Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

28 points

iTunes asking for backup password???

I am upgrading my iphone 4 to iOS 5. I backed up my phone (via iTunes 10.5) and downloaded and installed iOS 5. I am now going through the setup process and it is at the "Restore from iTunes Backup" step. I connect to iTunes and iTunes is prompting me for a password to "unlock your iPhone backup file." No I did not encrypt the iPhone backup, nor is it or was it checked in iTunes. I have tried my iTunes password, my 4 digit unlock code for the iPhone, and several other passwords. When I did the backup an hour ago I was not asked for a password. I am at a loss as to what it is.

iPhone 4

Posted on Oct 12, 2011 1:11 PM

Best reply

Lawrence Finch

Level 10

203,538 points

Posted on Aug 7, 2017 6:52 AM

OK, I will make it simple and clear (although this has been covered ad nauseum in the thread):

If you have an encrypted backup ("Encrypt Backup" is checked) it is encrypted because you or someone else checked "encrypt backup". Period. That is the only way it can become encrypted.
The "someone else" can be the administrator of a Microsoft Exchange email server if you have a company email account on your phone. There's at least one case where it was someone's daughter.
The first time you back up after it is checked the person who did the backup had to enter a password. Twice for confirmation.
The password entered that first time will be the backup password forever, unless you explicitly change it; even if it was entered 10 years ago. It will stay the same.
The password is more than a password; it is the encryption key, and is saved in the encrypted backup and the iOS device.
There is no way to bypass encryption, except to enter the correct passcode.
- Backing up to a new computer will not bypass it.
- Deleting the encrypted backups will not bypass it.
- Buying or downloading software that claims to bypass it will not bypass it.
The good news is that you get unlimited guesses, and to speed up the process of guessing, uncheck Encrypt Backup and you will be prompted immediately. Most people who have succeeded have found it was a password that they had used elsewhere.

View in context

423 replies

wolve3

Level 1

0 points

Oct 12, 2011 7:19 PM in response to wsucoug95

I have the exact same problem! Tried every likely password I could think of (Apple account one, computer password, etc) and none of them worked. I have an appointment at genuis bar at local Apple Store, but I have doubts they can even help with this issue. 😟

denis_g

Level 1

0 points

Oct 12, 2011 7:39 PM in response to wolve3

Be carefull of cap/low caps (that was my mistake).

I just completed a restore and am now getting an error mesage....😕

Oct 12, 2011 8:10 PM in response to denis_g

I copy and pasted my password in to me.com which worked, and the into itunes restore password prompt, and it failed.

calexn

Level 1

0 points

Oct 12, 2011 9:03 PM in response to scottfromferndale

same problem here, updated to ios5, never encrypted my backups, tried all password, screenlock passcode, none work. Very annoying as basically historical data msgs contacts are now gone.

Is there some standard password itunes set to the backups??

Oct 12, 2011 9:12 PM in response to wsucoug95

i have the same problem here.. I didn´t set any password for backup.

lost photos ,text msg and all app data.

wolve3

Level 1

0 points

Oct 12, 2011 9:33 PM in response to wsucoug95

Well I ended up going to Apple Store and seeking help from the geniuses... no help there. 😝

I finally decided to try using a password cracker and it didn;t take long for it to find the password to the backup file. Wanna guess what it was? Try "1234". Yeah... that's what worked on mine.

Even with the password, looks like my backup file was corrupted some how. None of the music, videos or apps were restored. *sigh*

rsgl

Level 1

0 points

Oct 12, 2011 9:58 PM in response to mschumi

That's not working for me. I did enable encryption, I do remember the password, and it isn't working. Nor are any other passwords I've ever used. Looks like this update is not the smoothest.

wolve3

Level 1

0 points

Oct 12, 2011 10:04 PM in response to rsgl

Well if you specified a password and that one doesn't work, I don't see why "1234" would instead.

BTW, after syncing over my apps, looks like app data was restored afterall. So things didn't end up too badly for me. Just a lot of wasted time. 😝

picuda

Level 1

0 points

Oct 12, 2011 10:10 PM in response to wsucoug95

the same problem

How Can I know a password that I never set before?

Oct 12, 2011 10:25 PM in response to wsucoug95

I'm having the same issue on a PC here. But I think I may have solved it.

Like most here, I never set a password for my backups previously, so this caught me really off-guard. Also ****** me off b/c I'm going on a trip tomorrow morning and wanted my phone fully updated and functioning before I left. I tried my current Itunes password, didn't work, I tried my four-digit code I use as a locking code for the phone. I tried 1234 mentioned above, none work.

However, on a whim, I then took the # out of my itunes password (a p/w that, on its own, may have also been a previous itunes account password for me) and tried that and it worked. The restore is currently in progress so we'll see how it goes from here.

So a suggestion, try all your previous itunes account passwords. And if your current one has a pound sign (or any other special characters), take it out and try that.

Good luck.

Oct 12, 2011 10:31 PM in response to calexn

Didn't work for me. So I kept trying more and more passwords.

Low and behold an old one worked that I didn't think I ever used on this computer. It's a new MacBook Air, so that suprises me. Not sure where it came from, but it did work.

So if you think you've tried all your passwords, you probably haven't. The one you think it won't be is probably it.

Music, videos and apps are not included in the backup. Those are just resynced from your library once the phone is reconnected to itunes after the restore. apps take a really long time to restore.

And the phone is not locked during the sync. So watch itunes status before disconnecting the phone or you will interupt it.

Oct 12, 2011 10:37 PM in response to wsucoug95

same problem, been trying to figure this out for hours... rediculous.. none of the above worked. any more suggestions greatly appreciated

Oct 12, 2011 11:11 PM in response to wsucoug95

I'm having the exact same problem. I didn't enter a password when doing the backup, so it shouldn't be asking for one. I've tried every password that I can think of, but nothing works. I've wasted hours on this. Thanks, Apple.

rsgl

Level 1

0 points

Oct 12, 2011 11:24 PM in response to Dudley Doright

Yep. Hours. I've been trying other things to see if something will allow me to use the backup... But it seems that the password is the only way. Even though I KNOW the password that I set...

Oct 12, 2011 11:36 PM in response to wsucoug95

i used 0000 and somehow this worked, im pretty sure ive never used this password for my i phone.... go figure! Good Luck all

iTunes asking for backup password???