SQLCipher for Android provides a library replacement for android.database.sqlite on the Android platform for use on SQLCipher databases. This library is based on the upstream Android Bindings project and aims to be a long-term replacement for the original SQLCipher for Android library.

SQLCipher for Android supports Android API 21 and up on armeabi-v7a, x86, x86_64, and arm64_v8a architectures.

We welcome contributions, to contribute to SQLCipher for Android, a contributor agreement needs to be submitted. All submissions should be based on the master branch.

Add a local reference to the local library and dependency:

implementation files('libs/sqlcipher-android-4.5.6-release.aar')
implementation 'androidx.sqlite:sqlite:2.2.0'

or source a Community edition build from Maven Central:

implementation 'net.zetetic:sqlcipher-android:4.5.6@aar'
implementation 'androidx.sqlite:sqlite:2.2.0'

import net.zetetic.database.sqlcipher.SQLiteDatabase;

System.loadLibrary("sqlcipher");
SQLiteDatabase database = SQLiteDatabase.openOrCreateDatabase(databaseFile, password, null, null, null);

To perform operations on the database instance immediately before or after the keying operation is performed, provide a SQLiteDatabaseHook instance when creating your database connection:

SQLiteDatabaseHook hook = new SQLiteDatabaseHook() {
      public void preKey(SQLiteConnection connection) { }
      public void postKey(SQLiteConnection connection) { }
    };

There are two main options for using SQLCipher for Android within an Application:

1. Using the SQLCipher for Android classes
2. Using SQLCipher for Android in conjunction with the Android Room API

In both cases, prior to using any portion of the SQLCipher for Android library, the native SQLCipher core library must be loaded into the running application process. The SQLCipher core library is bundled within the AAR of SQLCipher for Android, however, the developer must load this library explicitly. An example below:

System.loadLibrary("sqlcipher");

SQLCipher for Android provides two classes for opening and access database files. The SQLiteDatabase provides static methods for opening/creating database files and general data access. Additionally, applications may choose to subclass the SQLiteOpenHelper class which provides mechanisms for performing database migrations, as well as general data access.

SQLCipher for Android may also integrate with the Room API via the SupportOpenHelperFactory, an example is given below:

System.loadLibrary("sqlcipher");
String password = "Password1!";
File databaseFile = context.getDatabasePath("demo.db");
SupportOpenHelperFactory factory = new SupportOpenHelperFactory("password.getBytes(StandardCharsets.UTF_8));
db = Room.databaseBuilder(context, AppDatabase.class, databaseFile.getAbsolutePath())
        .openHelperFactory(factory).build();

Currently, SQLCipher for Android uses NDK version "25.2.9519653".

This repository is not batteries-included. Specifically, you will need to build libcrypto.a, the static library from OpenSSL using the NDK for the supported platforms, and bundle the top-level include folder from OpenSSL. Additionally, you will need to build a SQLCipher amalgamation. These files will need to be placed in the following locations:

<project-root>/sqlcipher/src/main/jni/sqlcipher/android-libs/armeabi-v7a/libcrypto.a
<project-root>/sqlcipher/src/main/jni/sqlcipher/android-libs/x86/libcrypto.a
<project-root>/sqlcipher/src/main/jni/sqlcipher/android-libs/x86_64/libcrypto.a
<project-root>/sqlcipher/src/main/jni/sqlcipher/android-libs/arm64_v8a/libcrypto.a
<project-root>/sqlcipher/src/main/jni/sqlcipher/android-libs/include/
<project-root>/sqlcipher/src/main/jni/sqlcipher/sqlite3.c
<project-root>/sqlcipher/src/main/jni/sqlcipher/sqlite3.h

To build the AAR package, either build directly within Android Studio, or from the command line:

./gradlew assembleRelease