@@ -2862,28 +2862,42 @@ impl ConfigField for ConfigFileEncryptionProperties {
 }
 
 #[cfg(feature = "parquet_encryption")]
-impl From<ConfigFileEncryptionProperties> for FileEncryptionProperties {
-    fn from(val: ConfigFileEncryptionProperties) -> Self {
+impl TryFrom<ConfigFileEncryptionProperties> for FileEncryptionProperties {
+    type Error = DataFusionError;
+
+    fn try_from(val: ConfigFileEncryptionProperties) -> Result<Self> {
         let mut fep = FileEncryptionProperties::builder(
-            hex::decode(val.footer_key_as_hex).unwrap(),
+            hex::decode(val.footer_key_as_hex)
+            .map_err(|e| {
+                DataFusionError::Configuration(format!("Unable to decode hex footer key from ConfigFileEncryptionProperties: {e}"))
+            })?,
         )
         .with_plaintext_footer(!val.encrypt_footer)
         .with_aad_prefix_storage(val.store_aad_prefix);
 
         if !val.footer_key_metadata_as_hex.is_empty() {
             fep = fep.with_footer_key_metadata(
                 hex::decode(&val.footer_key_metadata_as_hex)
-                    .expect("Invalid footer key metadata"),
+                    .map_err(|e| {
+                        DataFusionError::Configuration(format!("Unable to decode hex footer key metadata from ConfigFileEncryptionProperties: {e}"))
+                    })?,
             );
         }
 
         for (column_name, encryption_props) in val.column_encryption_properties.iter() {
             let encryption_key = hex::decode(&encryption_props.column_key_as_hex)
-                .expect("Invalid column encryption key");
+                .map_err(|e| {
+                    DataFusionError::Configuration(format!("Unable to decode hex encryption key for column {column_name}: {e}"))
+                })?;
             let key_metadata = encryption_props
                 .column_metadata_as_hex
                 .as_ref()
-                .map(|x| hex::decode(x).expect("Invalid column metadata"));
+                .map(hex::decode)
+                .transpose()
+                .map_err(|e| {
+                    DataFusionError::Configuration(format!("Unable to decode hex column metadata for column {column_name}: {e}"))
+                })?;
+
             match key_metadata {
                 Some(key_metadata) => {
                     fep = fep.with_column_key_and_metadata(
@@ -2899,11 +2913,18 @@ impl From<ConfigFileEncryptionProperties> for FileEncryptionProperties {
         }
 
         if !val.aad_prefix_as_hex.is_empty() {
-            let aad_prefix: Vec<u8> =
-                hex::decode(&val.aad_prefix_as_hex).expect("Invalid AAD prefix");
+            let aad_prefix: Vec<u8> = hex::decode(&val.aad_prefix_as_hex).map_err(|e| {
+                DataFusionError::Configuration(format!(
+                    "Unable to decode hex AAD prefix from ConfigFileEncryptionProperties: {e}"
+                ))
+            })?;
             fep = fep.with_aad_prefix(aad_prefix);
         }
-        Arc::unwrap_or_clone(fep.build().unwrap())
+        Ok(Arc::unwrap_or_clone(fep.build().map_err(|e| {
+            DataFusionError::Configuration(format!(
+                "Could not build FileEncryptionProperties: {e}"
+            ))
+        })?))
     }
 }
 
@@ -3019,36 +3040,54 @@ impl ConfigField for ConfigFileDecryptionProperties {
 }
 
 #[cfg(feature = "parquet_encryption")]
-impl From<ConfigFileDecryptionProperties> for FileDecryptionProperties {
-    fn from(val: ConfigFileDecryptionProperties) -> Self {
+impl TryFrom<ConfigFileDecryptionProperties> for FileDecryptionProperties {
+    type Error = DataFusionError;
+
+    fn try_from(val: ConfigFileDecryptionProperties) -> Result<Self> {
         let mut column_names: Vec<&str> = Vec::new();
         let mut column_keys: Vec<Vec<u8>> = Vec::new();
 
         for (col_name, decryption_properties) in val.column_decryption_properties.iter() {
+            let column_key = hex::decode(&decryption_properties.column_key_as_hex).map_err(|e| {
+                        DataFusionError::Configuration(format!
+                            ("Could not decode hex column key from ConfigFileDecryptionProperties for column name {col_name}: {e}."))
+                    })?;
             column_names.push(col_name.as_str());
-            column_keys.push(
-                hex::decode(&decryption_properties.column_key_as_hex)
-                    .expect("Invalid column decryption key"),
-            );
+            column_keys.push(column_key);
         }
 
-        let mut fep = FileDecryptionProperties::builder(
-            hex::decode(val.footer_key_as_hex).expect("Invalid footer key"),
-        )
-        .with_column_keys(column_names, column_keys)
-        .unwrap();
+        let footer_key = hex::decode(val.footer_key_as_hex).map_err(|e| {
+            DataFusionError::Configuration(format!(
+                "Could not decode hex footer key from ConfigFileDecryptionProperties: {e}."
+            ))
+        })?;
+
+        let mut fep = FileDecryptionProperties::builder(footer_key)
+            .with_column_keys(column_names, column_keys)
+            .map_err(|e| {
+                DataFusionError::Configuration(format!(
+                    "Could not set column keys on FileDecryptionPropertiesBuilder: {e}."
+                ))
+            })?;
 
         if !val.footer_signature_verification {
             fep = fep.disable_footer_signature_verification();
         }
 
         if !val.aad_prefix_as_hex.is_empty() {
-            let aad_prefix =
-                hex::decode(&val.aad_prefix_as_hex).expect("Invalid AAD prefix");
+            let aad_prefix = hex::decode(&val.aad_prefix_as_hex).map_err(|e| {
+                DataFusionError::Configuration(format!(
+                    "Could not decode hex AAD prefix from ConfigFileDecryptionProperties: {e}."
+                ))
+            })?;
             fep = fep.with_aad_prefix(aad_prefix);
         }
 
-        Arc::unwrap_or_clone(fep.build().unwrap())
+        Ok(Arc::unwrap_or_clone(fep.build().map_err(|e| {
+            DataFusionError::Configuration(format!(
+                "Could not build FileDecryptionProperties: {e}."
+            ))
+        })?))
     }
 }
 
@@ -3586,13 +3625,13 @@ mod tests {
         let config_encrypt =
             ConfigFileEncryptionProperties::from(&file_encryption_properties);
         let encryption_properties_built =
-            Arc::new(FileEncryptionProperties::from(config_encrypt.clone()));
+            Arc::new(FileEncryptionProperties::try_from(config_encrypt.clone()).unwrap());
         assert_eq!(file_encryption_properties, encryption_properties_built);
 
         let config_decrypt =
             ConfigFileDecryptionProperties::try_from(&decryption_properties).unwrap();
         let decryption_properties_built =
-            Arc::new(FileDecryptionProperties::from(config_decrypt.clone()));
+            Arc::new(FileDecryptionProperties::try_from(config_decrypt.clone()).unwrap());
         assert_eq!(decryption_properties, decryption_properties_built);
 
         ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -3678,6 +3717,124 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[cfg(feature = "parquet_encryption")]
+    #[test]
+    fn parquet_encryption_invalid_hex_errors_encryption() {
+        use crate::config::ColumnEncryptionProperties;
+        use crate::config::ConfigFileEncryptionProperties;
+        use parquet::encryption::encrypt::FileEncryptionProperties;
+        use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+        let valid_footer_key_as_hex = hex::encode(b"0123456789012345");
+
+        let mut enc = ConfigFileEncryptionProperties {
+            encrypt_footer: true,
+            footer_key_as_hex: valid_footer_key_as_hex.clone(),
+            footer_key_metadata_as_hex: String::new(),
+            column_encryption_properties: HashMap::new(),
+            aad_prefix_as_hex: String::new(),
+            store_aad_prefix: false,
+        };
+
+        // Encryption: invalid footer key hex
+        enc.footer_key_as_hex = "not_hex".to_string();
+        let err = FileEncryptionProperties::try_from(enc.clone())
+            .unwrap_err()
+            .to_string();
+        assert!(err.contains("Unable to decode hex footer key"));
+        enc.footer_key_as_hex = valid_footer_key_as_hex.clone();
+
+        // Encryption: invalid footer key metadata hex
+        enc.footer_key_metadata_as_hex = "zz".to_string();
+        let err = FileEncryptionProperties::try_from(enc.clone())
+            .unwrap_err()
+            .to_string();
+        assert!(err.contains("Unable to decode hex footer key metadata"));
+        enc.footer_key_metadata_as_hex = String::new();
+
+        // Encryption: invalid column key hex
+        enc.column_encryption_properties.insert(
+            "col1".to_string(),
+            ColumnEncryptionProperties {
+                column_key_as_hex: "bad".to_string(),
+                column_metadata_as_hex: None,
+            },
+        );
+        let err = FileEncryptionProperties::try_from(enc.clone())
+            .unwrap_err()
+            .to_string();
+        assert!(err.contains("Unable to decode hex encryption key for column col1"));
+        enc.column_encryption_properties.clear();
+
+        // Encryption: invalid column metadata hex
+        enc.column_encryption_properties.insert(
+            "col1".to_string(),
+            ColumnEncryptionProperties {
+                column_key_as_hex: hex::encode(b"1234567890123450"),
+                column_metadata_as_hex: Some("zz".to_string()),
+            },
+        );
+        let err = FileEncryptionProperties::try_from(enc.clone())
+            .unwrap_err()
+            .to_string();
+        assert!(err.contains("Unable to decode hex column metadata for column col1"));
+        enc.column_encryption_properties.clear();
+
+        // Encryption: invalid AAD prefix hex
+        enc.aad_prefix_as_hex = "zz".to_string();
+        let err = FileEncryptionProperties::try_from(enc.clone())
+            .unwrap_err()
+            .to_string();
+        assert!(err.contains("Unable to decode hex AAD prefix"));
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(feature = "parquet_encryption")]
+    #[test]
+    fn parquet_encryption_invalid_hex_errors_decryption() {
+        use crate::config::ColumnDecryptionProperties;
+        use crate::config::ConfigFileDecryptionProperties;
+        use parquet::encryption::decrypt::FileDecryptionProperties;
+        use std::collections::HashMap;
+
+        let valid_footer_key_as_hex = hex::encode(b"0123456789012345");
+
+        let mut dec = ConfigFileDecryptionProperties {
+            footer_key_as_hex: valid_footer_key_as_hex.clone(),
+            column_decryption_properties: HashMap::new(),
+            aad_prefix_as_hex: String::new(),
+            footer_signature_verification: true,
+        };
+
+        // Decryption: invalid column key hex
+        dec.column_decryption_properties.insert(
+            "col1".to_string(),
+            ColumnDecryptionProperties {
+                column_key_as_hex: "bad".to_string(),
+            },
+        );
+        let err = FileDecryptionProperties::try_from(dec.clone())
+            .unwrap_err()
+            .to_string();
+        assert!(err.contains("Could not decode hex column key"));
+        assert!(err.contains("col1"));
+        dec.column_decryption_properties.clear();
+
+        // Decryption: invalid footer key hex
+        dec.footer_key_as_hex = "bad".to_string();
+        let err = FileDecryptionProperties::try_from(dec.clone())
+            .unwrap_err()
+            .to_string();
+        assert!(err.contains("Could not decode hex footer key"));
+        dec.footer_key_as_hex = valid_footer_key_as_hex;
+
+        // Decryption: invalid AAD prefix hex
+        dec.aad_prefix_as_hex = "zz".to_string();
+        let err = FileDecryptionProperties::try_from(dec.clone())
+            .unwrap_err()
+            .to_string();
+        assert!(err.contains("Could not decode hex AAD prefix"));
+    }
+
     #[cfg(feature = "parquet_encryption")]
     #[test]
     fn parquet_encryption_factory_config() {
 
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ async fn get_file_decryption_properties(
     file_path: &Path,
 ) -> Result<Option<Arc<FileDecryptionProperties>>> {
     Ok(match &options.crypto.file_decryption {
-        Some(cfd) => Some(Arc::new(FileDecryptionProperties::from(cfd.clone()))),
+        Some(cfd) => Some(Arc::new(FileDecryptionProperties::try_from(cfd.clone())?)),
         None => match &options.crypto.factory_id {
             Some(factory_id) => {
                 let factory =
@@ -1284,7 +1284,7 @@ async fn set_writer_encryption_properties(
     if let Some(file_encryption_properties) = parquet_opts.crypto.file_encryption {
         // Encryption properties have been specified directly
         return Ok(builder.with_file_encryption_properties(Arc::new(
-            FileEncryptionProperties::from(file_encryption_properties),
+            FileEncryptionProperties::try_from(file_encryption_properties)?,
         )));
     } else if let Some(encryption_factory_id) = &parquet_opts.crypto.factory_id.as_ref() {
         // Encryption properties will be generated by an encryption factory
 
@@ -543,7 +543,8 @@ impl FileSource for ParquetSource {
             .crypto
             .file_decryption
             .clone()
-            .map(FileDecryptionProperties::from)
+            .map(FileDecryptionProperties::try_from)
+            .transpose()?
             .map(Arc::new);
 
         let coerce_int96 = self
 
@@ -447,6 +447,48 @@ let config_decryption_properties = ConfigFileDecryptionProperties::try_from(&dec
 See [#21602](https://github.com/apache/datafusion/issues/21602) and
 [PR #21603](https://github.com/apache/datafusion/pull/21603) for details.
 
+### Conversion from `ConfigFileEncryptionProperties` / `ConfigFileDecryptionProperties` is now fallible
+
+Previously, `datafusion_common::config::ConfigFileEncryptionProperties` and
+`datafusion_common::config::ConfigFileDecryptionProperties` implemented infallible
+conversions into Parquet's encryption/decryption types (via `From` / `Into`).
+These conversions may need to decode hex-encoded keys and other configuration values, which can fail.
+
+They now use `TryFrom` / `TryInto` and return a `Result`:
+
+- `impl TryFrom<ConfigFileEncryptionProperties> for parquet::encryption::encrypt::FileEncryptionProperties`
+- `impl TryFrom<ConfigFileDecryptionProperties> for parquet::encryption::decrypt::FileDecryptionProperties`
+
+**Migration guide:**
+
+Replace `from()` / `into()` with `try_from()` / `try_into()` and handle the resulting `Result`.
+
+**Before:**
+
+```rust,ignore
+let file_encryption_properties: FileEncryptionProperties = config_encryption_properties.into();
+// or
+let file_decryption_properties = FileDecryptionProperties::from(config_decryption_properties);
+```
+
+(
+where `config_encryption_properties` is a `ConfigFileEncryptionProperties` and
+`config_decryption_properties` is a `ConfigFileDecryptionProperties`
+)
+
+**After:**
+
+```rust,ignore
+let file_encryption_properties: FileEncryptionProperties =
+    config_encryption_properties.try_into()?;
+// or
+let file_decryption_properties =
+    FileDecryptionProperties::try_from(config_decryption_properties)?;
+```
+
+See [#21974](https://github.com/apache/datafusion/issues/21974) and
+[PR #21985](https://github.com/apache/datafusion/pull/21985) for details.
+
 ### `approx_percentile_cont`, `approx_percentile_cont_with_weight`, `approx_median` now coerce to floats
 
 The type signatures of `approx_percentile_cont`, `approx_percentile_cont_with_weight`, and