Encrypt Backup Password Problem

I used my Apple ID password. I had to try a few times, used other passwords, but it finally worked. Thanks to the tip from other users..................

This happened to me when I agreed to update my iphone to IOS 5.0. I do not ask for password protection on my backups. When it finished updating the IOS I thought I was home free and then it asked for the password to restore and it went downhill from there. I was about resigned to losing all my contacts and other settings when I found this thread. I tried all the passwords I could remember and the one that worked finally was an iTunes password that was about three generations old. Thank You all!

Apple, please fix this!

Ok, first thank you all for the help provided on this issue. Having said that, I am still having the same problem...

Here is me situation:

I'm currently traveling in abroad and I've got my iphone 4 with me. 1 week ago I bought a new laptop (Sony) as I sold my Macbook Pro before my departure to get some money for my travel. 2 days ago I decided to 'secure' my data through a syncronization in order to backup all I have on my device. Everything went well, except when I hit update when iTunes proposed me to update my iphone 4 with the latest OS version...since then I have exactly the same box you described, asking me for a password that I am 200% sure I never entered!

So I tried all you explain here.

1) Hit the home button 25sec, unplug, etc => nothing

2) Unplug my iphone, close iTunes, restart pc, etc. => nothing

3) Download Elcomsoft, I only got the trial version, cannot hit the green +, but still Elcomsoft is telling me that the backup is not encrypted => nothing

4) Check under iTunes, Preferences, Device, I can see my back up (only the name and time) not locked, but cannot open it in any way. I put the pointer on it and I can see the EMEI number. => nothing

5) I asked to all potential IT shops I could find here in Indonesia, but no result => still nothing

Now I really don't know what to do...I cannot lose all the data I got in it as it represents all my life since 8 months: admin documents, contacts details, pictures, apps, music, etc...

I had a 18 hours bus travel yesterday, first thing I tried when I checked in the hostel was log in and check for any update from you guys. Unfortunately, nothing new..please give me a hand on this, any support is more than welcome!!! I really need to recover my data, its my only backup of official documents.

Thanks in advance guys!

Kehzya

Here's what worked for me: Go to your iPhone in iTunes and ask to restore from a backup. Point to the backup you want to restore from, confirm that you want to backup from an older backup. It should then ask you for a password. Try all the iTunes and iPhone (4-digit) passwords you have used in the past. This is tedious but it was worth it. An old iTunes password worked for me. I have iTunes on a PC.

Good Luck!

Thanks to everyone who replied...took me ages going through all the passwords I use and finally thanks to your posts, I used the 4 digit iphone code I use to lock my phone, and hey presto, the restore begun. Who would've thunked it

Thanks OzoneARC! I had the same problem and even went to see a genius and they couldn't tell why and how to fix it. I used your solution, Elcomsoft Phone Password Breaker, and it worked. Once Elcomsoft Phone Password Breaker figured out the first two characters, I took me another 30 minutes to try one by one. I can restore the backup now.

Thanks a bunch!

elmcomsoft we love you !!

I tried all the combinations. Called up Apple Support, they could only help me get my contacts into Windows Contacts/ Windows Address Book. I am supposed to factory restore now and I am ok with it as contacts is the most important item I don't want to lose.You connect your phone to your laptop/PC, click on Info and select Windows Contacts (in Windows 7) under "Sync Contacts With" and ignore the others (Sync Calendar with etc....) incase it is not crucial and then apply the changes to Sync. It helped me at least get the contacts backed up and get it back after restore.

I've just been through this problem however if you're running iOS 5 and you backup to iCloud you can save yourself having to Jailbreak or pay for a brute force password cracker like the one from Elcomsoft.

- When you get to the point that iTunes is asking for your (forgotten) backup password look at your phone.

- Slide the slider on screen to begin setting up as a new device.

- Answer the location services question

- Input a wifi network password if you have wifi available

- Select to 'Restore from iCloud' (see also: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1766)

- Once the phone is setup you can specify you phone lock passcode

- If your iPhone is plugged into your PC/Mac with iTunes on your phone will then begin syncing all of your selected data from iTunes.

- If you're not connected to iTunes it will download purchased content (apps, music, etc via wifi).

So there you go. One very good reason to backup your data to iCloud - even if you have an encrpted backup on your computer.

Here is the tricky part for me. Elcomsoft gave me the first 2 letters...yeah letters not numbers.. so I have now 2 letters and 4 ****. The problem is I tried all password I could remember, every combination but could not find it. Plus, I don't remember having used these 2 letters ever!!! any suggestions guys?

Same here. I try this morning and got an error message as other people too.

iMac lion OS

I had this error today never had any issues with apple products before!!

Never created a password for an iPhone backup!! so annoyed!!

the last pw i tried was one of the first passwords for itunes and it worked

You DID create a backup password, you just forgot. And you probably didn't realize you were doing it; you entered your iTunes password when prompted without reading the dialog to see why it was asking for a password.

Nope sorry not the case, I did 2 iPads and one phone the phone was the only one to prompt and I work in IT for the last 10 years, I'm not that stupid, definitely a bug in the system something does need to be looked at!

hi i had this problem while backing up my dad's iphone yesterday.tried elcomsoft but to no avail,is it suppose to match the letter or numbers in the password,or they need to match the whole thing and reveal only two of it since ots a trial version.i tried every combination but to asked the first itunes password from an old man is like asking their great grandfather middle name 😟

currently im copying the backup from the pc where it was done into my mac's desktop.i'm looking for the mac backup folder but could't find it,it was supposed to be username/library/application support/mobile sync but such path doesn't exist.is it because i'm using os Lion.oh by the way im looking for the folder coz i wanted to copy it into the backup folder and use keychain access to look for the password,i know it sounds so stupid but i'm doing everything i can to get the data back.guys,apple geniuses,god...if you help me i'll be truly grateful.i dont want my dad to get a heart attack for losing all his one year worth of contacts and notes.😢