Child Item

Site Totals

61432 Questions Answered 270 Categories

Encrypted SD card on GalaxyS8 won't decrypt now and says it was encrypted on a different phone

After one of the software updates, my phone now says it cannot decrypt my micro SD card. I don't have any other phone and it wasn't encrypted by another phone. Now it says it was encrypted by a different phone and I can't access any of the files. I tried shutting down and taking out the SD card and putting it back in and restarting, also tried rebooting several times, no luck. Any suggestions??

Comments

bearone21

did you use the card on another phone before the s8??

bunniej

A year ago I upgraded, but I decrypted the SD card, moved it to the new current phone, and then encrypted again. It worked for a year with no issues and now it suddenly says it cannot decrypt it.

bearone21

sd cards fail & are cheap to replace!!

bunniej

the files are not replaceable. and the fact that it coincided with a system update might indicate that it's not an sd card failure, but a system or software failure. you're not helpful at all.

Verizon_Support

bunniej, Software updates should improve your experience, not make it worse. I'm sorry that you're having problems with your SD card. How did you encrypt it on your Galaxy S8? I know you said that you don't have another phone, but are you able to plug your phone or card into a computer to try to access your content? If so, what happens when you try?

JoelR_VZW
Follow us on TWITTER @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

bunniej

I went through the settings (cogwheel) > Lock screen and security > Encrypt SD card. When I plug it into my computer, you can see the files, but it says, "We can't open this file" when you try to open any of the items on the SD card.

Verizon_Support

bunniej,

I appreciate the details. Let's dig deeper into this. Have you tried to place the SD card in another phone and verify if you receive the same error message? Can you transfer the files to your computer and erase the SD card?

JuanD_VZW

Follow us on TWITTER @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

bunniej

I tried doing this on a friend's phone and got the same error. When I transfer the files to the computer, they still give the error of "We can't open this file." I don't want to erase and start over as now I cannot trust that another software update won't just do the same thing in the future. And there have been numerous updates in the meantime.

arigfb

I am facing the similar issue on my Galaxy S8. I just had it encrypted a week ago and updated the phone for a pending update and now when I try to use the SD card, it says some other device was used to encrypt the SD card. I guess I did nothing wrong while encrypting the SD card as followed the guide here https://www.thetechminute.com/encrypt-android-phones-external-sd-card/ . I have had so many important photos without a backup on my SD card and it seems everything is gone now. Did you ever figure a way out?

Verizon_Support

arigfb,

We definitely know how important it is to be able to access your precious memories indeed. We are concerned to learn that you are having this issue with your SD card, but we will look into this matter closer for you to find out what is happening since the update. Does the SD card work when connecting it directly to the computer? What software are you currently running on your S8?

Candice_VZW
Follow us on TWITTER @VZWSupport
If my response answered your question please click the _Correct Answer_ button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

jrh4054

You could have backed your pics to any number of places and avoided the problem you have now. After reading the information in the link you provided, I wonder why anyone would encrypt a card. You can't use it in another phone. A big part of the reason I have a card is to able to use it in an upgrade phone, once I decide which one I want.

miansull15

I've encountered the same issue. Has a solution been found?

[Deleted User]

Due to the age of this thread, it will be locked in order to keep discussions current. If you have the same or a similar question/issue we invite you to start a new thread on the topic.

Child Item