itunes could not restore the iphone because the password was incorrect

It is NOT the PIN of the iPhone (or any phone)

It is NOT your ITunes password (your Apple-ID password)

it is NOT the password of your computer

It is NOT the password of your friend's mother's lawnmower

When you restore from a backup to an unknown iPhone (such as a new one) then you have to enter the "Encryption Password".

This password you have chosen when? It was the first time you decided to back up the iPhone in encrypted format. If encrypted, then the passwords also get backed up - jolly useful.

So, cast your mind back when you entered that password. I found it because I had written it into a password keeper. If you did not keep a record of that password, then you probably used a password that you thought you could remember. So keep on trying guessing that password.

About encrypted backups in iTunes - Apple Support

Same problem here. With all their trillions they are unable to make the simplest program that happens to be the most important, on top of the fact that we pay them $1000 every other year, we have to lose all our data.

Absolute shameful greedy retards.

I'm at a loss.

I have never set a password for backup either, yet I can't restore.

Every Apple ID password I've ever used does not work.

Every Phone or iPad unlock code I've ever used does not work.

Every PC admin login I've ever used does not work.

CAPS LOCK does not work.

Encrypting, setting a password, then removing the password does not work.

Every other password I can remember using on unrelated websites does not work.

This is just another example of iTunes being an unnecessary and antiquated burden, and Big Brother Apple being a pain in the *** to deal with. I am ready to just sell this excuse for a phone and switch back to Android, which does everything seamlessly in the cloud without charging you for it.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE APPLE! I HAVE TRIED EVERY PASSWORD UNDER THE SUN.

IT DOSENT TELL YOU WHAT PASSWORD TO ENTER, IT JUST SAYS ENTER "THE" PASSWORD, WHAT BLOODY PASSWORD.

THE OTHER THING IS THERE IS NO "FORGOT PASSWORD" RESET BUTTON.

ABSOULUTELY UNEXCEPTABLE!

THIS ISSUE IS STILL NOT SOLVED ON THE 10TH OF MARCH 2017

In iTunes, there is an option to 'Encrypt iPhone Backup'. If this is ticked, then you have set a password for the Backup at some point which means you can't restore from the backup until this password is entered correctly.

I read norm123's post and tried some other password that I've used for different things in the past and one of them worked. It's not the iPhone unlock code that iTunes wants. It's ridiculous that iTunes doesn't tell you that.

I just hit the same wall going from an iPhone 5 and trying to back it up, and then transfer the data to a iPhone 5s.

The 4 digit phone password did not work.

my itunes password did not work.

computer password did not work.

what worked??? A random old password that I used ages ago for iTunes and a variety of other ecommerce sites.

Apple... you make no sense sometimes. Why do you make us all crazy over stuff like this????

So here is the deal...

I had the encrypted box checked as well and I did put in my password that I use for my apple ID (logical)... Well when I entered it, my CAPS lock button was on... So I did use my "Apple id" but in reverse of how I normally do with CAPS lock on... Give it a shot... Can't hurt trying.

Same problem here; never did set a password on my backup but it is asking for one. I tried iCloud password, the phone password, all lower case, all upper case, etc. Finally, I got it with my .. hotmail pasword ..

cheers paul - you've saved me from going insane

😕

Thank you so much!!! This worked for me when nothing else did!

If you think you know that password but it's not working. Try typing the same number of blank spaces as the previous password. So if your password was Apple123 try hitting the spacebar 8 times. Worked for me. iOS7.1

I had the same problem and have been trying to resolve it all evening.

I tried everything that has been suggested on this forum.

But what worked for me was that I erased all the content on my phone and then restored it again.

Try it. It may or may not work for you.

This thread has saved me a TON of time today, so thanks to you all. After a few minutes of frustration, I found this thread and I accepted the idea that my iTunes installation had locked in a password I gave it **years** ago. Fortunately, it was my favorite password for things not critical, so it got back into my head quickly and I was off and running to duplicating the essentials of my IOS environment on two different iPads before erasing one of them to give to a relative. Cheers!

Setting up my iPhone 6 and had the same issue, where I had not created a password that I was aware of. I noticed that iTunes had the series of ••••••• pre filled in the form when I opened it, so after trying my normal password unsuccessfully, and noting that leaving it blank was not an option, I just hit enter with the pre-filled •••••• and it worked… maybe that is Apple for "you don't have a password"?