKING!! 

Thanks, I've been using the address and not the public key. If I want to send a message to somebody else, how do I get the public key for their address?

[EcuaMobi]

WORKING!! 

Thanks, I've been using the address and not the public key. If I want to send a message to somebody else, how do I get the public key for their address?

There are ways to grab the public key from the blockchain as long as that address has spent coins at least once (the public key must be given to verify the signature of the TX).
However in practice you must just ask for it, it's public anyway. Ask for a public key and encrypt the message using that information.

[RustyNomad]

Thanks for the help

[ColderThanIce]

Oops, sorry about my incorrect answer. I just had a chance to test EcuaMobi's method on my Electrum wallet and it worked just as it should. I originally was using an address as well in the public key area. Thanks for clearing that up EM!

[vfilchef]

There are ways to grab the public key from the blockchain as long as that address has spent coins at least once (the public key must be given to verify the signature of the TX).
However in practice you must just ask for it, it's public anyway. Ask for a public key and encrypt the message using that information.

Yes but in BitcoinCore-QT wallet is not so easy  to get public key for one address -you must to be familiar with console and for Multibit is impossible.
 I think developers must think about this and make possible to be used address or public key - they have different length so it is not so difficult to programming or just to change algorithm to use only address like another clients.

[BitcoinXio]

WORKING!! 

Thanks, I've been using the address and not the public key. If I want to send a message to somebody else, how do I get the public key for their address?

There are ways to grab the public key from the blockchain as long as that address has spent coins at least once (the public key must be given to verify the signature of the TX).
However in practice you must just ask for it, it's public anyway. Ask for a public key and encrypt the message using that information.

Has anyone tried decrypting with it yet though? I've been able to encrypt fine (just like the screens above) however, when I go to decrypt I always get the message 'address not found'. I know it's the right encrypted message because all I'm doing is taking the encrypted message I just made and then trying to decrypt it back to verify it works.

[EcuaMobi]

WORKING!!  

Thanks, I've been using the address and not the public key. If I want to send a message to somebody else, how do I get the public key for their address?

There are ways to grab the public key from the blockchain as long as that address has spent coins at least once (the public key must be given to verify the signature of the TX).
However in practice you must just ask for it, it's public anyway. Ask for a public key and encrypt the message using that information.

Has anyone tried decrypting with it yet though? I've been able to encrypt fine (just like the screens above) however, when I go to decrypt I always get the message 'address not found'. I know it's the right encrypted message because all I'm doing is taking the encrypted message I just made and then trying to decrypt it back to verify it works.

You need to enter the public key too to decrypt the message, not just the encrypted string.
The easiest way to achieve this is by right-clicking on the address the message was encrypted with and selecting "Encrypt/decrypt message". That way the public key will be pre-populated.
Then enter the encrypted string and hit "Decrypt". You will be asked for your Electrum password and the decrypted message will appear.

[tl121]

Encryption seems to work, once I followed the description and used the public key and not the address.  My wallet is Trezor based, and Trezor (including latest firmware) doesn't support decryption, so I couldn't easily check that part out.