file is encrypted or is not a database (Exception net.sqlcipher.database.SQLiteException)

Question

I'm trying to use sqlcipher lib to encrypt my database from already existing database but while accessing the old database(i.e opening the db) gives this exception:

 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687): FATAL EXCEPTION: main
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687): java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to start activity ComponentInfo{net.sqlcipher/example.SQLDemoActivity}: net.sqlcipher.database.SQLiteException: file is encrypted or is not a database
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2184)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at android.app.ActivityThread.handleLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2211)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at android.app.ActivityThread.access$600(ActivityThread.java:149)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:1300)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:99)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:153)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:4987)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:511)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:821)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:584)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687): Caused by: net.sqlcipher.database.SQLiteException: file is encrypted or is not a database
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at net.sqlcipher.database.SQLiteDatabase.native_setLocale(Native Method)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at net.sqlcipher.database.SQLiteDatabase.setLocale(SQLiteDatabase.java:2102)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at net.sqlcipher.database.SQLiteDatabase.<init>(SQLiteDatabase.java:1968)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at net.sqlcipher.database.SQLiteDatabase.openDatabase(SQLiteDatabase.java:901)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at net.sqlcipher.database.SQLiteDatabase.openOrCreateDatabase(SQLiteDatabase.java:944)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at net.sqlcipher.database.SQLiteOpenHelper.getWritableDatabase(SQLiteOpenHelper.java:107)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at example.SQLDemoActivity.onCreate(SQLDemoActivity.java:42)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at android.app.Activity.performCreate(Activity.java:5020)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at android.app.Instrumentation.callActivityOnCreate(Instrumentation.java:1080)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   at android.app.ActivityThread.performLaunchActivity(ActivityThread.java:2148)
 02-27 13:12:21.231: E/AndroidRuntime(14687):   ... 11 more

since my old db is not encrypted so what should I set password in that case

I have tried with passing null in password string and also with "" but with no luck

reported issue to https://github.com/sqlcipher/android-database-sqlcipher/issues/124

Answer 1

since my old db is not encrypted so what should i set password in that case

SQLCipher for Android can open an unencrypted database using "" as the password.

i have tried with passing null in password string and also with "" but no luck

Then either:

• You have a bug in your code, or
• The database is already encrypted with another password, or
• The database is corrupted.

Answer 2

1. check if you're using the right import: import net.sqlcipher.database.SQLiteDatabase;

2. load libs on start of the app like this:

SQLiteDatabase.loadLibs(this); //this = activity (usually a SplashScreen or MainActivity)
db = DatabaseHandler.getInstance(this); //if it's singleton (and i suggest making it as such)
db.getReadableDatabase(ConstantsHandler.DATABASE_PASSWORD);
db.close();

3. make sure it's not already encrypted with a password

4. check File permissions:

< uses-permission> android:name="android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>

< uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE"/>