password to unlock your iphone backup file

seanj.com wrote:

I had this issue. It seems like it is the password of the phone you backed up. So whatever back up you are trying to restore from, it is the password from that device.

No, it's not necessarily that. It's whatever password you set up when you encrypted the back up. It can be the same as the one you use on your phone but only if you explicitly chose to do that. The password to my encrypted back up is not the same as my phone's lock code or the passcode to my Apple ID.

This worked for me. It wasn't my numeric PIN to unlock my phone, nor was it my Apple ID. Scary that iTunes doesn't mention that a password will be required when restoring from the backup when you make it.

mike_conley wrote:

This worked for me. It wasn't my numeric PIN to unlock my phone, nor was it my Apple ID. Scary that iTunes doesn't mention that a password will be required when restoring from the backup when you make it.

In order to make an encrypted iTunes passcode, you have to chose a passcode. iTunes doesn't do it automatically. I believe there is also a notice that the passcode can't be recovered. If you started encrypting your back ups a long time ago, you may have forgotten this happened.

If you sync your iPhone with iTunes on your computer or your iPad you just go to iTunes and open your iPhone app and go to password reset and recovery. Plug your iPhone into either your iMac or iPad and when iTunes opens and you see reset your phone or password, you will see the cable and your phone on both your iPad or computer as well as your locked phone. You

Will be instructed to force your iPhone to start by holding the home button and you should suddenly see the screen to enter your new or existing password. Just follow the instructions from the site Find My Phone or Reset My a Password and it works great without loosing everything if you have backed up or synced with iTunes or icloud. If I did it right anyone can do this! Good luck! Princess Bichon Texas

I'm really unclear what these are instructions for. Mostly, they sound like the instructions to reset your Apple ID password which is not the same thing as the password to an encrypted back up. You cannot reset the password for an encrypted back up.

I don't understand this part at all:

open your iPhone app and go to password reset and recovery.

Do you mean the Phone app on the iPhone? Where, in that app, is "password reset and recovery"? Can you post a screenshot?

You have to use the original password of your iTunes account (the one you had back when you purchased the iPhone i guess). That worked for me. In any case, this is STUPID.

Which means you used the password you created when you encrypted the backup. Exactly as designed.

Step 1 - Make a password to encrypt/lock your iTunes backup.

Step 2 - Use the same password to decrypt/unlock the iTunes backup.

Sorry, but how is that stupid?

sashquatch wrote:

This password is the code to your phone or other device that was initially backed up.

The passcode to the encrypted back up is not the same as the passcode to the device unless you specifically made them the same. The passcode to my encrypted back up has never (and will never be) been the same as the passcode to my phone. That would be bad security practice.

Finally! after trying every possible password i could think of, that i've ever used... i finally got it! I don't remember creating a PW for iTunes, but i must have and it was one of the usual ones that i use. Keep trying guys! I think a lot of people overlooked creating a PW with iTunes in the distant past considering it doesn't ask you for one or require you to use one often.. my PW was capitalized, and also contained numeric characters as well, hope that helps others.

I have same issue only I am trying to back up to my computer for the first time.... it's funny that I need a password since I have never backed up to computer before.... Trying to remember all my passwords from the past still no luck... 5 days no luck... to those people that have given positive advice thanks a lot... your insights have been greatly appreciated... to those people with negative comments ... get a life ... you can't tell me you never forgot a password and that you looked a password recovery answers... for those that commented that we should have known or accept the our circumstances are a bunch of *****... we are looking for assistance not criticism .

Sounds silly as this literally has just happened to me... but I tried all of my known passwords that I use... from years ago using upper and lower case and i'm not sure which one worked but give it ago because my phone is finally restoring the back up

OMG, ok, yes it's true what everyone else has been saying re:recovering your pwd. Yes, you do need to close your eyes, meditate and figure it out. Step away for a few hours then come back.

NOTE however, my pwd was not my original pwd from when I first signed on to itunes 8 yrs ago. The pwd was one of the variations that occurred over the years. This would've been helpful for me to know.

I did the tenorshare iphone backup unlocker but it's still running and I ended up wasting $56 for it to find my pwd because I figured my pwd out before the tenoshare search was over. Note, the free version covers up to only 4 characters so if your pwd is longer than that you'll have to buy an upgraded version. Also, my pwd was a combo of number, uppercase and lowercase characters if that helps. Good luck!

Firstly - identify what type of password you need.

If it is the lock screen password on iphone, swipe to open, it will present you with a number pad and 4 or more spaces to enter the number. If it has 4 spaces, you know you need to enter a 4 digit number.

Now - if you have previously connected this device to itunes, you should run itunes on pc /mac.

Then plug in phone via cable to pc.

Itunes will recognize your device and display its name -eg johns iphone 4 etc.

Click on backup and itunes will ask you to enter the passcode before it can proceed.

Here you can enter the 4 digit code as many times as you like, it will never lock up - so eventually you will get it correct.

This method avoids the permanent lock on attempting to remember your passcode by entering it on your phone to many times. 10 times and it is fully locked. I believe entering same code repeatedly counts as only one attempt - ie ios is smart enough to see this.

Wow, even 6 years later this holds true. Your original apple id password is what you need to enter. Absolutely insane to think it does not update with your current apple id password. I'm on around my 10th new password since then (iPhone 4 was my first phone). Glad I keep track of everything.

Dawson14 wrote:

Wow, even 6 years later this holds true. Your original apple id password is what you need to enter. Absolutely insane to think it does not update with your current apple id password. I'm on around my 10th new password since then (iPhone 4 was my first phone). Glad I keep track of everything.

Only if that's what you used as your passcode. The passcode to the encrypted back up is not linked to your Apple ID. You can use the same password but you don't have to. I've never used my Apple ID password as my backup password.

Which demonstrates that this is a design problem other than human error. It says "Enter the password to unlock your iphone backup". The first thing I asked myself was "Which password are you talking about? Phone, computer, iCloud or iTunes password? The list goes on because of lack of specificity with even no pw recovery option for such important task like fetching a backup. I was lucky to try with a couple 'till I nailed it, but in terms of User Experience and Design Thinking: poor!