How do I retrieve a forgotten password for my encrypted backup?

From this document... http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766

Warning: If you encrypt an iPhone backup in iTunes and then forget your password, you will not be able to restore from backup and your data will be unrecoverable. If you forget the password you can continue to do backups and use the device, however you will not be able to restore the encrypted backup to any device without the password. You do not need to enter the password for your backup each time you back up or sync.

If you cannot remember the password and want to start again, you will have to do a full software restore and when prompted by iTunes to select the backup to restore from, choose Set up as a new device.

How ludicrous, I have just posted a similar question when I found this, What idiot came up with a password system which has no failsafe?

I'm furious, why on earth has Apple used this flawed system when every other system we use has a facility to either email your password to you or have you answer a number of security questions to change it.

It certainly not for security reasons, no security system is worth losing all your information, this must be a mistake..... THERE MUST BE A WAY OF RECOVERING THIS BACKUP INFORMATION!!!! otherwise my intention to buy my partner an iphone has just bit the dust. And this one will be going as well.

Edd

I'm sorry you forgot your password, and have to recreate a backup of your phone.

But encrypted files, and passwords are your responsibility to save.

Hammeredd wrote:

What idiot came up with a password system which has no failsafe?

There are plenty of systems that do not have failsafe for lost passwords.

My Visa and bank cards do not have a "failsafe" pin number.

Encrypted folders, disk images e.t.c do not have failsafe passwords.

What the encrypted back up does is encrypt your data using a key (the "password") that you supply.

In order to have a "fail safe" as you put it, the key would have to be saved somewhere else.

This then it would have to be stored on your computer.

But would you need it also protected? Yes, otherwise it is a useless password.

They could put it in your keychain, which has a password to protect it.

But what if you forget keychain password?

Where should Apple put a failsafe copy of your keychain password?

How about in another encrypted file, with a password.... what if you forget that password?

This could go on forever.

...every other system we use has a facility to either email your password to you or have you answer a number of security questions to change it.

Are you suggesting that Apple store all encrypted file passwords on their servers?

I am sure then there would be an uproar over Apple being "Big Brother".

no security system is worth losing all your information, this must be a mistake.

No mistake. This is normal practice.

There is also an option to delete your iPhone if the wrong passcode is put in 10 times.

I have that.

If someone tries to get into my phone I would rather have all the data deleted.

But then I back up data, and save passwords.

THERE MUST BE A WAY OF RECOVERING THIS BACKUP INFORMATION!!!!

There is not. The data is encrypted.

That's the point, no one can get it; unless they apply and very complicated decryption system and spend a lot of time on it (like the CIA)

otherwise my intention to buy my partner an iphone has just bit the dust. And this one will be going as well.

So because you made a mistake in not reading, and not saving your password?

There is a clear warning when you choose to encrypt your backup.

This really is a case of you not taking responsibility for your own mistake.

You made a mistake.

Now step up and accept it; and don't make it again.

What you can do in future is create a "note" in your keychain and save your passwords there if you are prone to losing passwords.

I don't know who you bank with, but everyone else's bank and Visa company does have a failsafe, if you forget your pin you just phone them, they reset it and send you a new one, you don't lose all your money because you forgot it.

They do this because they understand that their customers are human and do make mistakes, forgetting passwords and pin numbers.

While like most I accept that no system is perfect, as demonstrated by the recent Playstation incident, I do think Apple should keep our passwords so they can be by us if needed, I'm not going to get into the big brother thing, suffice to say most of us give information to large companies and those companies have a duty of care with that information.

As for the condescending end to your reply, yes I'm human and made the mistake by not noting down my password or remembering that there was a warning when I did it, but your entire reply came across to me as defending a system that can clearly be improved. I wrote my submission when angry and frustrated, (I recognise not the best thing to do), but the only part of your reply that I found helpful was the explanation of how the encrypted system uses the password.

The nice ending for me was that after sitting at the keyboard for over two hours I suddenly remembered a password that I used a long time ago, and when I tried it I got into the backup after all.

The tone of your reply does not encourage me to use this forum for any future questions I have.

I had a password keeper... on my darned iPhone 😟 that I cannot access now. I use the same passwords, (I know, bad practice) and it isn't recognized. I am so bummed. I had video of the U2 concert I was able to attend (my favorite band of ALL time), and pictures of our recent trip to Disney and my little 6 yr old girl with the princesses that I never got transferred over to a regular folder 😟

REALLY *****!!!!!

Boo for no way to email the password (especially when I know my password is right)

I have this same problem... at the very least, shouldn't there be a way to retrieve all the lost data? I mean it is a bit ridiculous that there is no way to retrieve a forgotten password. However, if the password is correct and it is not being recocnized (for whatever reason) then why not a way to decode the backup as data so we can get our files/photos? There must be a solution from someone in Apple... I really don't want to go to the internet to try to find a hacker solution. Please help us ~

Hammeredd wrote:

I don't know who you bank with, but everyone else's bank and Visa company does have a failsafe, if you forget your pin you just phone them, they reset it and send you a new one, you don't lose all your money because you forgot it.

If I forget my pin number and ring my bank they send me a NEW card.

I don't lose my money, but I do lose my old card.

But that is a poor analogy anyway.

Apple is not storing your data.

If you lose your iCloud password, then Apple can help you get it back, or change it.

But in this case, YOU are storing your data, YOU encrypted it with a password.

It's your fault.

Hammeredd wrote:

The tone of your reply does not encourage me to use this forum for any future questions I have.

The tone of your rant made me reply that way.

Try and calm down and think before writing a post to a user forum.

Hammeredd wrote:

The nice ending for me was that after sitting at the keyboard for over two hours I suddenly remembered a password that I used a long time ago, and when I tried it I got into the backup after all.

Wow, so in the end you made a mistake, and you managed to correct it yourself.

Give yourself a pat on the back, and learn this time.

There is nothing wriong with the system; YOU made the mistake.

I don't want Apple, or anyone else to hold my passwords.

If you wanted to store your password online, then you should have done so.

But no, you lost your password.

So man up and admit you made a mistake.

Take some responsibility in your life for once, and stop blaming others for YOUR mistake.

You own an iphone, so I will assume your an adult; act like one.

I know there are other people here complaining that iTunes somehow encrypted there backup with out a password, but I have not seen any evidence that this is possible.

At some point after the location-gate scandal there was many websites promoting people to encrypt there iPhone back ups.

I'm sure many people freaked out and hit the encrypt tick box.

They probably put in there computer password, or maybe made one up.

There are warnings when you choose to encrypt your back up; ignore them and it's your own fault.

I am sorry that some are losing data, but I am more sorry that so many people can't step up and admit they made a mistake and learn from it.

Talk about first world problems!

Wow.

I've experienced the same issue which I admit is obviously my fault. However it is also extremely frustrating, so trawling through forums for an answer only to find rude, non-answers like this is the absolute worst. It's actually annoyed me enough to sign in and let you how unhelpful these aggressive responses are. These forums are designed to help people and engage in dialouge, if you do not have constructive advice just don't reply.

So man up and admit your being a douche.

Take some responsibility in your life for once, and stop taking YOUR anger out on others (on apple forums of all places?!)

I will assume your an adult; act like one.

I am only replying to this to offer advice. In the hopes you can put your time and energy into solving apple consumers problems rather then bullying them. I trust by now you have realised your mistake and can learn from it.

Good day and remember to "Try and calm down and think before writing a post to a user forum."

I agree that this is COMPLETE horse hockey! I know for a FACT that my password was correct and now I am stuck with an iPhone with 'the best iOS system in the world' but with none of my original settings, pictures, music, apps, contacts, ANYTHING. I made sure to backup my phone often just in case something happen.

Now I understand that that was a compete waste of my time and efforts. I bought an iPhone for the convience not to reset all of my information every single time I need to update the software.

Thanks for nothing.

Kiwi,

I agree with you 100%!!!!

kattycakes wrote:

These forums are designed to help people and engage in dialouge, if you do not have constructive advice just don't reply.

I believe I did give good advice.

I adviced the poster to remeber there passwords, and also suggested a way to store their passwords somewhere.

So man up and admit your being a douche.

Sorry, I am not.

Telling someone that they are at fault, and that they need to calm down and work it out by themselves is the best response.

You might be frustrated, and rad some agression in my response, but then you have the problem.

I am only replying to this to offer advice. In the hopes you can put your time and energy into solving apple consumers problems rather then bullying them. I trust by now you have realised your mistake and can learn from it.

I fail to see what your actually offering?

You are adding nothing here, so in many ways you should have stayed logged out, and just moved on.

I did nothing wrong, and stand by my comments, so there is nothing to learn.

I did not bully at all.

You're the one calling names, and acting angry.

I just told the people here the truth, and pinted out how they can better themselves to find a personal solution.

You apper to be the one crying.

I suggest tissues and and long walk to soothe your mind.

Good day and remember to "Try and calm down and think before writing a post to a user forum."

I have always been calm, so please can you refrain from calling names and don't commment unless you have some information.

This is asked and answered countless time every day. Including several in the past few minutes. I did meet such situation to retrieve my forgotten iTunes backup password.

🙂 I tried many ways, but had to refer to pro app to help me retrieve lost backup password: "iPhone Backup Unlocker". With its "Brute-force Attack" mode, I get back my password in minutes! Though it cost my money, I think it deserves for its saving my time and energy!