Restore backup asks for a password, but I have never done an encrypted backup

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Level 1

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Restore backup asks for a password, but I have never done an encrypted backup

I have never previously backed up my iPhone 6.

Two days ago I did a backup which was not encrypted, and did not require a password.

Today, I accidentally allowed iTunes to do an IOS update, which failed.

When I try to restore, I find it had created a backup this morning, which has overwritten thr backup I did, and which requires a password.

I've tried my phone passcode, my Apple ID and my Windows sign-in, but none are accepted.

Where could it have got a password from?

iPhone 6, iOS 12

Posted on Jan 3, 2024 2:20 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

turingtest2

Level 10

278,297 points

Jan 3, 2024 6:00 AM in response to PamW1001

See Disable iOS backup encryption - Apple Community. In particular:

If you have forgotten the password, or were not aware that encryption had been enabled, consider that it might be any computer, Apple ID, Wi-Fi password or device PIN that you've used in the past, working from the assumption that you might have reused a common password that you were using when encryption was first activated. See About encrypted backups on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support for details.

tt2

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Answer 2

PamW1001 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 3, 2024 8:20 AM in response to turingtest2

Thank you for the suggestion, but I'm not aware that encryption was ever activated.

I don't normally use iTunes at all, I had to install it to see if I could copy files from my iPhone to my laptop.

Until 2 days ago I had never previously done a backup, and I very carefully read that I did not need an encrypted backup, and therefore did not need to enter a password.

I did not request a backup this morning. All I did was attempt to do a software update, which failed, the backup was apparently created automatically.

Given the number of passwords I have in LastPass the chance of me guessing which one might have been picked up is minimal.

I've tried the obvious ones - AppleID etc (which is what I'd probably have used if Id been asked fo a password), and none have been accepted.

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Restore backup asks for a password, but I have never done an encrypted backup

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