Encrypt / Decrypt Text
Protect private text with a password. Everything runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.
What Does This Encrypt / Decrypt Text Tool Do?
This tool turns any piece of text into a scrambled string that only your password can unlock, and turns that string back into readable text when you need it. You type or paste your text, choose a password, and the tool produces an encrypted result you can copy or save as a .txt file. To get the original back, you switch to Decrypt Text, paste the encrypted result, and enter the same password.
Everything runs inside your browser using the Web Crypto API that modern browsers already include, so your text and password are not sent to a server. It works on text only, which makes it a quick way to protect a private note, a message, or a short snippet before you store it or send it somewhere.
How to Encrypt Text With a Password
- Stay on Encrypt Text. This is the default mode. The two panels on the page are labelled Enter text and Encrypted Output.
- Pick an encryption method. AES-GCM 256 is selected by default and marked Recommended. AES-CBC 256 is there for compatibility needs.
- Enter a password. Use the eye icon to show or hide what you typed. A strength bar underneath rates the password as Weak, Fair, Good or Strong as you type.
- Add your text. Type or paste it into the input box. A live counter above the box shows how many characters you have entered.
- Click Encrypt Text. You can also press Enter while the cursor is in the password field. The result appears in the output box.
- Copy or download the result. Use Copy to put it on your clipboard, or Download .txt to save it as a file. Keep your password somewhere safe, because it cannot be recovered.
How to Decrypt Text
- Switch to Decrypt Text. Click the Decrypt Text button at the top of the tool. The method choice disappears because the tool reads the method from the encrypted text itself.
- Paste the full encrypted text. It should begin with PPENC:v1: and be pasted exactly as it was created. Line breaks and extra spaces are ignored, so text that was wrapped by an email app or editor still works.
- Enter the password. Use the exact password from encryption, including capital letters, spaces and symbols. The eye icon lets you check what you typed.
- Click Decrypt Text. If the password and text are correct, your original message appears under Decrypted Output.
- Copy or save the result. Use Copy or Download .txt, or use Clear and Clear Output to remove everything from the screen when you are done.
Encrypt / Decrypt Text Tool Features
Encrypt and Decrypt in One Place
Switch between the two modes with a single click. Switching clears both text boxes, so leftover text from one mode never carries into the other.
Two AES-256 Methods
Choose AES-GCM 256 for the safest option or AES-CBC 256 when you need it. A short note under the choice explains the difference.
Password Toggle and Strength Bar
Reveal your password to check it for typos. While encrypting, a four level meter gives you instant feedback on how strong it is.
Copy, Download and Clear
Copy the output, save it as a .txt file, or wipe the input and output boxes separately. These buttons stay disabled until there is something to use.
Live Character Counts
Both the input and output panels show a running character count, which is handy when you need to fit the result into a form or message.
Browser Based, No Sign-Up
Nothing is uploaded and no account is needed. The tool needs a secure (HTTPS) page and shows a clear message if your browser cannot provide it.
How Text Encryption Works Here
Strong encryption is more than scrambling letters. This tool follows a standard password-based approach with two stages, and each stage happens on your device.
Turning the Password Into a Key
Your password is combined with a random 16 byte salt and run through 600,000 rounds of PBKDF2 with SHA-256. This produces a 256-bit key and makes guessing passwords by brute force far slower.
Locking the Text
Your text is converted to UTF-8 and encrypted with the key and a fresh random initialisation vector using the AES method you picked. The result is packed together with the settings it needs and written as plain, copy-friendly text.
Because a new random salt and initialisation vector are created every time, encrypting the same text with the same password twice gives two different results. Both decrypt correctly, and the salt, vector and number of rounds travel inside the encrypted text, so the password is the only thing you need to remember.
AES-GCM vs AES-CBC: Which Should You Choose?
Both methods use a 256-bit key, so the difference is in what happens when something goes wrong. When you decrypt, the tool detects which method was used, so you never have to remember it.
| AES-GCM 256 | AES-CBC 256 | |
|---|---|---|
| Label in the tool | Recommended | Compatibility |
| Hides your text | Yes | Yes |
| Detects a changed or tampered text | Yes | No |
| Detects a wrong password | Yes | Not designed to |
| Best for | Almost every use | Cases where you specifically need CBC |
Unless you have a particular reason to use CBC, stay with AES-GCM. It checks the encrypted text as well as protecting it, so a single changed character causes decryption to fail rather than quietly returning damaged content.
Is It Safe to Encrypt Text Online?
Many online encryption pages send your text and key to a server, which defeats the point if the text is private. This tool works differently. The encryption and decryption steps run locally in your browser through the Web Crypto API, and the page does not send your text or password anywhere. You can verify the result yourself, because the same password always unlocks the same encrypted text.
Safety still depends on you. Encryption is only as strong as the password behind it, and a short or common password can be guessed no matter how strong the method is. Use a long, unique password, keep it apart from the encrypted text, and remember that nobody, including this website, can recover it for you.
What the Encrypted Output Looks Like
Every result starts with the same marker followed by a long block of letters, numbers, hyphens and underscores. That block is Base64URL, which is safe to paste into emails, chats, documents and URLs. Here is what each part means.
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| PPENC | Marks the text as having been created by this tool. |
| v1 | The format version, so the text can be read correctly later. |
| Base64URL block | Holds the method, the number of key derivation rounds, the salt, the initialisation vector and the encrypted text. |
| Authentication tag | Added inside AES-GCM results so any change or wrong password is caught during decryption. |
Copy the entire string, including the PPENC:v1: start. If any part is missing, the tool will report that the text is incomplete or damaged.
How to Choose a Strong Password
The password is the only secret protecting your text, so it deserves some care. The strength bar in the tool is a quick guide based on length and character variety, and it does not block weak passwords, so the final decision is yours.
Go Long
Length matters most. The bar rewards passwords of 8, 12 and 16 characters or more, and a long passphrase is easier to remember than a short random string.
Mix It Up
Combine upper and lower case letters with numbers and symbols. If you want something random, our Password Generator can create one for you.
Test It First
Not sure whether your idea is strong enough? Run it through the Password Strength Checker before you rely on it.
Never Reuse a Password
Do not use your email or banking password here. If the same password leaks elsewhere, anything encrypted with it is exposed too.
Common Reasons to Encrypt Text
Sharing Private Messages
Encrypt a message before pasting it into an email or chat, then share the password through a different channel.
Protecting Personal Notes
Keep sensitive notes, recovery hints or reminders inside a normal text file without leaving them readable.
Sending Snippets to Teammates
Pass along a short configuration value or internal detail without exposing it in plain sight in a shared document.
Storing Private Writing
Save a journal entry or draft in cloud storage knowing the stored copy is unreadable without your password.
Why Decryption Fails and How to Fix It
If decryption does not work, the tool shows a short message. This table explains what each one usually means.
| Message | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| It should start with PPENC:v1: | The pasted text is plain text or came from a different tool. | Paste text that was produced by this tool. |
| Incomplete or damaged | Part of the text was cut off or altered while copying. | Copy the full output again, or use the downloaded .txt file. |
| Unable to decrypt | The password is wrong, or the text was changed. | Retype the password carefully and check capital letters, spaces and symbols. |
| Enter the password | The password field is empty. | Type the password used for encryption. |
| Secure browser context required | The page is not on HTTPS or the browser lacks Web Crypto. | Open the page over HTTPS in an up-to-date browser. |
Tips for Using This Tool Well
Store the Password Separately
If the password sits next to the encrypted text, the protection is gone. Use a password manager or another channel.
Copy the Whole String
Select everything in the output box, including the PPENC:v1: start, before you paste it anywhere else.
Need One-Way Instead?
Encryption can be reversed with the password. If you only need a fingerprint of some text, the Hash Generator is the better fit.
Want a Random Secret?
If you need a random value to use as a key or secret, the Token Generator can make one in a click.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I encrypt text with a password online?
Choose Encrypt Text, pick a method, enter a password, type or paste your text, and click Encrypt Text. The encrypted result appears in the output box, ready to copy or download as a .txt file.
How do I decrypt text I encrypted here?
Switch to Decrypt Text, paste the full encrypted text beginning with PPENC:v1:, enter the same password, and click Decrypt Text. Your original text appears in the output box.
Is this Encrypt / Decrypt Text tool safe?
Encryption and decryption happen inside your browser using the Web Crypto API, and the text is protected with AES-256 and a key derived from your password. How safe the result is depends mostly on how strong and private your password is.
Is my text or password sent to a server?
No. The tool does the work locally in your browser, so your text and password stay on your device.
Which encryption does this tool use?
It uses AES with a 256-bit key. The key is derived from your password with PBKDF2 and SHA-256 over 600,000 rounds, using a random salt. You can choose AES-GCM or AES-CBC.
Should I choose AES-GCM or AES-CBC?
Choose AES-GCM unless you have a specific reason not to. It also detects a wrong password or changed text, while AES-CBC hides your text but cannot detect tampering.
What happens if I forget the password?
The text cannot be recovered. The password is never stored anywhere and there is no reset option, so keep it somewhere safe.
Why is the output different each time I encrypt the same text?
A new random salt and initialisation vector are generated for every encryption. Each result is different, but each one decrypts correctly with the same password.
Can I decrypt text that was encrypted with another tool?
Only text produced by this tool can be decrypted here. It must begin with PPENC:v1:, because the tool relies on its own format to read the settings inside the text.
Why does it say Unable to decrypt?
This message appears when the password is wrong or the encrypted text has been changed. Retype the password, check capital letters and spaces, and paste the complete text again.
Does it support emojis and other languages?
Yes. Text is handled as UTF-8, so non-English characters and emojis are encrypted and restored correctly.
Can I encrypt files with this tool?
No. It is built for text only. You can type or paste your content into the input box.
Is there a limit on text length?
The tool does not set a character limit of its own. Very large amounts of text depend on how much your browser and device can handle.
Does the password strength bar stop me from using a weak password?
No. The bar is only a guide shown while encrypting. You can still proceed with any password, so it is worth choosing a strong one.
Does this tool work on mobile devices?
Yes. The layout adapts to phones and tablets, and the buttons are sized for touch.