keybase / keybase/client

Is there a way to restore client with access to a device's files

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#24,600 0 comments 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
Dominant language
Go
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Description

I still have physical access to my device (laptop), but installed a fresh system. I still have access to `.local/share/keybase` files, so I copied them over but this does not make the client behave any differently (still asking to confirm via other devices). I also have access to my "old" `.gnupg` folder, copied it over and pointed the client to it (`--gpgdir`) but this didn't work either.

What am I missing? I'd love to just copy my files, provide a passphrase on startup and use my new device - is this even possible? (I don't have an option to generate the paper key, nor other access to the already confirmed devices).

Contributor guide

No contributing guide indexed for this repository

Research direction

Start at client startup handling of --gpgdir and the copied .local/share/keybase and .gnupg paths; trace why restored state still requests confirmation from another device. Done means establishing whether passphrase-based recovery without another confirmed device is supported and documenting or implementing a reproducible path if it is not.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
go
Domain
authentication, security
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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