decryption failed null

Question

Level 1

11 points

decryption failed null

Since 14.2 iphone update, Password protected Office files will not open without using the Office( Excel, Word) app.

I called Apple and reported this 2 weeks ago. I have a ticket number. I see on the web that many people are having the same problem( I first noticed it when I tried to open a Dropbox excel file and thought it was a Dropbox issue- it is not). I see also that Iphone 12 users who updated to 14.2.1 did not get this fixed. I am using a Iphone X.

Does anyone know if Apple is aware how big a problem this is? Any feed back that they are going to address it?

iPhone X, iOS 14

Posted on Nov 23, 2020 6:03 PM

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Answer 1

BarbT63

Level 1

9 points

Nov 27, 2020 9:35 AM in response to david2y

Thanks for the info.

I have found a work around, I downloaded the free Word app, when I open the Word docx from my email, I select Share to Word, type the password and it opens. The next time I open the file from email, it asks if I want to ‘Open in Word’ which works fine.

I still hope Apple fixes the issue!

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Answer 2

david2y Author

Level 1

11 points

Dec 28, 2020 12:54 AM in response to vandi97

So far, Apple does not seem interested in fixing this. There is a work around by downloading the MS Office app( free) and using it to open the password protected file. If you look, you will see many many people are complaining and opening cases with Apple. 14.3 does not fix it.

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Answer 3

david2y Author

Level 1

11 points

Jan 28, 2021 2:42 PM in response to DecriptionFailed

IOS14.4 fixed it

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Answer 4

Jan 17, 2021 3:40 PM in response to david2y

Iphone ios V14.3 also gives a Decryption failed (Null) diagnostic when Opening a password protected current version xlsx Excel sheet. First noticed on V14.2. However, Saving the Excel file as an older xls file seems to work fine on 2 Excel files that are saved as xls format and stored on Microsoft OneDrive. Nuisance. No comment from Apple ?

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Answer 5

david2y Author

Level 1

11 points

Dec 15, 2020 11:53 AM in response to dmpowellaz

It has been this way since 14.2 , beginning of November. I see nothing about Apple fixing this. I see lots of complaints. There are a number of work arounds but they only work if you can export the office file to the Office app. There are some vaults that do not export files( for security) that the files will not open ( though you can downgrade the file to Office 2003 and then they will open). Sorry.

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Answer 6

david2y Author

Level 1

11 points

Nov 26, 2020 8:24 PM in response to BarbT63

Just found this on web reporting lots of people with same issue. https://piunikaweb.com/2020/11/25/some-ios-14-users-facing-decryption-failed-null-error-when-accessing-password-protected-word-excel-documents/

They concluded it needed to be a downloaded file, but that is not true. I have an encrypted vault on my iPhone and password office files docx and xlsx will not open but doc and xls will.

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Answer 7

BarbT63

Level 1

9 points

Dec 15, 2020 1:41 PM in response to david2y

Please open a case with Apple support on this....if they get lots of of cases maybe they will fix the issue.

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Answer 8

Dec 24, 2020 2:25 PM in response to david2y

failed password

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Answer 9

Dec 15, 2020 9:39 AM in response to david2y

I am also having the decryption failed null problem. Just tried opening a password-protected Word file for the first time, and got this error message. New iPhone 12 Pro. Very disappointing. When is this going to get fixed?

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Answer 10

vandi97

Level 1

4 points

Dec 27, 2020 8:44 PM in response to david2y

I just bought a renewed iPhone 11 pro max; it had ios 14.2. I recently tried to open ms doc file from my aol email that is password protected. I was unable to open the file. I called Apple tech support yesterday for help. I was advised to update to ios 14.3, which is the latest version. I did, and still I'm unable to open this file. Can someone please advise what's causing this, and more importantly, how to fix this problem?

Thanks

Vandi

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