How to Convert Base64String to Byte[]

Question

I am trying to use AES encryption with encryption in one program and decryption in another. I have working code that encrypts the file but I need to extract the key to use in the other program to decrypt.

When I do this:

string key = String.Empty;
byte[] aesKey;
using (var aes = Aes.Create())
{
    aesKey = aes.Key;
    key = Convert.ToBase64String(aes.Key);
}

and use aesKey in my encrypt it works. When I try to convert from Base64 string to Byte[] it doesn't seem to work, It doesn't end up with the same bytes. How do you convert?

string sKey = "LvtZELDrB394hbSOi3SurLWAvC8adNpZiJmQDJHdfJU=";
aesKey = System.Text.Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(sKey);

Answer 1

There is a corresponding From method that you should use.

byte[] aesKey = Convert.FromBase64String(sKey);