Q: Lost Password to iPhone Backup

Ah, an interesting point. If you change the computer you have synced an iOS device with the backup passphrase will not be changed, as it is saved on the iPhone. So a backup made on a different computer will still keep the original passphrase.

Just had the iPhone backup password dilemma myself.  So many passwords, so many combinations, and the obvious ones (current OSX password / current iCloud password / phone PIN ) just did not work.  El Capitan didnt seem to have the required info in Keychain....

So - the MBPRO I use for iTunes was purchased in the days of Yosemite OSX.  The PIN for the iPhone was first applied in the days of 4 digit pins, since upgraded to 6 digits.

The 4 digit  PIN didn't work.  Neither did the earlier suggestions on this thread of 0000, 1234 etc.  The current 6-digit PIN didn't work either.

The OSX password I use for El Capitan is DIFFERENT to the one I used for Yosemite.  I applied the Yosemite OSX password and the restore process completed.

Therefore:  If you don't ever remember setting a password ( I certainly didn't) you need to apply the OSX password that was IN USE AT THE TIME you FIRST synced your phone.  It seems this password is independent of OSX password changes, OSX updates,  iOS changes and phone PIN changes, and is not necessarily stored in Keychain.  Which I guess is the logical way to go...

Cheers

It happend twice to me.

Once it was just 1234

now it was my Unlucking Code.

Apple really need to do something about it!!!

No, YOU need to have a better memory. Apple does not make up passcodes. In the case of your unlocking code, Apple has no way of ever finding out what it is. The only place it exists is encrypted on your phone. Apple couldn't even give it to the FBI if they demanded it.

Ah ok, so if i didn't choose a password for the back up its logical that once it is 1234 and the other time my unlocking code.

I know Apple could never know that code, but it's not logical that they choose the code. Nothing to do with memory 

Not only is it not logical that Apple chose your unlock code, it is impossible that Apple chose that code because there is no way Apple could know what it is. The only way that it became your backup passcode is if you entered it.

I read through the post and was sure I had lost all my data and then as a last resort used the password to open windows laptop and would you belive it worked like a charm.. so pleased all has worked out and my phone has been reset as before on the new set..

I just experienced the same issue. iTunes told me that every password I tried was incorrect and I was starting to lose hope. I decided to close iTunes to see what would happen. (My iPhone was still plugged in via USB during this process). When iTunes opened, the Welcome to Your New Phone screen (or whatever it says) did not automatically show up, and my phone was beginning to restore. It looks like all the apps and music, etc. is returning back to my phone as I type. I think I'll have to put them into folders again, but this made it WAY easier than doing it completely manually. I hope this helps someone else!

I actually tried and it didn't work so I tried 1234 and it worked!!! hopefully you guys have the same luck as I did

Yes, it is the system administrator password used when you installed itunes.

rkrupesh wrote:

 

Yes, it is the system administrator password used when you installed itunes.

If that is true how do you explain the post right above yours? The correct answer is that it is whatever password you entered when the first backup was created encrypted. Some people may enter the system administrator password, but others will enter the Apple ID password, their domain password, their screen unlock passcode, or their mother's maiden name, or any other password they have used in the past. And a few will make one up, like "1234".

That should be the correct answer, but I would swear I've never used 1234 as a password in my life. Yet that is what my password was set to, like many others in this thread. And it was missing from my keychain, even though I religiously let the keychain store everything possible.

You are AWESOME!!  Yes, I had already repeatedly been doing what you said, but after reading your post I kept doing it anyways...and low and behold it eventually worked!!  Must have taken at least 20 tried mind you, but success finally did happen!!  This is a serious bug that Apple has though, and it should be dealt with.  Howver, it seems that Apple just doesn't care enough to fix it...sad.

this helped me.. tried all of my passwords used ever and one clicked!!

Its normally the admin pw to your computer if you did not set one before backing up...depending what version of iphone and itunes.