Encrypt Backup Password Problem

I am furious!!!!! I don't know what I'm doing or whether it's even possible - but I'm attempting to hack *my own phone's encrypted backup* that I know I didn't encrypt, in order to salvage contacts, emails etc - crucial data. I am not a hacker by any means and am well out of my depth. I can't believe I'm having to resort to this sort of thing!!!! And all because of an Apple glitch!

Namib Stan The ...
wrote:
Problem: Had the same problem.

Resolution:
Unplug USB cable from iPhone.
Hold down the center button for about 25 seconds or until the phone went blank.
Plug the USB cable in.
Go to iTunes.
Right click on your device(iphone nick name) and select Restore from backup.
Use 4 DIGITS number key NOT iTunes password. Go through all your number and one will work. Yes I know, is confusing, Apple says password but it is actually a passkey(4 digit number)!

If all the above don't work, create a new iphone object and restore from previous backup.

Hope this will help.
Apple need to change its wording!

I have the issue which is similar to what you have faced, Now I'll take a try on your way, I'm puzzled long.

This just happened to my phone three days ago. I know its the right password because I use the same one for everything. What is going on with this? I lost all my contacts now just because I needed to upgrade the OS for a certain game. This is driving me crazy. What is this 4 digit code? The phone unlock code? What if you never set it? This is Apple fault so when is this going to be fixed? I need my contacts back very badly. Is the only solution to jail break or try brute forcing the password? There has to be a better solution than either one of those. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Hey guys,

I had the same problem but it worked after I finished backing up. Don't try making changes while backing up, try after that and maybe the password you know will work.

Thanks vick57 you solved my problem

It's somehow confusing the term "password" because also works with the "passkey", so if you've created a 4-DIGIT passkey USE THIS ONE , on the blank field for "password". Worked for me!

I had the same issue. Suddenly a encrypted password. I used the tool Elcomsoft Phone Password Breaker and found out that my backup password was my Windows 7 login password. I never gave my backup this password. So try your Windows password or use the tool (trail version will give you the first 2 characters for free) Hope this info will help you.

Message was edited by: Wsoet

I think I found it! whatever your old password is that the CORRECT ONE! what you have to do is everytime you upgrade Itunes you have authorize your computer again! once you do that you should be STR8!

Its your mobileme info not apple id or itunes

I just had to get a new phone, and my encryption password is the same as the 4 digit code I use to unlock my phone. Hope this helps!

Had same problem but I didnt have a keychain iphone backup file nor could I enter a password in itunes, found this possible solution if you have previous back-ups

On a mac:
1- Make sure you have a previous back-up
2- Make a new back-up of the phone in its current state
3- Go to <username>/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup
4- Find the most recent backup of your phone as well as the one you want to restore to(previous Backup).
5- Open the Manifest.plist file for each
6- Copy the value in BackupKeyBag from the new one to the one you wish to restore to.
7- Save.
8- Restore to the old backup!

Thats all well and good for Macs, what about PC's?

Nothing suggested so far has worked.
Basically I did a backup without setting a password and now when I go to restore it requires a password (or passkey) I never put on it. All of my known passwords don't work and programs like elcomsoft havn't turned over anything.

Serious glitch and it was my phone service provider that suggested a restore to fix my original problem in the first place.

I called Apple and worked through the problem to a solution.

I had purchased a new iPad 2 to replace my iPad 1, and had backed up the iPad 1 on both Windows and iMac, but found them both to be encrypted, even though I was certain I had never enabled encrypted backup.

After making my way to second level support, I was asked about 3rd party software on my iPad, then asked to try the password for the one third party app I have that requires it. It worked! mSecure is a password-keeper app that manages an encrypted database of passwords so you don't have to remember them. Apparently it interacts with the backup settings on the iPad in such a way as to cause the iTunes backups to automagically encrypt, using the mSecure password as the default. I'm assuming other security software that requires passwords could potentially do the same.

My documents and saved-games data is now on my iPad 2, and I'm a happy camper.

Adding to Vicky's solution, maybe you don't need to jailbreak your phone to remove the file. You sure don't need to use SSH. Just grab iPhone Explorer, a great tool I'm always advocating: http://www.macroplant.com/iphoneexplorer/ and do everything else as he explained. Or follow this: http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/10964/disable-encrypt-iphone-backup-wit hout-knowing-the-password-in-itunes/11022#11022