wsucoug95

Q: 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

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Q: iTunes asking for backup password???

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  • by vodaholic,

    vodaholic vodaholic Oct 27, 2011 6:57 AM in response to rlarrosa
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    Oct 27, 2011 6:57 AM in response to rlarrosa

    Don't know if this helps but I've tried loads of solutions and even with a custom password list the elcomsoft couldn't find any results. Some people have noted that it uses a random password frm passwords you've stored on your device so try your facebook password, email account, lock code etc. None worked for me.

     

    After a few days of scouring forums I had to do it a convoluted way in the end.

     

    I installed iFunbox and copied the keychain-2.db file to my PC after making a backup of it in the same directory on the iPhone (var/keychains)

     

    I then deleted the file from my iPhone and reconnected it to iTunes. This meant all passwords had been deleted (albeit temporarily from my iPhone). I then selected the encrypted backup option again and started a backup then cancelled it which created a new keychain-2.db file in var/keychains. I then removed the encrypt option. This asked me for a password but it was set to the new password I'd just entered so the tick was then removed.

     

    I then exported and opened the new keychain-2.db file in exported in sqllite browser (do a search and download it, it's free). I then opened my original file in sqllite browser. The reason I did it this way is because for some reason my keychain files displayed a load of gobble-di-gook in sqllite browser so I couldn't determine what was the itunes password. Maybe because I'm running iTunes 10.5 but people have previously stated that the files are shown in plain English but mine weren't.

     

    I then compared the genp tables in sqllite browser until I found the record that had the same set of symbols in the acct column that as in the new keychain-2.db file I'd created as this would be the iTunes password I'd just created. No other records existed in the new keychain file.

     

    I then deleted that record in sqllite browser, saved and imported back into var/keychains using iFunbox.

     

    The encrypted option is no longer ticked and I can make unencrypted backups. I will definitely not be ticking that box again!!!

     

    I know it sounds really long and laborious but if you follow it step by step it isn't as long as you think. I've no previous experience of this and I found all thge info from scouring various forums and piecing it all together to create my own solution. Also, if you're lucky enough to have your keychains file display as plain English in sqllite browser then you can just delete the record that says it is your itunes backup password.

     

    Hope it makes sense. It really does work!

  • by lucafrombellaria igea marina,

    lucafrombellaria igea marina lucafrombellaria igea marina Oct 28, 2011 9:51 AM in response to vodaholic
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 28, 2011 9:51 AM in response to vodaholic

    Appearently this backup password is very WIERD.

    I've tried every passwords (also the PIN code) that I use and it keeps asking me for the password.

    I'm pretty sure that I've never setted a backup password.

     

    Unfortunately (or not) during the process the battery on my MacBook pro went down to zero and when I restarted and then opened iTunes, the program started to transfer elements from the backup automatically.

     

    Good luck

  • by lucafrombellaria igea marina,

    lucafrombellaria igea marina lucafrombellaria igea marina Oct 28, 2011 10:27 AM in response to lucafrombellaria igea marina
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 28, 2011 10:27 AM in response to lucafrombellaria igea marina

    EDIT:

     

    The "battery trick" isn't good, at the end of the process nothing was restored.

     

    As someone said in previous topics, you must try again and again for passwords because its a SERVER problem; also if the password is right you can receive back an error; be patient and try again later.

     

    By the way please fix this thing, I was starting to have a heart attack.

  • by ughneedhelp,

    ughneedhelp ughneedhelp Oct 30, 2011 3:07 PM in response to wsucoug95
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 30, 2011 3:07 PM in response to wsucoug95

    I am having the exact issue that the original poster is having and I am at a loss as to why my backup all of a sudden has a password assigned to it. I merely updated to iOS5 and was prompted to back up my phone. I am now on iOS5 but my back up must be linked to iTunes (not iCloud), and I have no idea what the password is to get all of my data. Do I really have to try all 100+ password combinations I have used in my life to open up this backup? This has to be a joke...

  • by angela239,

    angela239 angela239 Oct 30, 2011 10:42 PM in response to ughneedhelp
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 30, 2011 10:42 PM in response to ughneedhelp

    i found that i was my itunes account pasword without the numbers in the ebd if that helps

  • by monkeykx,

    monkeykx monkeykx Nov 6, 2011 11:14 PM in response to wsucoug95
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 6, 2011 11:14 PM in response to wsucoug95

    After countless hours of trying to remember all my passwords, someone wrote to try my commonly used passwords (alot of them have numbers attached) and just enter it without the #s attached.... it worked! 

     

    Funny because I dont remember ever using this particular password without a number ever ever ever before....

     

    thank you apple for this ******** back up system.

  • by mark kfromel toro,

    mark kfromel toro mark kfromel toro Nov 8, 2011 12:52 PM in response to glinedesign
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    Nov 8, 2011 12:52 PM in response to glinedesign

    If you have selected back up from previous restore- when you get the dialog box asking for the password, press the escape key. In my case, the iPhone then started backing up from my previous restore, no password needed. I did have to loop back and clean up a few things, such as manually re-adding Favorits in the iPhone app, but everythiong else was there. Try the escape key trick and you should be OK.

  • by hamayon,

    hamayon hamayon Nov 9, 2011 8:38 PM in response to wsucoug95
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 9, 2011 8:38 PM in response to wsucoug95

    I had the same issue a couple of hours ago, and I was going crazy trying to find the right password. iTunes password, pin, and any other password I had ever used did not work. I read and tried most of the remedies discussed in this thread, short of disconnecting in the middle or deleting the backup. Nothing.

     

    Then I tried a password that I had as user login on my work PC. And it worked.

     

    I never sync my iPhone with my work PC. I only did that once. And it was the last time my iPhone was synced.

    I have never used that password anywhere else, and it has been changed on my work PC since.

     

    So without a doubt, it is the user login password of the machine that you last synced your iPhone on.

     

    Worked for me. And I know it is weird. Good luck.

  • by lucafrombellaria igea marina,

    lucafrombellaria igea marina lucafrombellaria igea marina Nov 10, 2011 12:20 AM in response to hamayon
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 10, 2011 12:20 AM in response to hamayon

    No, it isn't the user login password of the machine that you last synced your iPhone on, at least for me!

     

    I've founded that it was the password of the computer that I synced for the first time (I don't have that computer anymore and I have never synced this device to that computer!!).

     

    I've used my old iPhone 3g on that computer and then with the backup I've synced all the data on my new iPhone 4 white.

     

    I really don't know how it takes the password automatically, maybe I think that at this point the Apple support can provide a clear answer to this problem.

  • by Kris_BlazeBlack,

    Kris_BlazeBlack Kris_BlazeBlack Nov 12, 2011 4:02 AM in response to wsucoug95
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 12, 2011 4:02 AM in response to wsucoug95

    I don't even remember setting up a password for my backups and yet it is asking me for a password. I really want to restore from a earlier backup because all my music was on it. Anyone else having this problem? Or is this a glitch in iTunes?

  • by mahi8,

    mahi8 mahi8 Nov 14, 2011 11:36 PM in response to wsucoug95
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 14, 2011 11:36 PM in response to wsucoug95

    I just updated my OS and ran into the same problem during restoration.  I just canceled out the window asking for the password and restarted itunes.  It started to update my usb drivers and device drivers, so I knew it was working. My phone showed the apple icon and a status bar that's outlined in white.  It will start updating without asking for a password.  Hope it works for those having trouble.  Good luck all.

     

    Message was edited by: mahi8

  • by natalia50,

    natalia50 natalia50 Nov 16, 2011 11:13 AM in response to wsucoug95
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 16, 2011 11:13 AM in response to wsucoug95

    I read in a previous post that their Facebook password worked for them. After cracking my head open trying to remember any and every old password, I came across that post and figured I might as well try it. Well what do you know....IT WORKED! I've had iTunes much longer than I had my Facebook account so, I'm not sure why that password worked, but right now I'm so relieved that I don't care. I have a lot of photos of my new baby that I really did not want to lose. Lesson learn, I'll make sure to use my regular camera more often now. However, this should never have happened and Apple needs to provide more support for situations like these.

  • by nitin_narang01,

    nitin_narang01 nitin_narang01 Dec 16, 2011 7:12 PM in response to natalia50
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Dec 16, 2011 7:12 PM in response to natalia50

    Nothing is working for me old passwords, new passwords, pc logins, passwords without special characters or numbers, there is nothing in keychain. I have restarted my m/c, restarted itune.

     

    Please help.

  • by Forde1,

    Forde1 Forde1 Dec 18, 2011 11:00 PM in response to wsucoug95
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 18, 2011 11:00 PM in response to wsucoug95

    I'm in the same boat as most here.  I hadn't upgraded the OS on my 3GS in sometime and decided to do it tonight. I'm on a new PC so had to download Itunes fresh.

     

    I carefully made a backup, synched, transfered purchases, and did it all again just to make sure.

     

    I then upgraded and when it came time to restore it asked for a password I never gave it.  I've tried password after password to no avail. Right now I'm at a loss. I've likely lost every text and picture I've taken and I am not happy.

     

    This was the first Iphone I ever bought and it will likely be my last.

     

    The worst part is that Apple has been aware of this for months and hasn't fix the problem or warned people that the problem exists.

  • by stefald70,

    stefald70 stefald70 Dec 19, 2011 2:52 PM in response to gev.iphone
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 19, 2011 2:52 PM in response to gev.iphone

    I just did the same and it seems to be working. Relief is gushing out of my every pore. Fingers crossed!

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