Decryption fails running iOS 14.2

Yup, just noticed the same issue today.  I ordered a couple iPhone 12's, they came with iOS 14.2 installed.  I also have an iPhone 7 that now has 14.2 installed and an iPhone 11 with iOS 13.6 installed.  I've done a few tests, as follows:

1. Took an old password protected Excel file that I have been successfully opening for months on my iPhone 7 when it was running iOS 13.x.  Using my iMac, I attached it to an email and emailed it myself.  I then opened it on my iPhone 12 running 14.2 and it asked for my password like normal but after entering it and tapping Go, I got the blank white screen with Decryption Failed (null).

2. I then sent that same file to my iPhone 11 running 13.6 and it opened just fine, just like always

3. I then sent both phones (11 & 12) an unencrypted Excel file and it opened just fine on both

4. I then Opened Microsoft Office Updater on my iMac and updated to their latest level, hoping that would work but no, it didn't make any difference at all.

5. I then called Apple and was told its a compatibility issue that Microsoft owns.  Yes I suppose it could be that Microsoft has not yet combed through their software to ensure full compatibility with iOS 14.x but I sorta found that hard to swallow.  I hate calling Microsoft, they're tech support sucks.

6. I then decided to create an Adobe pdf file and password protect it.  I sent that via Mail on my iMac to my iPhone 11 & 12.  I was successfully able to open that password protected file on both the 11 running 13.6 and the 12 running 14.2.  Hmmmmm, maybe it is a Microsoft issue after all, but I don't think this is a conclusive test.

7. At that point I decided to search for the issue and came across this forum, while I use Dropbox, I don't use it for cloud type file storage but found this thread interesting to read and thought I'd post my experience today.  

8. I downloaded Microsoft Office, Excel, etc on my iPhone 12, made no difference.

I also could open a pdf encrypted file so I'm sure now it's something Microsoft has to fix.......

Interim Success

Ok, I've  done something else and it works though I still believe Apple has an issue since I have read that 14.1 does not have this problem but at least this works.. ..   so, I ended my last post with #8, so here is #9 :-)

9. I took the Excel password protected file that I could not open from Mail on my iPhone 12 running iOS 14.2 and instead of opening it, I long pressed it in Mail until I got a pop up menu with choices.  I like choices :-)  I chose to Save that file in the Apple "Files" app on my phone.  The File app comes standard with iOS.  I then opened the Files app and tapped the password protected Excel file I just put there, it prompted for a password, I entered it and it opened just fine.  

If you read my last post, I had to install Excel on my phone, no biggie but this is why it worked because it opened in Excel.  BTW, Excel, Word, etc is free from the Apple App store.  Once downloaded to your phone you do not need to sign in to any of the Microsoft apps.  

10. I also went to the Apple App store and downloaded the "Microsoft Office app for iOS".  I then deleted the Excel app I downloaded earlier.  So that left me with only the Microsoft Office app for iOS on my iPhone running 14.2.  I then repeated step #9 and it worked, it still opened it in Excel so there must be the full Office suite living within the Microsoft Office app for iOS instead of having the individual apps of Excel, Word and PowerPoint.  For me this is fine, the less apps on my phone, the better.

11. I will assume this same procedure will work for Word and Powerpoint but haven't tried it yet.

So until Apple fixes the issue, there is another way to open a password protected Microsoft Office file on an iOS device running iOS 14.2

I installed the free Microsoft Excel and could open the password protected file. Case is closed 😉!

Right Howie_nl but if you install the Microsoft Office app, you should be able to open Excel, Word and PowerPoint encrypted files. The reason I like this better is that instead of having three Microsoft apps on my phone, I only have the one.  

Same with me, I use MS Office on my Mac but I have a few encrypted Excel files I keep on my iPhone and need to open them on the iPhone when I travel.  Of all the apps/programs I have, the only ones I ever have issues with are the Microsoft ones :-(

I solved my issue....  one encrypted .docx file would open in Dropbox, the other would not.  I opened the "bad" file in Word... saved a copy back to Dropbox.  Went to Dropbox and the new copy was able to open with the password... no errors... I deleted the "bad" one and renamed the copy to the original....  it now opens both on my iPhone & ipad on the Dropbox app.

try it... it may work for you...excel or word...

I didn't use a pc or Mac ... did it on my ipad.  I didn't remove the password either.  Problem solved!

Kritzstew,

  Do you have Microsoft Office running on your iPad?  Or do you have any of the Office stand alone programs like Excel, Word or Powerpoint?

Using stand alone app... but signed into Microsoft office.  I don't think the MS app is an issue though... it seems more like  a sync issue between IOS & Dropbox... my "work around" just "fixed" my problem... as I mentioned... one encrypted file worked fine the other didn't.