Q: Lost Password to iPhone Backup
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Oct 4, 2015 10:02 AMby Graydancer,I tried several of these solutions, including guessing, but it turns out there's an easier way.
- Open the Keychain app
- Do a search for "iPhone" - you'll see the backup password file
- Click on it, then click on the "show password" field at the bottom.
- It may ask for your system password (which hopefully you remember) before showing it.
- Poof! There's the password. Copy and paste it into the iTunes "restore" dialog.
The password I'd created months ago was one I never would have remembered (I basically shouted "What was I thinking?!?" when I saw it). Lesson learned: pick better passwords, or write them down, or something...
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Oct 7, 2015 6:32 PMby pshute,Just an observation: we're using a program to download all the text messages from a dozen or so people's phone for an investigation. Some of the phones just let us download them, but a few have required a password. My theory is that these phones have been backed up, and because they're managed phones, iTunes has asked for a password. The users are mystified at the idea. So far they've all been able to guess it, having used a password they use for something else.
Conclusions (assuming I'm right): a) iTunes needs to explicitly warn people they're setting a permanent password for the device when they enter it, not just a one off password for this backup. b) The pattern of passwords these users used matches those that many people here have reported - old or current passwords for other things, passcodes, etc.
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Oct 30, 2015 9:05 PMby FinallyHappy,My reply isn't in regard to anyone specific but I needed to post this as I have been beating my head against the wall for nearly two weeks now trying to get my backup of my old iPhone to my new iPhone. I read through nearly this entire post and unfortunately none of these suggestions worked. I did one last google search and finally found an answer that worked for me!!! I'm Finally Happy!! I post this in the hopes of saving others hours or days of anguish.
a. Assuming you know your App Store/iTunes store password and this is the same password as your iCloud password: On your iPhone go to Settings -> iCloud -> Enable iCloud backup.
b. Start a Backup to the iCloud. This may take a little time, be patient.
c. Once this is completed you now have a new Backup from the Device on iCloud. At this point I also erased the back up for my old phone on my computer so there was no chance of getting any back up other than the iCloud one.
d. If you're setting up a new device go through the steps on the phone at the beginning and choose "Restore from an iCloud backup". When/where it prompts enter your apple ID or iCloud password.
e. When you go back into your iTunes you should see your back up running. AND you should see that the box is NOT checked for Encrypt iPhone Backup.
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Nov 2, 2015 7:51 AMby pink_apple,
thanks to bonnielouisei recently had my iphone 6+ restored to factory setting and it drove me nuts when i couldn't get my backup restored. kept thinking that i'd never setup a password for it but as you suggested, i tried an old password which i used to use for everything years ago. so i guess i must've put it in when itunes asked me for it without knowing what is was for.. as you said. thanks!
