---
name: "sq-packet-decrypt"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "sequoia-sq"
version: "1.4.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sq-packet-decrypt"
---

# sq-packet-decrypt(1)

Unwrap an encryption container

## NAME

sq-packet-decrypt - Unwrap an encryption container

## SYNOPSIS

**sq packet decrypt** \[*OPTIONS*\] *FILE*

## DESCRIPTION

Unwrap an encryption container.

Decrypts a message, dumping the content of the encryption container without further processing.  The result is a valid OpenPGP message that can, among other things, be inspected using \`sq packet dump\`.

## OPTIONS

### Subcommand options

- **--binary**

  Emit binary data

- **--dump-session-key**

  Print the session key to stderr

- **--output**=*FILE*

  Write to FILE or stdout if omitted

-

  \[default: **-**\]

- **--recipient-file**=*KEY\_FILE*

  Decrypt the message using the key in KEY\_FILE

- **--session-key**=*SESSION-KEY*

  Decrypt an encrypted message using SESSION-KEY

- *FILE*

  Read from FILE or stdin if FILE is '-'

-

  \[default: **-**\]

### Global options

See [**sq**(1)](/sq/1.md) for a description of the global options.

## EXAMPLES

Unwrap the encryption revealing the signed message.

```
sq packet decrypt --recipient-file bob-secret.pgp message.pgp
```

## SEE ALSO

[**sq**(1)](/sq/1.md), [**sq-packet**(1)](/sq-packet/1.md).

For the full documentation see \<https://book.sequoia-pgp.org/\>.

## VERSION

1\.4.1