Open Encrypt and switch to passphrase mode.
In the Encrypt flow, choose passphrase mode instead of adding a recipient key.
// guide / passphrase-encrypt-a-file
How to encrypt a file with a passphrase.
No keys, no recipients — just a password. AgePony's passphrase mode uses age's scrypt KDF, perfect for encrypting something to yourself or moving a file across your own devices.
// at a glance
- Open AgePony, choose Encrypt
- Switch to passphrase mode
- Enter a strong passphrase
- Pick the file
- Encrypt and store
Prerequisites
- AgePony installed
- The file to encrypt
- A long passphrase you will remember
Choose a strong passphrase.
Use a long passphrase — several random words is ideal. age runs it through scrypt, which slows brute-force attempts, but the security ultimately rests on the passphrase being hard to guess.
Pick the file.
Select the file to protect and choose armored or binary output.
Encrypt.
Tap Encrypt. AgePony derives the key with scrypt and produces a passphrase-protected .age file.
Store or share it.
Keep it in Files or send it. To open it later, anyone — including you — needs only the passphrase.
Verify it worked.
- AgePony confirms passphrase mode before encrypting.
- Decryption prompts for the passphrase, not an identity.
- age -d on the command line opens it with the same passphrase.
Common questions.
How strong must the passphrase be?
Long. A few random words beats a short complex password. scrypt helps, but cannot save a guessable phrase.
Is this CLI-compatible?
Yes — these are standard age -p files openable by any age tool.
Should I use this to share with others?
You can, but you must convey the passphrase securely. For sharing, key-based recipients are usually cleaner.
What if I forget the passphrase?
The file cannot be recovered. There is no backdoor or reset.
Next steps.
Get AgePony
Free file encryption for iOS and Android. No accounts, no tracking, no servers.