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

# decrypt

> Decrypt an encrypted ScreenJSON document.

```
screenjson decrypt -i <input.json> -o <output.json> --key <secret>
```

Reverses a previous `screenjson encrypt` pass.

## Flags

| Flag                     | Default                   | Description                                 |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| `-i` · `--input <path>`  | —                         | Encrypted ScreenJSON file. **Required.**    |
| `-o` · `--output <path>` | —                         | Decrypted output path. **Required.**        |
| `--key <secret>`         | `$SCREENJSON_ENCRYPT_KEY` | Shared secret used to encrypt the document. |

## Examples

```bash theme={null}
# Explicit key
screenjson decrypt -i cipher.json -o plain.json --key "AtLeast10Chars!"

# Key from environment
export SCREENJSON_ENCRYPT_KEY="AtLeast10Chars!"
screenjson decrypt -i cipher.json -o plain.json

# Decrypt on the way out to a screenplay format
screenjson export -i cipher.json -f fdx --decrypt "AtLeast10Chars!" -o script.fdx
```

## Errors

A wrong key fails with a clear error rather than silently producing junk output. The operation is strict: partial decrypts are not emitted.

| Error                            | Meaning                                        |
| -------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| `Error: decryption key required` | No `--key` and `SCREENJSON_ENCRYPT_KEY` unset. |
| `Error decrypting: ...`          | Key mismatch or document not encrypted.        |