---
title: "Decrypt String"
slug: "decrypt-string"
updated: 2025-12-08T20:19:16Z
published: 2025-12-08T20:19:16Z
canonical: "documentation.decisions.com/decrypt-string"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://documentation.decisions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Decrypt String

| Step Details |
| --- |
| **Introduced in Version** | 9.18.0 |
| **Last Modified in Version** | -- |
| **Location** | PGP |

The **Decrypt String** step takes in a string of encrypted data and, using the associated Private Key and Private Key Password, decrypts the string to make it usable data within a Flow.

### Prerequisites

- This step requires the [PGP module](https://documentation.decisions.com/docs/pgp-module-overview#overview) to be [installed](https://documentation.decisions.com/docs/installing-modules-decisions) before it will be available in the toolbox.
- Users must download [GPG](https://www.gnupg.org/download/) before utilizing this and other PGP steps.

### Considerations

In v9.18, PGP steps were moved to a legacy category, and new steps were added. While the new PGP steps use an updated encryption/decryption approach (based on **AEAD/OCB** **mode**), both categories of steps can be utilized as they have the same functionality.

---

## Properties

#### Inputs

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Data | The data string to be decrypted. | String |
| Private Key Password | The password for the Private Key (from the source of the file). | String |
| Private Key String | Private Key from the source of the file. | String |

#### Outputs

| Property | Description | Data Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DecryptString1_Output | The decrypted string | String |

![](https://cdn.document360.io/6ef8bcc1-6489-4486-9ad1-83acff7e5df0/Images/Documentation/2025-12-08_11h20_58(1).png)

---

## Common Errors

### Private Key Password or Private Key String is Null

#### Exception Message:

```csharp
Exception Stack Trace: DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.ErrorRunningFlowStep: Error running step Decrypt String 1[DecryptString] in flow [Misc Step Tests]: Exception invoking method DecryptString on class PGPSteps
 ---> DecisionsFramework.LoggedException: Exception invoking method DecryptString on class PGPSteps
 ---> System.ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null. (Parameter 's'
 at System.ArgumentNullException.Throw(String paramName
 at System.Text.Encoding.GetBytes(String s
 at Decsisions.PGP.Steps.BouncyCastleProcessor.DecryptString(String data, String privateKeyString, String privateKeyPassword
 at Decsisions.PGP.Steps.PGPSteps.DecryptString(String privateKeyString, String privateKeyPassword, String data
 at InvokeStub_PGPSteps.DecryptString(Object, Object, IntPtr*
 at System.Reflection.MethodInvoker.Invoke(Object obj, IntPtr* args, BindingFlags invokeAttr)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace --- at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.StepImplementations.InvokeMethodStep.Run(StepStartData data
 at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.FlowStep.RunStepInternal(String flowTrackingID, String stepTrackingID, KeyValuePairDataStructure[] stepRunDataValues, AbstractFlowTrackingData trackingData
 at DecisionsFramework.Design.Flow.FlowStep.Start(String flowTrackingID, String stepTrackingID, FlowStateData data, AbstractFlowTrackingData trackingData, RunningStepData currentStepData)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
```

---

## Step Changes

| Description | Version | Date | Developer Task |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| New steps have been added to the PGP Module. Existing steps have been added to the PGP Legacy category in the step toolbox. | [9.18](https://documentation.decisions.com/v99/docs/en/2ebf7a4c-e925-4e8f-9fd4-ff94a14910cc?isPreview=true&versionNumber=1) | December 2025 | [DT-046254] |

Related Information

[Encrypt String](https://documentation.decisions.com/step-library/docs/pgp-encrypt-string) [Decrypt File](https://documentation.decisions.com/step-library/docs/decrypt-file) [PGP Module](https://documentation.decisions.com/docs/pgp-module-overview)