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Encrypt Backup Password Problem

I checked the option to encrpyt the back up using a password. Any password I try cannot be used - I've tried my itunes password and a variety of others - I just keep getting a message saying the password cannot be set. It worked fine until a couple of days ago. Any ideas?

Advent PC, Windows Vista

Posted on Jul 25, 2009 11:20 AM

Reply
265 replies

Oct 26, 2015 7:34 PM in response to NRB0121

@Lawrence Finch here's how you could help people ---

This miracle software cracked my password for me: http://www.tenorshare.com/products/iphone-backup-unlocker.html

(free trial version gives you the first 2 characters and asteriks for the rest) This one was way quicker than the Elcomsoft.which is still running.


Thank you to whoever posted this blog where I found the solution:

https://www.flickr.com/groups/brushes/discuss/72157635390573402/


My advice: don't give up 🙂

Dec 19, 2015 8:31 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Hi Lawrence,


Hope you're still monitoring this old thread, which began in 2009.


I'm having the same problem, and I placed a call to AppleCare two days ago -- the problem was that the iPhone 4S (IOS 9.2) was not backing up to iCloud, ever. Even attempting a manual backup to iCloud failed part way through the backup procedure.


The Apple tech believed the problem was somehow corruption in either IOS in an earlier version or in one of my Apps. She firmly believed that the problem was a software issue.


My laptop is a MacBook, running OS 10.11.2, and that's where iTunes is running. I rarely use iTunes for backing up the iPhone or iPad, though at one time I did use iTunes on my Wiindows computer several years ago, before iCloud existed. The hard drive on that Windows computer failed, so whatever was there is locked up forever.


Back to current time. The Apple tech had me look through the iCloud Keychain, looking for a password associated with either "iPhone" or "iTunes". Neither entry exists in the Keychain listing, which is a mystery to me. How then can iTunes insist on the password when one doesn't exist in the iCloud Keychain?


The though occurs to me that if there were such a password or passcode, there must be an entry in the iCloud Keychain for "iPhone", but there is not.


Any thoughts on this?


Jerry

Jan 1, 2016 4:53 PM in response to mrwheels

Hello MrWheels,


I just purchased a new iphone6 yesterday and struggled trying to remember my iTunes encryption password for my 4s. I tried encryption software crackers, tried to punch in every old password I knew, installing iTunes on other computers and nothing would work for me.


In the end I purchased an extra 50gb of data on the icloud ($1) and backed my 4s up to that. It failed the first time but I ran it a second time and it worked. The estimated time said something like 17 minutes on my phone but it took an hour at least.


I was able to then reset up my new Iphone 6 and set it up as a new device and restore it from the cloud with my backed up 4s info.


I have just recently cancelled my extra 50gbs storage on the cloud and backed up my iphone 6 using iTunes (with no encryption!)


I now have all my apps, emails, pics, etc from my 4s on my 6.

Mar 8, 2016 10:47 PM in response to cra65

cra65 wrote:


This just happened when working on an iPad for someone in my office. I performed a backup and did not realize encryption was turned on. After upgrading their iOS I tried to perform a restore but was prompted for a password. I tried many of the suggestions found here to restore backup password ; 1234, my password, the 4-digit unlock code of the device, the apple ID password for the person who owns the iPad etc. What finally worked was . . . wait for it . . . . password. Yep, that good old standby "password". Hope this works for someone else and saves you an hour (or more) of pulling out your hair.


You are lucky enough to finally got the password. For those who can't remember the right password, it will be a disaster.

Mar 31, 2016 9:24 AM in response to NRB0121

SOLUTION FOUND!


I was experiencing the same baffling problem as described throughout this thread -- none of my iTunes or Passcodes worked to my extreme chagrin. I was trying to export all my iMessages to free up space; couldn't export because my encryption password was "incorrect." I couldn't change it without knowing the original encryption password -- nothing worked...


Turns out in my case I had to input my COMPUTER'S password -- the user password I use to login to my mac. THAT password was what the encryption password was -- not my iTunes password, not my iPhone's four digit passcode. I was so excited, I wanted to share. Hope this works for some of you!

Apr 16, 2016 7:02 AM in response to civilpooch

Hello!


I understand that you are having problems with your encripted backup i had the same problem on my iPad Mini 3 Wifi and i solved my problem!


1. Uninstall iTunes ( on you idevice )

2. go into Settings-General-Reset-Erase All Content and Settings. ( warning backup your device first ) This wont update

3.when restore completed reinstall itunes and DONT login your backup shouldnt be encripted

4. enjoy 😎


If This Dosnt Work Or You Have Any Questions Please Email Me At *************


Thanks!


<Email Edited by Host>

Apr 16, 2016 6:56 AM in response to NRB0121

It could still be using an old password that was used at the time of back-up to encrypt. I found the correct password for iTunes back up by going into my Keychain Access - thankfully, I had saved the password there (you can right click the entry in key chain access and choose copy password to clipboard)

May 16, 2016 10:58 AM in response to NRB0121

Guys, I had the same problem and found the fix.

Apparantly, the issues is backup over wi-fi. I had my phone connected to iTunes over wi-fi and when I checked the encrypt iPhone backup I got this error.


Close iTunes, Open iTunes again and connect your phone with USB to the computer.


Now, after the phone finish backing up automatically I was able to use this option and set a password with no problem.


I wish they would just mention that this feature cannot be set while on wi-fi...

Sep 26, 2016 1:28 PM in response to NRB0121

I just had the same issue trying to set-up the iPhone 7 for the wife. I can confirm that there seems to be some sort of bug because we never set her backups to encrypted. I tried all the passwords we could think of, none worked. What did work though was an old PIN that she used to unlock a previous iPhone. Try all of your old PIN's!


Hope this helps.

Encrypt Backup Password Problem

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