encrypted vs. unencrypted

Ed Briggs

Well-known member
May 14, 2013
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Has anyone disabled encryption, and if so, did you notice any speed up? I really don't know why Google didn't make this optional on first boot up. I still haven't received my N6 yet, but can't wait to get it and start playing around. Since Nexus devices are so easy to hack, I'll probably unlock bootloader/root/unencrypt/custom recovery/rom.
 
You will get slightly better I/O but for the effort I don't think it's worth it... but then again I don't run high end games on my phone. Unless you're running a game that has a lot of disk access or you're trying to get a high score in your benchmark program, just leave it be is my advice.

Sent from my Benzo'd Google N6 on VZ
 
just leave it be is my advice.

Sent from my Benzo'd Google N6 on VZ
After watching a couple youtube vids where they compare side by side, I decided I'm going to unencrypt it. It may not be a huge difference, but any gain in speed is good. Plus, I have no reason to have an encrypted phone. If I'm going to take the time to unlock the bootloader, root, custom recovery and rom, I may as well unencrypt it too. I just wanted to see if anyone has done it and what they thought.

Btw, it's not too much effort with the nexus root and toolkit. Pretty much click and go. It's not like I have to worry about wiping my phone and starting over because I'm going to do it as soon as I get it.
 
Before 5.1, there was a noticeable performance difference. But they must have optimized it quite a bit - with 5.1, the performance of the encrypted N6 is pretty good!
No harm in decrypting it of course
 
No it is no effort at all..... until you accidentally load the wrong kernel and it gets encrypted anyway then you get to start all over

So has long as you're paying attention you're fine but I don't see where it's worth my effort.

Sent from my Benzo'd Google N6 on VZ
 
Before 5.1, there was a noticeable performance difference. But they must have optimized it quite a bit - with 5.1, the performance of the encrypted N6 is pretty good!
No harm in decrypting it of course

Yep, big changes to optimization of encryption with the 5.1 update.

Not for it, but for all of Android Security, I recommend to keep it on :)
 
I like having the encryption and my phone is very fast so I'm just leaving it alone.

Posted via the Android Central App
 
No it is no effort at all..... until you accidentally load the wrong kernel and it gets encrypted anyway then you get to start all over
Thankfully I'm smart enough to do my homework and know ahead of time if that's the case. All rom devs will specifically say if their rom/kernel re-enables encryption. I've been doing a lot of reading on XDA about these kind of things and deciding which roms I want to try. Thanks for the input fellas.
 
I don't have a problem with the encryption. Just don't do what I did! I did a FDR and forgot my password! You're doomed after that...for 72 hours. Once you reset your password, and wait 3 days...you can get back into the phone. Sucked the joy out of my 3 day easter weekend!

But encryption does truly work! Lol

Posted via the Android Central App
 
Encryption also uses more power on every read/write. Does anyone have a feel for how much difference this makes to battery life?

I've had an N6 for about ten days and am enjoying it -- except for the placement of the buttons which I'm still not used to.
 
I don't have a problem with the encryption. Just don't do what I did! I did a FDR and forgot my password! You're doomed after that...for 72 hours. Once you reset your password, and wait 3 days...you can get back into the phone. Sucked the joy out of my 3 day easter weekend!

But encryption does truly work! Lol

Posted via the Android Central App

Not worried about forgetting my password lol. I've had the same one on my last 4 phones. But even if I did, I would just install a factory image and start over. I'm not gonna wait 3 days.
 
Has anyone disabled encryption, and if so, did you notice any speed up? I really don't know why Google didn't make this optional on first boot up. I still haven't received my N6 yet, but can't wait to get it and start playing around. Since Nexus devices are so easy to hack, I'll probably unlock bootloader/root/unencrypt/custom recovery/rom.




I just did it today.... NOTICEABLY faster... Boots up in half the time... Apps open up faster.. Lags a lot less... Doesn't do the infamous "hang" just faster all around don't everything
 
After watching a couple youtube vids where they compare side by side, I decided I'm going to unencrypt it. It may not be a huge difference, but any gain in speed is good.

Where the videos pre 5.1? Because some of the major changes were improved read and write speed with decryption, so even the small gain in the video may no longer be true. That said, if you're rooted and ROMing already it's not much effort to give it a shot just for kicks.
 
Where the videos pre 5.1? Because some of the major changes were improved read and write speed with decryption, so even the small gain in the video may no longer be true. That said, if you're rooted and ROMing already it's not much effort to give it a shot just for kicks.

Everything is good. I wrote that before I got the phone. Was just asking for opinions, nothing more. BTW, I'm now running a custom rom with no encryption and it's near perfect. Fast as [language] and stable. I'm happy.
 
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I read over at xda, and also another site, that with 5.1 you aren't going to notice a difference.
They said the only place you'll notice it is with huge read and writes. But day to day usage will be barely noticeable if even noticed.
There's also posts there of ones that went back to encrypted after 5.1, and said they didn't notice any gains being unencrypted.

Posted w/ Nexus6 via the AC App
 
I read over at xda, and also another site, that with 5.1 you aren't going to notice a difference.
They said the only place you'll notice it is with huge read and writes. But day to day usage will be barely noticeable if even noticed.
There's also posts there of ones that went back to encrypted after 5.1, and said they didn't notice any gains being unencrypted.

Posted w/ Nexus6 via the AC App
You know, I'll be honest, I just got out Nexus 6 this past Saturday and I've been using it for about a week or so not only is the phone blazingly fast, and yes my phone is encrypted and I'm coming from a second generation Moto X. I don't, noticed any slowdowns whatsoever or any hesitations, screen transitions, or anything! But I'll let her know, I've never had a nexus phone, I've always wanted one, getting used to the size of the screen, but loving this phone of course!

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
 
I haven't really noticed much of a difference compared to my N5, other than boot time. Overall, I left the encryption on on my N6.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
 
I haven't really noticed much of a difference compared to my N5, other than boot time. Overall, I left the encryption on on my N6.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Me too, me too. I left in kitchen turned on my Nexus 6 performance is great. Love everything about the phone.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk