iTunes asking for backup password???

Lawrence,

I don't understand why you are so interested in fighting with everyone in this thread.

You are going to ridiculous lengths to argue with users that have a very simple request. If I create a backup, with the "Encrypted" checkbox unchecked, and I go to load that backup and it asks for a password that I DID NOT ENTER at that specific time and the helpful "feature" of remembering a previous password isn't described in advance, that sounds an awful lot like a bug.

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.

If you can’t remember the password for your encrypted backup

You can’t restore an encrypted backup without its password. With iOS 11 or later, you can make a new encrypted backup of your device by resetting the password. Here’s what to do:

1. On your iOS device, go to Settings > General > Reset.
2. Tap Reset All Settings and enter your iOS passcode.
3. Follow the steps to reset your settings. This won't affect your user data or passwords, but it will reset settings like display brightness, Home screen layout, and wallpaper. It also removes your encrypted backup password.
4. Connect your device to iTunes again and create a new encrypted backup.

You won't be able to use previous encrypted backups, but you can back up your current data using iTunes and setting a new backup password.

If you have a device with iOS 10 or earlier, you can't reset the password. In this case, try the following:

• If someone else set up your device, ask them for the password.
• Use an iCloud backup instead of iTunes. If you don't have an iCloud backup, you can make one.
• Try using an older iTunes backup.

I had the same issue where I couldn't remember my password for encrypted backup. Didn't realize I even put that setting on or what it meant at the time but I found out you can not recover your encrypted password so only way to do it is to figure out your password. I still haven't figured it out so I resorted to other means. I decided to backup to iCloud. It took a lot longer but its another alternative to restore your old iPhone on to your new one. Hopefully this helps everyone. Definitely frustrating and I feel like there should be more warning when confirming the use of an encrypted backup.

Since this is a user to user technical support forum, you are not going to see Apple weigh in here. If you want to send your idea for improving the way encryption works, the you can do so here: Apple - Feedback.

And no one here "represents" anyone but ourselves. We are volunteers who are here to help.

Best of luck,

GB

If it is asking for a password, you entered a password the first time you made an encrypted backup. Read some of this thread for solutions that people who have forgotten the password they entered (or forgotten that they entered one) have figured out what the password is.

If you still have the iPhone 7 there is a way in iOS 11 to remove the encrypted backups and create a new backup. But if you do, and don't encrypt it, not all of your information will be backed up. See: About encrypted backups in iTunes - Apple Support

Funjunkie6 wrote:

"Use an iCloud backup instead of iTunes. If you don't have an iCloud backup, you can make one."

iCloud can only back up 5gb, but my iPhone is 120gb, so how does the iCloud backup work?

This support article explains how it works: How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support. You may have a 120GB device, but you select what you want backed up, so you have control over how much of the device's contents is backed up. However, if you want to start backing up to iCloud, I would recommend that you purchase at least 50GB, which is only .99 per month.

Cheers,

GB

gail from maine wrote:

Funjunkie6 wrote:

"Use an iCloud backup instead of iTunes. If you don't have an iCloud backup, you can make one."

iCloud can only back up 5gb, but my iPhone is 120gb, so how does the iCloud backup work?

... you select what you want backed up, so you have control over how much of the device's contents is backed up.

This little bit, backing up only a portion of what could be backed up, is buried in this separate article (just FYI):

Manage your iCloud storage - Apple Support

regisyracuse wrote:

For people having this problem in 2018 as well. I just typed in my very first apple id password, back when you didn't need numbers or capslock and it worked

Yes, that was one of the passwords that people have found that was the correct one. Here are a few others:

• First iTunes account password (40 different users)
• Old iTunes account password, but not the oldest one
• Password used for almost all accounts (3 different users)
• All digit Password created a long time ago
• Computer/laptop login password (4 users)
• Laptop password (2 users)
• Computer password (4 users)
• Email password (3 users)
• iTunes with no capital letters
• Password not used anywhere else
• All numeric used in the past
• Password for old gaming site
• PC password (5 users)
• “iphonelogin”
• work computer password
• Current app store password (2 users)
• Paypal account password
• iPad unlock passcode
• Strongest variation of the base password I have ever used
• Old password
• Old work password
• Macbook password (2 users)
• Restriction passcode
• Gmail password (2 users)
• Current Apple ID password (2 users)
• Apple MobileMe password
• Apple ID password, but all lower case (8 users)
• Apple ID password, first one ever used, but all lower case (2 users)
• iPhone passcode when corporate profile was installed
• Passcode for a website
• iPhone screen unlock passcode (9 users)
• iPhone unlock passcode at the time the first backup was made (3 users)
• First password for work computer
• Old password used over 2 years ago (2 users)
• Previous owner’s iTunes password
• Current laptop password
• Wireless network password
• Electric bill and Skype password
• icloud password, all lower case
• Windows login for very old laptop
• iMac password (3 users)
• First iPhone 4 digit passcode
• iTunes password from last year
• 4 year old password
• iTunes password (current) (3 users)
• Old PC password
• Password for “Good” application
• Password used for everything+1234
• 1234 (4 users)
• 12345 (2 users)
• 0000
• Password I use for everything else (2 users)
• One of my husband’s passwords
• Some old non-Apple product password
• Screen passcode of the first iPhone that was backed up (2 users)
• Old password with different case on first letter
• “password” (2 users)
• Windows Administrator password (2 users)
• Original Windows Administrator password
• Mackbook administrator password
• “iphone”+4 digit unlock code
• Voicemail password
• asd
• “herpderp”
• “darwin” (first name from credit card account)
• First name, all lower case
• Ms Exchange account password
• Facebook password
• Browser password
• Network admin password

Yeyeo wrote:

Looks like an iTunes bug to me mate. Backed twice without encryption it still required a password. An ancient iTunes password worked in the end.

No, it's not a bug. As you would know if you read some of this thread, the first time you make an encrypted backup it prompts for a password - twice. After that first time, every other backup will be encrypted with the same password. So the fact that an ancient iTunes password worked means that it's the password you entered when you first checked the box to encrypt the backup. Whether you remember doing it or not.

Yes, it's a very simple request that would be impossible to implement without compromising the security that an encrypted backup offers.

And there is a feature to help remember the password; all you have to do is check "save password in keychain" that appears prominently when you first made the backup.

going this through this now and couldn't agree more. I don't have the option to "uncheck" the require password option...and no idea what the "password" is - it didn't ask me when I did my full backup this weekend.

minniedaisy17 wrote:

going this through this now and couldn't agree more. I don't have the option to "uncheck" the require password option...and no idea what the "password" is - it didn't ask me when I did my full backup this weekend.

But it DID ask you the first time you ever backed up your phone after checking the Encrypt Backup box. Twice. That might have been years ago. But you really did enter a passcode at some point.

I realize that this is your position, I've read enough of this thread to figure that out. I don't think I've done so (and my husband swears he didn't). But, not arguing with you about it. I don't have the option to "Uncheck" encrypted backup so that I can do one without an encrypted backup. I also just did an iCloud backup where there is no option for "encrypted backup" and it is STILL asking for a password. My Apple ID password does not work.

Good idea and I have asked them. They said no. I had them remove my exchange account entirely just now, powered off, back on, did an iCloud back up which did not ask for a password (or even have an option to check) and when I tried to do a restore, it asked for a password which isn't my Apple ID password.