Error – gpg: cancelled by user/gpg: Key generation canceled.

March 15, 2020

Error – gpg: cancelled by user/gpg: Key generation canceled.

While generating gpg key, I was getting error where the screen automatically goes off and the control immediately comes back stating below

gpg: cancelled by user
gpg: Key generation canceled.

-bash-4.2$ gpg --gen-key
gpg (GnuPG) 2.0.22; Copyright (C) 2013 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.

Please select what kind of key you want:
   (1) RSA and RSA (default)
   (2) DSA and Elgamal
   (3) DSA (sign only)
   (4) RSA (sign only)
Your selection? 4
RSA keys may be between 1024 and 4096 bits long.
What keysize do you want? (2048)
Requested keysize is 2048 bits
Please specify how long the key should be valid.
         0 = key does not expire
      <n>  = key expires in n days
      <n>w = key expires in n weeks
      <n>m = key expires in n months
      <n>y = key expires in n years
Key is valid for? (0)
Key does not expire at all
Is this correct? (y/N) y

GnuPG needs to construct a user ID to identify your key.

Real name: svc_WellsFargo
Email address: user@domain.com.com
Comment:
You selected this USER-ID:
    "svc_WellsFargo <user@domain.com.com>"

Change (N)ame, (C)omment, (E)mail or (O)kay/(Q)uit? O
You need a Passphrase to protect your secret key.

gpg: cancelled by user
gpg: Key generation canceled.

Solution Applied: It bugged a lot and finally googled the solution (putting it here for the sake of everyone)
As a root user, run below command

$ chmod o+rw $(tty)

Happy reading !!!
Anand M

Unix/Linux

gpg

Posted by:

anandmandilwar

Enterprise Solutions Architect with 8x AWS Certified & Project Management Professional (PMP). Passionate about solving customer problems through innovative solutions and improving operational efficiency by automating everything possible.

7 responses to “Error – gpg: cancelled by user/gpg: Key generation canceled.”

Pramod K

May 19, 2021 at 12:14 pm

Solution1: Exit the user if you are on su user and with your user change tty permission to read and write: Use command “ps” to get the tty detail and then change its permission. example: “chmod 666 /dev/pts/1”. Once tty permission changed, then switch user back to su and start generating a new key-pair($gpg –gen-key) it will work and prompt for passphrase.

Solution2: Install screen($sudo yum install screen) if machine does not have, and then Run “screen” and start follow all steps of generating a new key-pair ($gpg –gen-key).

Reply
1. anandmandilwar
  
  July 9, 2021 at 9:54 am
  
  Thanks.
  
  Reply
Veeraraghavulu Akkari

July 9, 2021 at 8:24 am

Hats off! you have saved a lot of time and effort in resolving the issue.

Reply
1. anandmandilwar
  
  July 9, 2021 at 9:53 am
  
  Thanks and Glad to know that it helped.
  
  Reply
Gustavo Restuccia

September 24, 2021 at 10:13 am

Hey Anand.
I was facing same issue and I was able to fix it quickly using this article.
Thanks a lot!

Reply
1. anandmandilwar
  
  January 24, 2022 at 3:38 pm
  
  Thanks Gustavo that this really helped you.
  
  Reply
Krishna Kattula

May 17, 2022 at 3:29 pm

Thanks a lot Anand, I had the same issue and was able to fix with your solution

Reply

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