Age is a modern file encryption tool that’s simple yet powerful. Here’s how to decrypt age-encrypted files using a secret key.
Prerequisites
- age installed on your system
- An encrypted file (base64 encoded)
- A secret key (starting with AGE-SECRET-KEY-)
Step-by-Step Decryption
- First, decode the base64 content to a file:
echo "YOUR-BASE64-CONTENT" | base64 -d > encrypted.age
- Save the secret key to a file:
echo "AGE-SECRET-KEY-YOUR-KEY" > key.txt
chmod 600 key.txt # Set proper permissions
- Decrypt the file:
age --decrypt -i key.txt encrypted.age
Installing age
Choose your platform:
- macOS:
brew install age - Ubuntu/Debian:
apt install age - Other systems: Download from the age GitHub repository
Common Issues
- Ensure you’re using only the AGE-SECRET-KEY line for decryption
- Verify the base64 content is complete and properly formatted
- Check file permissions on the key file (should be readable only by you)
Security Best Practices
- Never share your secret key
- Delete key files after use
- Store encrypted files and keys separately
- Use secure channels when transferring encrypted files