iPhone asks for old passcode for iCloud data after restore

Unfortunately, the user selected an option to require a password to access iCloud backups.

The good news is that you get an unlimited number of tries at the password. The bad news is that the data in the backup cannot be restored without entering the correct password that was originally used to protect the data in the iCloud backups.

Sorry, but there are no "back doors" or "workarounds" here. The data in the iCloud backup cannot be accessed unless the password that was used to encrypt the iCloud backup is entered correctly.

All that you can do at this point is set up the iPhone again manually.

Passcode, Password, call it whatever you want.

Unless you know the original passcode or password or passphrase, etc that was used to create the iCloud backup, you will never be able to access the data in the backup without knowing the correct phrase that was used to encrypt the data on the backup.

The fact that you have changed the passcode or password on the phone by resetting it is not relevant to recovering the data in the iCloud backup.

I'm sorry, but Apple means what they say here......If you can't remember the passcode that unlocks "iPhone", you wont be able to access your iCloud data"

If the user cannot remember what passcode, password, etc that they used to backup to iCloud, the data in the backup will remain unaccessible.

not having the old passCODE is also preventing me from making certain changes to the settings, such as adding a recovery contact.

That's correct.

Not having the old passCODE or passWORD or passPHRASE, etc is also preventing you from accessing the data in the iCloud backup.

You can set up a new Passcode on an iPhone when it has been forgotten, but the iCloud backup is different. You can't do anything with the iCloud backup unless you know the old passcode, or password, etc that was used to protect the data in the iCloud backup.

A password is a secret string of characters—letters, numbers, or symbols—used to verify a user's identity and authorize access to computers, networks, websites, or restricted areas.

A passcode is a secret string of characters, typically numbers or a pattern, used to authenticate a user's identity and secure devices or services.