Lost Password to iPhone Backup

razenkov55 wrote:

That was PASSWORD FROM MY MACBOOK!

Yes, that's what you entered when you were prompted for a backup password. Look at my post, right above yours. It lists some of the passwords that users who guess their backup password found it to be.

This happened to me yesterday and it took me hours to figure it out. I had moved from a Mac to a Windows computer last year, and I was thinking that it would be my log in password for iTunes. What actually worked was my log in password for my old Mac.

I went through all the forums and tried to find the answer to this question with no success. Then I read somewhere that the password is the same as your phone unlock passcode from when you did the back up! So thankfully I remembered what the unlock code was of my phone at the time I did the backup and finally managed to access the back up. I hope this helps!

brandon_taylorr wrote:

It is almost 2018 and this problem has still not been solved. I have no idea why Apple has not come up with a "forgot your password?" option or for their advisers to have the ability to reset the password. Just as most of you, I have never set up an encryption with a password at all. I have had two previous phones before my Iphone 8 and I never had this problem before. At this point, I have lost over 2000 photos and business content that was saved in this back up.

OK, let's talk about real life.

1. Advisors don't have the ability to reset your password, because they don't have access to it. The only place it exists is on your computer and on your phone. Would you prefer that Apple be able to log in to your computer any time they want to?

2. You set up encryption and entered a password - twice. That is the only way encrypted backups get created. Perhaps you don't remember doing it, but you did. Really.

3. There is no way to reset the password, because it is the encryption key for the backup. It isn't like a website password that is stored on the site. There's a good reason for this; it means that someone who steals your computer (or a law enforcement agency) can't reset your password either.

4. Most programs that claim to hack a password are scams. They don't work unless your password is as simple as "password". There is one exception; it is used by law enforcement, and is priced accordingly. And even it can't break a strong password.

At the ends of the day, I can speak for most people and say there has to be a solution. This thread started in 2011 and people are still facing this problem.

Well, first, there are hundreds of millions of people who are NOT facing this problem because they understand the importance of password management.

With iOS 11 there is a workaround; it lets you create a new unencrypted backup (not reset the password). See: About encrypted backups in iTunes - Apple Support

Honestly I’m viewing this in 2017 guys you have to just try ANY password that you remember mine worked with one from when I first got it you would think it would update with your current password but nope it’s an Apple ID password from whenever you got the phone I’m assuming so good luck

1. On your Mac, go to /Applications/Utilities/ and open Keychain Access app.
2. Under the Keychains section on the left-hand side of the app, select login. You should now see a list of websites and applications that use Keychain Access to store login information. Scroll down through this list until you get to the login item named “iPhone Backup“.
3. Double-click the “iPhone Backup” login item. This will open a new window with more details about your iTunes backup account. From this screen, check the “Show password” checkbox.
4. You will be prompted to enter your Mac OS X user password to authenticate. Once entered, click the Allowbutton to continue.
5. Once that’s done, you’ll return to the previous window showing all the details including the password in plain text. Make a note of it and ensure it’s kept somewhere secure so you can remember it the next time.

THAT WORKED!!! I tried everything, I am sure I did not even set the encryption password - ever! I used the password that I use to unlock my laptop and that worked! Thanks buckeye89!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS TIP! It works!!

Disable WiFi and type in your iTunes pw!!

Hello, so this problem also happened to me. But firstly, I want to say my horrific situation. I had an iPhone 6 Plus and upgraded to iPhone 8 Plus. I backed up my 6 to my PC. After buying the 8 I went to my laptop opened iTunes and hit Restore Backup. Then suddenly it was asking for a password for the backup. I was surprised. I didn’t make any password for the backup. After googling some answers it appears that so many people are having the same problem. Apple will going to put password on your backup for the “safety” of your files. Apple created a password made from your old iPhone password combinations. So my suggestion is to try to remember your pasts passwords and list them down and cross out whatever didn’t work until you hit the right one. After I got the right password combination then it says that my backup was corrupted. I was losing my **** Then after googling this issue again it appears that you should update your new phone that you’re going to restore to the newst iOS version. Then after that, restore should start. Hope this helps. Apple seriously need to resolve these issues.

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I tried everything everyone suggested on this first page and nothing worked... then I typed in the password I use to unlock my mac when it's sleeping and it worked. That's not the password I used when I first got my iPhone, not the passcode, not 000 or 1234, and not the password I changed it to when I checked "encrypt." I'm sure somewhere in these answers, coincidentally passwords that worked also happened to be passwords that were used in other places so it's hard to pinpoint exactly which password is the ultimate answer. I don't believe I used my mac password anywhere else, so it just might be the one. Try that if nothing else works!

Dear people of the world, step back and take a deep breath. I was trying to restore content on a new iPhone 8S for my wife, ran into the same issues as described in this forum. We tried all possible and impossible passwords we could remember, also 1234 and 0000 as suggested in this forum. Then one of the comments said „4 digit code used when first setting up backup“. So my wife thought long and hard and VOILA!! That was it!!

So, go back in time when you first setup the backup... deep into your unconscous memory...

.. try using all old passwords from your iCloud account.

Same problem, couldn’t log into my iCloud my on iPhone because “ONE TIME forever ago” I guess I clicked on “encrypt iPhone backup” I don’t ever suggest doing this! (For keeping health ect. Encrypted) Kept saying incorrect password!!

Finally after going through a ton of old passwords I finally got it.

Try your apple id password, the same ID that you used in itunes

is when we set it up we didn't realize we were setting up a password for the backup (and all backups to follow apparently?!)

What other purpose does a password have?

Once set, *any* password is required going forward until you either change or reset it. What password is one time?

Since you can't reset an iTunes encrypted back up password, that means you MUST be able to enter that same password again.

As is documented by Apple.

How much clearer can this be stated? "No way" is not ambiguous.

About encrypted backups in iTunes - Apple Support

Omom127 wrote:

How is it that this same issue has not been resolved by Apple?! it's 2017 and still happening. I use 3 PW and none work....I just want future backups to be unencrypted but I can't uncheck the box without the PW. Apple you guys have got to do something about this ridiculousness!

Because it isn't an Apple issue. If you don't remember or record your passwords that is not Apple's fault. And any way to bypass it would defeat the purpose of encrypting the backup in the first place. There were three solutions until recently.

1. Keep guessing until you get it; you get unlimited guesses.
2. Stop using iTunes to back up, and instead use iCloud backups, which are encrypted, but don't require you to remember the passcode.
3. Restore the phone as a New phone. You can then create an unencrypted backup, unless you have a company email account on the phone, and your IT department requires encrypted backups.

If you have iOS 11 on your phone there is now a way to create a new unencrypted backup, or a backup with a different passcode. See this Apple tip, and click the button "Get help with a forgotten password". It requires resetting all of your settings (including your screen layout), but doesn't result in any other lost data.

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