BoxCryptor for Android allows read access to your encrypted data and is available for free in the Android Market! Now you can have all your sensitive and encrypted files with you anywhere and anytime you want!
1. Connect with Dropbox
In order to use BoxCryptor for Android, you have to connect it with your Dropbox and choose the source folder with your encrypted files. Click the “Connect with Dropbox” button at the main screen and enter your Dropbox account information.
Important: These credentials are never stored (not even locally on the device) and never sent anywhere else except to the Dropbox server in order to get an authentication token which is then stored on the device.
2. Select your source folder
Browse to the source folder in your Dropbox which contains the encrypted files (e.g. DropboxBoxCryptor). BoxCryptor for Android automatically detects if a folder is a valid source folder and then asks you for the password which was used to encrypt the files. When you successfully selected your source folder, the password is stored on your device and the next time you open BoxCryptor for Android directly opens your encrypted folder.
3. Browse and view your encrypted files
You can now browse and view your encrypted files just like you know it from the native Dropbox App. When you open a file by tapping it, BoxCryptor for Android downloads the encrypted file, decrypts it on your device and opens it with the appropriate application on your device. Available actions in the menu are:
- Refresh: Refresh the current view
- Preferences: Opens the preferences menu (see below)
- Exit: Exits the BoxCryptor app
4. Preferences and App unlock
In the preferences menu you can manage the settings of BoxCryptor for Android, e.g. unlink from your Dropbox account or choose a different source folder. You can also enable or dislable the App Unlock feature. If you have App Unlock enabled, every time you open the BoxCryptor app, you have to enter a numeric PIN in order to unlock the app. Available preferences are:
- Unlink device from Dropbox: The stored Dropbox authentication token will be deleted and BoxCryptor for Android will no longer be linked to your Dropbox account.
- Change source folder: If you have multiple encrypted source folders in your Dropbox, this menu item lets you change the source folder
- Clear stored password: Deletes the stored password for the current source folder. At the next start of BoxCryptor for Android, you have to enter the password again.
- App Unlock: Require a numeric PIN to unlock app every time it is opened.
Sounds good, but how does the ENCRYPTION work?
The Unlimited version of BoxCryptor for Android is supposed to allow you read and write access to your encrypted data. To me this means I would be able to open an encrypted file, edit it and then save it back into encrypted format. Your blog post seems to talk only about ‘view your encrypted files’ – is that all? Can I actually use the BoxCryptor for Android Unlimited version to edit and save data from the Android device? I have an Android phone as well as an Android Tablet and I want to use editing feature on my Android Tablet – would it be possible?
Hi,this blog post was written before the Unlimited version was available and needs some updating. Of course, you can download, edit and upload a file using BoxCryptor for Android Unlimited. The only drawback right now is, that the app does not have any kind of "automatic change detection", so you have to manually upload a file once you finished editing it. By default, BoxCryptor stores the plaintext files in its cache folder (/sdcard/Android/com.boxcryptor.android/cache/plain) and deletes them on app exit. If you edited a file which you opened in BoxCryptor, you could then upload the changed version from the cache folder. Re-uploading an edited file is a bit complicated right now, but we’re working on a feature to detect if you edited a downloaded file and to automatically uploading the changed version.–Robert
Excuse me but the process you are explaining there is quite cumbersome and in effect kills the whole advantage of having the Unlimited BoxCryptor for Android.You are saying that plain text file gets deleted when we exit from the app – this means the changes that I make would get lost unless I manually upload the file from the other app which I use to edit the file – in other words I have to be very careful when I edit the file and follow some steps (as yet undefined) very carefully to retain the changes.If it helps, here is some additional bit of info – I have rooted my Android Tablet (on which I want to run your App) – does that make it any easier to implement this feature?
I agree that the process of editing a file is too complicated right now. The focus of the current BoxCryptor for Android version is on viewing and adding files, not editing. But I can assure you that this is one of our top priorities for the future development of BoxCryptor for Android and we’re doing our best to improve the editing of files as soon as possible.PS: Another workaround could be to open the file in BoxCryptor, copy the plaintext file from the cache folder to another location, edit it there and upload the changed file.
I found this thread after paying $6 for the app. I assumed that paying the $6 meant there would not be workarounds for editing a file in BoxCryptor. Will future versions which include the expected functionality be free for paid owners of the app?
Hi Michael,yes, an improved editing functionality is definitely free for Unlimited users!–Robert
Hi I am using BoxCryptor with pc and smartphone. On the pc I have a virtual drive and have put excel, word and a test document in it. On my smartphone I can see the files, but can not edit it. I use the free version. Should the full version support writing? There is nothing written in the descriüption about it. If there is no writing support, I do not know why to use the product at all??
Hi Patrick, the free version has read access only. The full version unlocks all features (including write access). So you need the full version of BoxCryptor for Android to edit your files.Best regards, Andrea
…would be great if there is a ONE-CLICK solution to access an encrypted cloud text file, open it automatically on the smart phone text editor, search and change this file and encrypt and upload it back to the cloud. BR
Just to clarify: a real "edit-function" as mentioned by Rainer is not yet available. BoxCryptor for Android Unlimited gives you write access so you can re-upload an edited version. But we are working on this issue.
can anyone explain how to use this app ?