Want to turn off Android’s encryption? Here’s how

Encrypting your smartphone or tablet is a great way to add a passive layer of security to your device, something that doesn’t require a lot of work on your end and could actually protect your data if your device is stolen or you’ve somehow managed to become a target of some kind. It’s far from an impenetrable shield in terms of security, but as long as its not getting in your way there’s certainly no harm in having the protection, right? Truth is, sometimes Full Disk Encryption can get in the way. Performance hits, especially when combined with the workload some power users (you know who you are) put on their devices, can be too much to deal with. The good news is it’s pretty easy to turn off encryption on most devices, even the new encryption offered in Android 5.0. In most cases all you really need is 20 minutes near an outlet and some know how. In other cases, most notably the Nexus 6, things get a little stickier.