iPad Mini 6 asks for login password when backing up

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Level 3

908 points

iPad Mini 6 asks for login password when backing up

iPad Mini 6 running iOS 15.7.1 backing up to Mid-2011 iMac running MacOS 10.13.6 via both iTunes 12.8.3 and iMazing 2.16.2

I back up my 3 iDevices weekly using both iTunes & iMazing via USB. The other 2 are an iPad Mini 5 running iOS 14.4.2 and an iPhone 12 running iOS 16.0.3. Today for the first time after I click on "Backup" in either iTunes or iMazing, the Mini 6 asked both times for my log in password but neither the Mini 5 nor the iPhone did. All were unlocked already so this is weird.

Can anyone throw some light as to why all of a sudden the Mini 6 has started doing this? I can't find a setting for backups in the Mini 6 that would cover this.

iPad mini 6 Wi-Fi

Posted on Nov 13, 2022 10:23 AM

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Answer 1

Grace2211

Community Specialist

Nov 15, 2022 9:04 AM in response to romad

Hello Romad,

We understand that your iPad mini (6th generation) asks for your login password when trying to create an iTunes backup.

To clarify, are you being asked for the login password for your Mac or the password for your iPhone? Also, are you encrypting your backup as well?

If you are being asked for the login password for your Mac and are not encrypting your backup, we'd like to provide you with a few steps that may help resolve this issue:

Restart your Mac and your iPad. Often times, this simple step can resolve several minor issues.
Update iPadOS. Completing this step ensures that your phone has the latest fixes and allow you to determine if the issue could be related to the software. Secure your data with a backup before proceeding.

Let us know if this helps.

Take care.

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Answer 2

Nov 15, 2022 10:33 AM in response to romad

Hey romad,

It sounds like this could possibly be related to your iPad mini 6 backup being encrypted. Connect your iPad to your Mac and in the General tab or Summary tab, see if Encrypt local Backup is checked under the Backups section. If so, uncheck it and see if the issue is resolved. You can read more on this here:

About encrypted backups on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Take care.

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Answer 3

romad Author

Level 3

908 points

Nov 15, 2022 10:41 AM in response to romad

The iPad Mini 6 asks for its password; the iPhone 12 and iPad Mini 5 DO NOT!

Restarting the iMac didn't work, let me try restarting the iPad Mini 6.

OK, restarting the iPad Mini 6 DOES NOT help. Even though Software Update says I'm up-to-date with OS 15.7.1 installed on the Mini 6, I'll go ahead and put 16.1.1 on it to see if that helps. That will take a couple of hours so I'll update this later.

Oh, the backup is NOT encrypted and the box is not checked. See screen shot:

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Answer 4

romad Author

Level 3

908 points

Nov 15, 2022 11:14 AM in response to romad

For some reason, I'm not being allowed to edit my post so here is the next update.

OK, the install of 16.1.1 over 15.7.1 went much faster than I expected so the differences between the two must be minimal.

So I once again launched a manual back-up and once again I was asked to enter the iPad's password. HOWEVER, since this was the first back-up with 16.1.1 installed, I'm not surprised. I'll have to wait a few days to see if I'm asked again.

Oh, one other difference is the iPad Mini 6 uses an USB-C connection whereas both the iPhone 12 and iPad Mini5 use a Lightning connection; I doubt that is the culprit as up until 13 Nov 22, I wasn't being asked for the Mini 6's password when backing it up.

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Answer 5

romad Author

Level 3

908 points

Nov 21, 2022 6:22 PM in response to romad

OK, I just updated my iPhone 12 from iOS 16.0.3 to iOS 16.1.1 and now it also requires that I enter my password when I initiate a back up whether it is via iTunes or iMazing. So it looks like it either may be a bug in iOS 16.1 or a new unannounced requirement of Apple added in iOS 16.1.

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Answer 6

romad Author

Level 3

908 points

Nov 27, 2022 10:44 AM in response to romad

OK, I just did my weekly backup of my iPhone 12 and AGAIN I'm asked to enter my password on it so it can "trust" my iMac, the SAME iMac to which I've been backing it up for 7 months! You'd think that when you tell it to "trust" your Mac, it won't ask you again a couple of days later. And the same thing with the iPad Mini 6. Both of them started after updating to iOS 16.1, but didn't ask for the password under 16.0.3. So is this a bug or a secret "feature"?

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