Decryption failure

I have the same issue impacting my iPhone and iPad. I found that if I saved the Word doc in format 1997-2003, the docs will open when I enter the correct document password. I currently am using Microsoft 2016 and anything saved as a standard Word doc gives me the decryption failed message. I contacted Apple support and have a case number opened.

With the is 14.2 update, Microsoft issued updates to the Microsoft apps. I would also take the time to reach out to Microsoft to explain the issue to them, since they are the ones that write and support the Office apps on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

I received an email from the Apple Support person who is handling the case asking me to contact him next week. I will call and reply back to this forum with the results. To me, its starting to look like its a 14.2 bug since I had no issues when I was on 14.1. I wish Apple would make it easier for the customer to roll back to previous OS levels.

While I understand you did not have any issues with iOS 14.1, if you are using the Microsoft apps on your device, they were just updated. Microsoft made changes to their apps and this could have lead to your problem. You need to discuss it with them.

I am having the same problem on my iphone 7 after updating to iOS 14.2. Moved an updated version of a MS Word file with a DOCX extension to my phone and it fails to decrpypt and an error is generated. I changed the Word file extension to .DOC and the file moved and decrypted properly. Hope Apple fixes on the next iOS update..

Thought I was clear. I only app involved in this process was the Word app. No other apps or processes. The Word document (file) was moved into my Apple iPhone 7 Notes and the problem occurred while trying to open the Word document. I am still old school in some of my terminology.

I just spoke to Apple support. They gave me an acceptable work around. From the app store, I downloaded Microsoft's Word app. Once the app was installed, I was able to open any Word Doc that was previously password protected.

I loaded the Microsoft Word App and had some interesting results. When I open the Word Doc in question directly from the App specifying the password works acceptably and the file opens OK. However, I moved the Word Document to Notes on my iphone 7. When I try to open the Word Document from my Notes the same problem persists even after loading the Word App. Wish I understood that relationship a little better.

Apple support gave me an acceptable work around. From the Apple App Store, I downloaded Microsoft's Word app. Once the app was installed, I was able to open any Word Doc that was previously password protected. I hope this helps!

I agree with you. If a doc is sent via email, it won't open regardless if you have the Word App or not. The work around I was given is a partial fix. Apple still has a decryption issue in their latest IOS.

I continue to have the same issue when attempting to open DOC and EXCEL files from emails on my phone. I installed MS Word app on my iphone 7 and have been able to open the password protected files but the DOC files are actually from the Microsoft Cloud and not on my iphone 7.

I have been having the same problem in opening an encrypted DOCX document directly from my email since the IOS 14.2 update. What works for me is to click on the document in the email and get to the page to insert the password. Instead of inserting a password and getting the decryption error, I click on the arrow at the top of the page that lets you move the document directly into an app (Word or DocsToGo in my case). The next screen lets you put the password into the Word or DocsToGo app, and the document opens in the app for me. I mentioned all this to Apple support and they say they are looking into it.

The workaround proposed by loading the MS Word app doesn't solve the problem when trying to open an Excel sheet. The Word app didn't recognize my .XLS file. Not until I loaded the MS Excel app was I able to open Excel password protected Excel spreadsheets.

Downloading Microsoft Excel App allows me to open a password protected spreadsheet. In the email tap the file icon, then select ‘Open in Excel’ in top right corner and enter password as normal. Better than nothing until IOS 14.2 fix!