Q: I didnt encrypt my backup files but it is locked and I cant restore my new iphone

David please share with us if you do find a solution.  I have felt like smashing my iPad so many times over this issue and the best the tech "gurus" can suggest is that I should just forget about all my personal data!

This is probably too late to be useful, but I also got this message asking me to put in a password to open the backup file which was never encrypted.  I realised that the message was only being generated because I have a passcode set to unlock the phone from sleep.  I keyed that code in and it proceeded as normal.

There's definetely something to this. I've been freaking out for the past hour trying to turn off encrypted backups (just because, not because I needed to restore) for both of my iDevices, with iTunes not taking the password I know I set. I pored through this and other threads, and not ruling out the possibility of my own error, I tried every conceivable password.

But, I had never changed the password since setting it, never set up any email accounts beyond a gmail and a private iCloud account (So no exchange or corporate provisioning). The password in my OSX keychain was the exact one I thought it was, and iTunes wouldn't take it either way. I've been recording all my passwords in 1Password, copying and pasting them directly from the window to avoid any mis-spellings, and even that copy matched too.

Here's the kicker: After resolving myself to an eventual, but inevitable wiping of all my data, and getting quite frustrated (ie, sweary), I clicked the "change password" button in iTunes. I put the exact same password I had been trying the whole time and having iTunes reject in the "old password", and put in a new password of my choosing, and bam. Password changed, backups unencrypted.

I would not use encrypted backups at all after this experience, unless absolutely necessary. Putting a secure password on the computer you back up on, and simply being careful with authorising keychain prompts seems like a far more reliable solution than what iTunes provides. Perhaps even Filevault2 if you really want the security.

iTunes 10.5.3 (3)

OSX 10.7.2 Build 11C74

Macbook 13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008

iPhone 4, iOS 5.0.1

iPad 2, iOS 5.0.1

If anyone wants more data for looking into this issue let me know.

Patrick Chalkley

 Apple Product Professional 2011-2012

Nextbyte - Apple Premium Reseller, Authorised Service Provider

you would only loose data stuck on the phone. Most things like your app purchase history are just fine.  but if some app has data you can't save off in some way to cloud. (like I have some games that would loose progress)

I'm also stuck with a locked local backup. The reason to do encrypted backups is good, it lets you restore with all your passwords and stuff in tact. but WHY and WHEN mine got it's password changed is my issue... I had them encrypted but it refuses my password. I KNOW it's right...  I guess my solution will be to start my next new iPhone as NEW, and slowly put what I want and need back on it. and sort out what apps don't let me get my data... (if any)

this may be the KEY to the issue.  I'm going to have to look into this!  mine is intact provisioned for work. however I already had encrypted backups. mine just refuses to use MY password, maybe the provisioning profile changed it!