iTunes/iPhone encrypted backup

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iTunes/iPhone encrypted backup

Hi, I find many people asking this question, but all of them want to restore a backup which was encrypted and they forgot the password.

In my case I just forgot the encrypted backup password. I don't need to restore that backup. This means it can be deleted if needed.

So, I forgot the password and I want to continue having my iPhone backed up, but I want to change the password so I can use it if I need to.

Is there a way I could remove the password and the backup and start a new backup with a new password?

Thanks

iPhone 3GS, iPhone OS 3.1.3

Posted on May 28, 2010 2:42 PM

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Answer 1

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

May 28, 2010 2:55 PM in response to Martinewski

Just delete your existing backups & start fresh. Why are you encrypting your backups anyway? If someone were to steal your computer, you'd have bigger problems than whether they had access to your iphone backup.

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Answer 2

Martinewski Author

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May 28, 2010 4:46 PM in response to wjosten

That's what I thought. I just want to remove the encryption.
If I just delete the current backup and sync again, it continues encrypted. How do I start "fresh" without losing what I have on the iPhone?

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Answer 3

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

May 28, 2010 4:51 PM in response to Martinewski

Uncheck encrypt iphone backups, delete your backups.

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Answer 4

Martinewski Author

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May 28, 2010 4:55 PM in response to wjosten

When I try to uncheck that, iTunes asks for my password, which I forgot.
I deleted the backup already and synced again. It continues encrypted.

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Answer 5

wjosten

Level 10

95,321 points

May 28, 2010 5:51 PM in response to Martinewski

Well, it looks like you're only choice is to: 1. delete your current backups, 2. then restore your phone as a "new" device in itunes & then re-sync your itunes content. All saved data on your phone will be lost. I don't know of any other solution.

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Answer 6

Martinewski Author

Level 1

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May 31, 2010 6:33 PM in response to wjosten

That really doesn't "solve" the problem. That's like formatting it and having a new phone. I need to keep it's content. It's not logical to HAVE to loose everything, in order to delete something not IN the phone.

I'll keep looking for the solution.

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Answer 7

Scooterz

Level 1

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May 31, 2010 11:24 PM in response to Martinewski

Thanks for nothing wjosten. Maybe you should know what you're talking about before posting a resolution.

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Answer 8

jrg_uk

Level 3

720 points

Jun 1, 2010 6:42 AM in response to Martinewski

Unfortunately I don't think there is a resolution. I'd love to be found wrong.

It's certainly what Apple claim - http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1766 - and my own experimentation (I can't remember what I set my backup password to, and indeed I don't remember actually having ever enabled encrypted backups) is that you can't simply disable it and do a fresh backup.

It looks like something was changed, in either a firmware update or an iTunes update (probably both), to stop you doing that.

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Answer 9

barb_k

Level 1

4 points

Jun 7, 2010 12:00 PM in response to Martinewski

I visited Apple Store after syncing iPhone 3G to PC (Windows XP)for issue with iPhone. I restored as a new and now have lost my photo's after bringing over other files (calendar, contacts, etc...). I know, I have learned lesson and was not storing and syncing photo's propertly to have lost with this move...

I want to restore just the photo's from encrypted backup and HAVR password. I contacted ReIncubate, but their software does not support encrypted files....

As I'm not an Apple "expert", I'm not sure which files are the actual photo files to restore as a start.

Thanks!!!

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