Enter password to unlock iPhone backup (cannot remember password)

Not a question but a resolution to the issue that I’d like to share since Apple tech support didn’t suggest this and I haven’t seen it mentioned elsewhere.

I didn’t remember setting a password or choosing encryption when backing up an iPhone. When I needed to restore the iPhone, I was prompted for a password. I tried all kinds of possible passwords and none worked.

But…

It’s possible that your computer (if it’s a MacBook) saved this password in the keychain! This was the case for me. In Keychain Access go to the “login” keychains (“default keychains” menu on the top left side) and search for “iOS Backup” under the Name. The one you need is the one that has the Date Modified that matches the backup you’re trying to restore. Open it by double clicking and select “show password” on the bottom. You will need to enter your MacBook log in password to access this one. But once you do, it should become visible!