Help iPhone Restrictions and backup problems?

Question

Help iPhone Restrictions and backup problems?

My new iPhones 4 S had "Restrictions" turned on with a password. I didn't set this up and want to check / remove the Restrictions.

To change the Restrictions 4 number password I have to either do a factory software reinstall, or run a program the "iphone back up extractor"that reads the password from the iTunes backup file so it can be entered and changed in Restrictions.

Issue here is iTunes 10.5.1 (42) wont backup the iPhone to the Macbook O/s 10.6.8 (128.83 gig available) the error is "can't write to desk error" so I can't get at the restrictions password. I have backed up to iCloud.

With the help of a Apple technician I did a factory software reinstall, then the iCloud copied data back to the phone, it also copied the Restrictions and unknown password, so I am back to square one, iTunes 10.5.1 (42) still wont backup the iPhone, and cant change the Restrictions password.

So far I have spent at least an hour of my cell minutes with the technician and got nowhere.

Any ideas on fixing this ?

I will have to go back to Apple support and over the phone inform the latest technician as to the issues but I only have 200 minutes per month...

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Dec 7, 2011 7:42 AM

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Answer 1

KiltedTim

Level 10

225,978 points

Dec 7, 2011 7:48 AM in response to Ian Campbell2

If you didn't set the passcode, someone with physical access to your phone did. The only way to get rid of it is to Wipe the phone and set it up as a new device. DO NOT restore your backup or the restriction settings will be restored as well.

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Answer 2

Dec 7, 2011 9:00 AM in response to Ian Campbell2

Thanks for the reply. I may have inadvertantly set the Restriction's password, or it may have be set by the salesperson who sold it to me.

If I 'new device' the phone, and dont restore the iCloud backup, the contacts, etc wont be on the phone restricting its usefulness.

With the phone as a new device, if I can iTunes back it up it wont have the Restrictions password. When I restore from iCloud the Restrictions will have that **** password which may not be abe to be backed up by iTunes.

Can I access/download the backup file on iCloud so I can extract the offending Restrictions password using "iphone back up extractor" ?

This is very frustrating

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Answer 3

KiltedTim

Level 10

225,978 points

Dec 7, 2011 9:21 AM in response to Ian Campbell2

No. You can NOT remove the restriction password from the backup and any backup to a computer will contain the restriction passcode. If you are syncing contacts and calendars to iCloud, that is SEPARATE from the backup. You can set that sync relationship up again with no problem and retrieve your contact information. What you will lose is in app data, like game progress, etc.

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Answer 4

Dec 7, 2011 9:39 AM in response to Ian Campbell2

Yesterday an Apple technician got me to go to Settings/iCloud, /Storage & Backup/turned on iCloudbackup/do the iCloud Backup.

Then I reset the iPhone General/Reset/Erase all Content and Settings.

After 26 minutes after the software was downloaded, I restored data from the iCloud.

I still have the Restrictions password issue.

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Answer 5

KiltedTim

Level 10

225,978 points

Dec 7, 2011 9:52 AM in response to Ian Campbell2

Yes. You do. YOU CAN NOT RESTORE YOUR BACKUP. The restrictions code is contained within it. SET IT UP AS A NEW PHONE. You can still set it up to sync with iCloud, retreiving your contacts, AFTER you do that.

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Answer 6

HolmanGT

Level 2

205 points

Dec 7, 2011 10:14 AM in response to Ian Campbell2

It seems that iPhone data extraction tool claims it can recover your restrictions password.

How to recover an iPhone Restrictions Passcode from an iTunes backup in a couple of easy steps!

And if I am reading it correctly it is free.

Oh - One more thing have you tried a couple of the simple passwords that companies use for default passwords like i.e. 0000, 1234, etc.

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Answer 7

Dec 7, 2011 11:46 AM in response to Ian Campbell2

Thanks HolmanGT for the help

The iPhone wont backup thru iTunes to my Macbook, so I cant extract anything from the backup data file to fix the Restrictions password issue.

I tried to factory restore the iPhone but that didnt remove the Restrictions issue because the Apple technician got me to restore onto the phone.

Both of these issues are mentionned a lot in the Communities - I just have a double dose that reinforces itself

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Answer 8

Dec 19, 2011 8:02 AM in response to Ian Campbell2

The iPhone Restrictions issue was fixed by deleting everthing, reloading the software and not reinstalling the data from iCloud. FYI this used nearly 2 hours of my Anytime minutes.

The iTunes backup issue. There was no actual backup in Library/Application Support Folder/Mobile Sync Folder/Backup Folder/.

I fixed it by moving the Backup Folder in Library/Application Support Folder/Mobile Sync Folder / to the Trash. I think I had to password authorize this. Then I created a folder on the Desktop, renamed it Backup folder, and moved into Library/Application Support Folder/Mobile Sync Folder/, I think I had to password authorize this too. Closed down everything and Restarted.

iTune would now backup the iPhone.

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Answer 9

KiltedTim

Level 10

225,978 points

Dec 19, 2011 8:21 AM in response to Ian Campbell2

I'm curious why you think consumed minutes... It may have consumed data if you don't have WiFi, but minutes are only used when you're on a call.

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Answer 10

Dec 19, 2011 11:47 AM in response to Ian Campbell2

Thanks for the your response. I had had the iPhone for approx 10 days when this happened.

Sorry I didnt make it more clear in my earlier posts.

You are correct, I think the downloads were thru WI-FI.

I had 3 technicians on my issue. I explained the problem to the first guy, a remedy was tried, unfortunately it didnt work.

So the next day there were 2 other technicians. The second transferred me to her supervisor once she understood my problem. The supervising technician proposed a fix then called me back after the phone had been reinitialized. My point was that a lot of phone time may have been used, when I checked the minutes, 87 overtime minutes had been clocked up.

I guess I wanted to warn newbies, like myself, that calls from Apple, which take a lot of time, will use up your minutes, which when I write it down now seem self evident.

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