"Reset All Settings" / Resetting iTunes Backup Encryption Password

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Level 1

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"Reset All Settings" / Resetting iTunes Backup Encryption Password

I want to make a backup of an iPad, but it has a backup encryption password set. I didn't set it and don't know what it is. So I want to turn off the backup encryption.

I've seen that you can reset the iTunes backup encryption password, by doing "Reset All Settings". This is not supposed to remove any data but does remove knowledge of networks, network passwords, customization of the home screen, etc. It does seem to reset a lot to do "Reset All Settings".

I see also that there are more "focused" partial resets, under "Reset All Settings". For instance, "Reset Home Screen Layout" and "Reset Location & Privacy".

I'm wondering if any of these-- specifically, "Reset Location & Privacy"-- might reset the backup encryption password? Or do I really have to do the blanket "Reset All Settings" which includes all of these?

iPad (6th gen) WiFi

Posted on May 19, 2021 2:27 PM

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Answer 1

razmee209

Level 10

199,098 points

May 19, 2021 4:02 PM in response to pz99

pz99 wrote:

I want to make a backup of an iPad, but it has a backup encryption password set. I didn't set it and don't know what it is. So I want to turn off the backup encryption.

I've seen that you can reset the iTunes backup encryption password, by doing "Reset All Settings". This is not supposed to remove any data but does remove knowledge of networks, network passwords, customization of the home screen, etc. It does seem to reset a lot to do "Reset All Settings".

I see also that there are more "focused" partial resets, under "Reset All Settings". For instance, "Reset Home Screen Layout" and "Reset Location & Privacy".

I'm wondering if any of these-- specifically, "Reset Location & Privacy"-- might reset the backup encryption password? Or do I really have to do the blanket "Reset All Settings" which includes all of these?

Read here About encrypted backups on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

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Answer 2

pz99 Author

Level 1

11 points

May 19, 2021 4:32 PM in response to razmee209

Thank you-- I've seen this link and I'm under the "don't know the password" category.

However, I'm specifically wondering if "Reset All Settings" is the ONLY one of the many "Reset" options that includes resetting the backup encryption password?

"Reset All Settings" is the catchall, the superset that does all the resets. But then there appear to be "subsets" of that resetting list, which are available as independent buttons / choices. It might be structured like this, in which case "Reset All Settings" would be the only one of the buttons that hits the Backup Encryption Password:

Reset All Settings

Reset Network Settings

Reset Keyboard Dictionary

Reset Home Screen Layout

Reset Location & Privacy

(Reset Backup Encryption Password)

But I was hoping maybe it's structured like this, with the backup encryption password reset under one of the other sub-resets. For instance maybe it's structured like this, in which case "Reset Location & Privacy" would do it:

Reset All Settings

Reset Network Settings

Reset Keyboard Dictionary

Reset Home Screen Layout

Reset Location & Privacy

(Reset Backup Encryption Password)

It would be nice to be able to drop the password with one of these more "targeted" resets rather than the superset / catchall reset. Intuitively, there's no particular reason why resetting the backup password should really require resetting the home screen layout. But I don't know if that's possible.

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"Reset All Settings" / Resetting iTunes Backup Encryption Password

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