Error message: Decryption failed(null) when attempting to open an Excel document on iPad

I’m receiving the same message and it’s infuriating. I even recreated the file and emailed it without the password and it STILL wouldn’t open.

I’m very new to Mac - got my first one this past week (Windows user since late ‘80s to early ‘90s). I absolutely can’t have this issue happen to me - I must keep my master files on my computer and send password-protected copies via email when necessary.

Since I’m brand new here (this is my first forum), what can be done about this?

Have been in IT as well. The errormessage suggests that the file argument is not (correctly) passed to the decryption method. If that’s so it is just unbelievable that this error could slip through all the levels of testing. My advice to Apple, correct this error asap and check out how this could get into the new release. I feel vicariously ashamed for my fellow developers!

I’m actually relieved that this is an interface issue, as I was sick with worry that my file had somehow been corrupted. I have good news for you if you are a Office 360 subscriber. Although you can’t currently open/edit/save your encrypted MS documents online, you still have full access through the apps. Just download the Excel, Word, etc. apps and work directly through those.

Hope this helps.

Posted this semi-solution to appbag, but wanted to make sure you saw it because you sound like you’re in a bind.

I’m actually relieved that this is an interface issue, as I was sick with worry that my file had somehow been corrupted. I have good news for you if you are a Office 360 subscriber. Although you can’t currently open/edit/save your encrypted MS documents online, you still have full access through the apps. Just download the Excel, Word, etc. apps and work directly through those.

Hope this helps.

I have the same problem but only through Dropbox on my iPad or iPhone. I keep an encrypted worksheet on Dropbox so I can access it from anywhere on my iPhone. Prior to iOS a14.2 it would open in the viewer with no problem. With iOS 14.2 the native file viewer won’t decrypt the file. If I open via Excel or Numbers on any of my Apple devices it works fine. On my PC (Windows 10) It also opens without problems in file explorer or on Dropbox.com so clearly it’s something to do with iOS 14.2. My workaround is to open in Excel but as I have no subscription to Office 365 I can’t do any updating or editing.

I too have just updated to IOS 14.2 today, 20th Nov 2020 and have exactly the same problem.

This is really quite appalling.

Surely only minimum of testing/checking on a new build would have shown this issue. It is pretty basic to say the least.

Do Apple actually do any build testing at all, or just leave it to Joe Public to discover and report them all?

I am very disgruntled by this!

I was having this same problem with a password protected excel file but tonight around 10:45pm Pacific Time I can suddenly open my file.

Not sure why, I ran no update and didn’t see that Apple did either.

But Ive opened my file 3 times in the last 5 minutes and it’s working.

What file type (extension) are you referring to?

What iOS were you running when you could not open a password protected file?

Since you are now saying you can open a password protected file, what iOS does your device say you are running now?

Do you have automatic updates turned on?

I don't think you understand how Apple updates work. The reason you are now able to open a password protected Microsoft file is because you installed Microsoft Office apps on your phone. So when you click on the password protected file now, Microsoft Office which now lives on your phone, is doing the decryption, not anything related to Apple. The 14.2 Apple issue still exists and will continue to exist until Apple releases a solution in a subsequent iOS and you install it.

You didn't say what iOS you had on your phone before you downloaded Microsoft Office and you didn't say what iOS you have on it now but my guess is they're one and the same...14.2 The only way we are going to know if Apple fixes the issue is to wait for another iOS update (14.2.1 or .2 or .3 or 14.3 or?), then delete the Microsoft Office app and try to open an encrypted Microsoft file. If it still doesn't work, then we will have to reinstall the Microsoft Office app. Once the files open without having Microsoft Office on your phone, then we will know Apple fixed the issue.

Sound reasonable?

My expertise, well I certainly don't call it that, more like stumbling around and accidental discovery, comes from having to deal with family and friends and their devices. For some reason they keep calling me and that has forced me to come to grips with some of this. I also call Apple a lot with questions and complaints. I get one iota smarter with each call :-)

Anyway, at least we all now have a work around that isn't painful while we await an Apple solution.

Open the password protected excel and word files in office and they will opens. Try opening them directly they will not. While earlier these files would open as a preview.

something has gone wrong with iOS 14.2. Hope they fix it

This is so frustrating, but reassuring to know it wasn't a corrupt file on my end. I loved being able to open an encrypted Excel spreadsheet without having to open Excel on my phone. Now it's just an extra annoying step. Hope it's resolved soon

Some commenters have reported this is now fixed, but it just failed on my iPad Air 4 after the recent iOS 14.2 update. Hope it is fixed soon. Perplexed it could be working for some but not all. Works on my iPhone, but have not updated that to 14.2 yet.