Spesh2012
Level 1 (8 points)
iPhone

Q: Can't remember the password to my encrypted back up.

I'm so frustrated.  I can't remember the password to my encrypted backup.  I created it soooo long ago and have tried EVERYTHING I can think of.  I know that there is no way to reset it.  Bummer.

 

My question is this -- how do I get my phone to sync with iTunes on my new laptop?  When I sync now, I get an error that says, "The iPhone "Spesh'siPhone" is synced with another iTunes library on "Spesh-PC".  Do you want to erase this iPhone and sync with this iTunes library?  An iPhone can be synced with only one iTunes library at a time.  Erasing and syncing replaces the contents of this iPhone with the contents of this iTunes library."

 

Needless to say, this error freaks me out.  The "other library" it's talking about is on a computer that is no longer running.

 

Is there not a way to completely START OVER with a new laptop and use the current data (music/photos) on my existing phone??

 

Appreciate any help!

 

Spesh

iPhone 6, iOS 9.1

Posted on May 23, 2016 1:52 PM

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Spesh2012

Q: Can't remember the password to my encrypted back up.

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  • Helpful answers

  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu May 23, 2016 1:57 PM in response to Spesh2012
    Level 6 (16,007 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 23, 2016 1:57 PM in response to Spesh2012

    I am afraid the news is not good. If you forgot the encryption password you have no choice but to restore as new. No way to recover the data, sorry to say.

     

    See the last section of this article:

    About encrypted backups in iTunes - Apple Support

  • by razmee209,

    razmee209 razmee209 May 23, 2016 1:59 PM in response to Spesh2012
    Level 7 (32,941 points)
    May 23, 2016 1:59 PM in response to Spesh2012

    Spesh2012 wrote:

     

    I'm so frustrated.  I can't remember the password to my encrypted backup.  I created it soooo long ago and have tried EVERYTHING I can think of.  I know that there is no way to reset it.  Bummer.

     

    My question is this -- how do I get my phone to sync with iTunes on my new laptop?  When I sync now, I get an error that says, "The iPhone "Spesh'siPhone" is synced with another iTunes library on "Spesh-PC".  Do you want to erase this iPhone and sync with this iTunes library?  An iPhone can be synced with only one iTunes library at a time.  Erasing and syncing replaces the contents of this iPhone with the contents of this iTunes library."

     

    Needless to say, this error freaks me out.  The "other library" it's talking about is on a computer that is no longer running.

     

    Is there not a way to completely START OVER with a new laptop and use the current data (music/photos) on my existing phone??

     

    Appreciate any help!

     

    Spesh

    Syncing to a "New" Computer or replacing a "crashed" Hard Drive

  • by Spesh2012,

    Spesh2012 Spesh2012 May 23, 2016 2:05 PM in response to elcpu
    Level 1 (8 points)
    iPhone
    May 23, 2016 2:05 PM in response to elcpu

    I actually don't care about the data that is currently encrypted (and that I can't recover since I can't remember the password) IF there is a way that I can take my phone just as it is now and sync it with a new iTunes account.  Is that possible?

  • by elcpu,

    elcpu elcpu May 23, 2016 2:08 PM in response to Spesh2012
    Level 6 (16,007 points)
    Photos for Mac
    May 23, 2016 2:08 PM in response to Spesh2012

    Here is a way, a bit of effort but maybe worth it.

     

    To bypass the issue of encrypted backups always being encrypted:

    Back up to iCloud. Then erase it. Then back up to iTunes as an unencrypted backup. Then restore from the iCloud backup. Then back up to iTunes again.

    From: https://discussions.apple.com/message/30209896?tstart=0#30209896