<p>If you didn't see the error message <code>bad decrypt</code>, and if the garbage you saw had the string <code>org.bitcoin.production</code>, then the decryption worked.  In recent versions of Bitcoin Wallet, as explained in the <a href="https://github.com/schildbach/bitcoin-wallet/blob/master/wallet/README" rel="nofollow noreferrer">README</a>, the wallet backup is no longer encrypted plain text but a custom protobuf format.</p>

<p>You can write the decrypted wallet to a file using the <code>-out</code> option to <code>openssl</code>, which is probably more useful than dumping it on the screen.  However, if you want to read it or extract the keys manually, you'll probably need special tools, which I am not sure if anyone has written.  See also <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/3247/is-there-a-known-way-to-export-my-wallet-private-key-from-the-bitcoin-android?rq=1">Is there a known way to export my wallet private key from the &quot;Bitcoin Android&quot; app (com.bitcoinandroid)?</a>, though it may or may not be current.</p>

<p>If you did see the message <code>bad decrypt</code> then you got the password wrong.  Try other variants.</p>

<p>The intended way to use the encrypted backup file is simply to copy it back onto your phone and restore it into the Bitcoin Wallet app with the "Safety:Restore Wallet" option.  You don't need to manually decrypt it with openssl unless you are trying to do something fancy.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-02T10:58:21.533Z
It appears the new android app doesn't support SSL decryption as answered above/below
Wizard Of Ozzie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-02T13:57:16.923Z
@Aussie: As in my first paragraph, the decryption itself works fine. It's just that the wallet file format is not plain text and is harder to deal with.
Nate Eldredge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-14T11:07:51.367Z
Yeah, I've not been able to decrypt either. Format has changed. I'll look into it
Wizard Of Ozzie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-04-05T14:42:39.227Z
Here's a tool that dumps the protobuf format: https://github.com/lloeki/bitcoinj-wallet-dump
Lloeki
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-16T22:34:36.357Z
2014-07-16T23:09:35.613Z
2017-04-13T12:47:36.707Z
Nate Eldredge
<p>So I dropped my phone in the toilet... Of course I immediately turned it off and went with the rice technique. I realized later that I had coins on my phone on the <a href="https://github.com/schildbach/bitcoin-wallet" rel="nofollow">bitcoin-wallet on android</a> . Luckily, i was able to turn the phone back on after a day and the first thing I attempted on doing was backup my wallet. I used the back up function and was prompted to enter a password to encrypt with. I did. Then I wanted to decrypt the password (to prove in case of emergency that I could). </p>

<pre><code>openssl enc -d -aes-256-cbc -a -in &lt;filename&gt;
</code></pre>

<p>When trying this I'm asked for the password, which I give. Then I'm given a bunch of garbage. 
I have found that I'm using version 3.53  . Thanks in advance for the help. </p>

<bitcoin-wallet-app>
Problems decrypting my bitcoin-wallet on android
user3795309
# Problems decrypting my bitcoin-wallet on android

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-16)

So I dropped my phone in the toilet... Of course I immediately turned it off and went with the rice technique. I realized later that I had coins on my phone on the [bitcoin-wallet on android](https://github.com/schildbach/bitcoin-wallet) . Luckily, i was able to turn the phone back on after a day and the first thing I attempted on doing was backup my wallet. I used the back up function and was prompted to enter a password to encrypt with. I did. Then I wanted to decrypt the password (to prove in case of emergency that I could).

```
openssl enc -d -aes-256-cbc -a -in <filename>

```

When trying this I'm asked for the password, which I give. Then I'm given a bunch of garbage.
I have found that I'm using version 3.53 . Thanks in advance for the help.

**Tags:** bitcoin-wallet-app


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-07-16. Score: 3

If you didn't see the error message `bad decrypt`, and if the garbage you saw had the string `org.bitcoin.production`, then the decryption worked. In recent versions of Bitcoin Wallet, as explained in the [README](https://github.com/schildbach/bitcoin-wallet/blob/master/wallet/README), the wallet backup is no longer encrypted plain text but a custom protobuf format.

You can write the decrypted wallet to a file using the `-out` option to `openssl`, which is probably more useful than dumping it on the screen. However, if you want to read it or extract the keys manually, you'll probably need special tools, which I am not sure if anyone has written. See also [Is there a known way to export my wallet private key from the "Bitcoin Android" app (com.bitcoinandroid)?](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/3247/is-there-a-known-way-to-export-my-wallet-private-key-from-the-bitcoin-android?rq=1), though it may or may not be current.

If you did see the message `bad decrypt` then you got the password wrong. Try other variants.

The intended way to use the encrypted backup file is simply to copy it back onto your phone and restore it into the Bitcoin Wallet app with the "Safety:Restore Wallet" option. You don't need to manually decrypt it with openssl unless you are trying to do something fancy.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: It appears the new android app doesn't support SSL decryption as answered above/below  
> **username_1**: @Aussie: As in my first paragraph, the decryption itself works fine. It's just that the wallet file format is not plain text and is harder to deal with.  
> **username_2**: Yeah, I've not been able to decrypt either. Format has changed. I'll look into it  
> **username_3**: Here's a tool that dumps the protobuf format: https://github.com/username_3/bitcoinj-wallet-dump  

---

