Remove backup password

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Level 1

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Remove backup password

Good morning,

I set up a password to protect my iPhone's backups on my main computer. I realised that I could not remember the password anymore.

At this point what I would like to do is untick the "protect backup with password" box or set up a new password - and then create new backups. Whatever I try, I am asked for the current password, which I really can't remember.

Is there a way to untick this box without entering the current password?

Thank you in advance.

Best,
Guillaume.

iTunes 9.2.1.4 / iPhone 3GS, iOS 4

Posted on Jul 26, 2010 3:42 AM

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Answer 1

Jolly Giant

Level 7

25,464 points

Jul 26, 2010 4:40 AM in response to Psykouille

read the section about *Encrypted backups* in this support article: [_*About backups*_|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766].

J GG

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Answer 2

Psykouille Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 26, 2010 9:43 AM in response to Psykouille

A shame that it is not possible to do what I need apart from setting up a new iPhone.
Thank you very much Jolly for you reply though.

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Answer 3

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Jul 26, 2010 10:47 AM in response to Psykouille

The way I read it, you can still do regular backups - just not encrypted.
You can't recover the encrypted data unless you know the password, though. If there was a way to just untick the box and get to the encrypted stuff, that would be a pretty lame security feature!

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Answer 4

Psykouille Author

Level 1

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Jul 26, 2010 11:37 AM in response to Katrina S.

I am not trying to recover a password protected backup, I just want all my futures backup not to be password protected. And as I can't remember the password I set up before, iTune won't let me do that.

Apparently I need to do a restore and set up my iPhone as a new device to be able to be able to have my future backups not encrypted... which would lead to all the data on my phone being lost!

If anyone has a solution as Apple's website doesn't give an useful one...

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Answer 5

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Jul 26, 2010 12:15 PM in response to Psykouille

Right, that's what I understood - you want to do future backups, without restoring the phone.

So, what you are saying, is this part of that article is wrong?
+Warning: If you encrypt an iPhone backup in iTunes and then forget your password, you will not be able to restore from backup and your data will be unrecoverable. If you forget the password you can continue to do backups and use the device, however you will not be able to restore the encrypted backup to any device without the password. You do not need to enter the password for your backup each time you back up or sync.+

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Answer 6

Psykouille Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 26, 2010 12:33 PM in response to Katrina S.

Yes this article is wrong. iTunes doesn't leave me the choice and automatically encrypts all my backups. I can't untick the "Encrypt iPhone backup" box. I have tried deleting all the existing backups and unticking the box, but it always asks for the password, and as it's wrong, keeps the box ticked.

Similar problems mentionned here: http://www.ipodtouchfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=215266
The last solution posted on this link doesn't work :/

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Answer 7

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,131 points

Jul 26, 2010 12:43 PM in response to Psykouille

I would open an incident with Apple, then - since you have the iphone hardware, you should be able to get an answer. Are you near an Apple store? I'd try that first.
Actually I'd just restore the thing to factory settings.....I just wonder if there's something simple about it, though. Their articles are not usually wrong, but I don't have an iphone to test it out.

Posting in the iphones forum might get you better results.

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Answer 8

momobs

Level 1

0 points

Sep 20, 2010 12:38 AM in response to Psykouille

Hi,

I have the same problem - The only thing i found even remotely close was this video on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wS3AMbXRLs

BUT I HAVEN"T TRIED IT. There has to be another way - it doesn't make sense that once you select encryption - you can't swing the other way 🙂

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