How to Send GnuPG Keys as Attachments From Thunderbird (Not as Inline Text)

I find inline GnuPG (GPG) keys to be totally distracting and an additional step that discourages new users from adopting email encryption. Buried deep within the settings of Thunderbird lies a way to attach your public GnuPG key, rather than sending it as plain text in the email.

The trick I could never figure out until now was that the setting is actually in the options when you are writing an email, not when you are in the main window of Thunderbird. You should actually disable signing of the message, as you will now be sending an unsigned email to the recipient, who should then import your public key. Here are the steps to attach your public key:

On a Mac, or Ubuntu Linux machine the steps are the same:

1. Compose a new email
2. Click the OpenPGP menu
3. Select default composition options
4. Select Signing/Encryption options
5. Go to "Advanced"
6. Click the radio button for attach my public key to messages (check!)