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itunes could not restore the iphone because the password was incorrect

I got this message as I was trying to switch from my Iphone 5 to 5s and I can assure you that I never put any password for backup. I backup my iphone 5 and when I conntected my new 5s and wanted to restore the data from the old one I got a pop up message saying that I should enter an encrypted password. I did enter my passcode (which is the same in both phones) I also tried my Apple ID password and I still get this error message "itunes could not restore the iphone because the password was incorrect". Please help.


I can assure you that I dont have a password for my backup and if I do it should be my passcode. I can't even reset or remove this option. I get another message saying that the terms and conditions of iCloud have change. I do believe that it is not my problem to lose all my data when Apple decided to change the terms and condition.


Kindly advice.

iPhone 5, iOS 7.0.4

Posted on Nov 24, 2013 2:15 PM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Aug 9, 2017 11:19 AM

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

96 replies

Oct 1, 2014 9:55 PM in response to reemmatloub

I think syncing it up helped, but I ran into this issue too and it wasn't my wi fi password... I use a remote server to log in to work stuff on my pc, and it somehow got one of my old work login passwords mixed up as my backup password for iTunes (last night? Right). Just an fyi, if you ever log in remotely for work, it may have kifed a secure password that way. It's almost as if the software finds ALL your passwords ever used, chooses the most secure one and picks it... Strange.


Any ideas how this bug came to be? I am slightly concerned about how an iTunes account would know about other passwords on hardware and/or software not all associated with it... Creepy. Additionally, I never had this problem before the ios update and iphone 6. It must be with the new software.

Oct 5, 2014 3:55 PM in response to norm123

This makes absolutely no sense at all but after trying every form of my current set of passwords I tried one I haven't used in years and I'm sure I never used it with any apple products. I'm currently on a new computer and a fresh installation of iTunes and the backup was locked with that ancient password 🙂 iTunes, you make no sense 😀 but thank you everybody for this thread, gave me an idea of what to try in desperation

Nov 16, 2014 5:19 PM in response to reemmatloub

This was also my issue. Nothing worked. So I quit out of iTunes and then decided to go back in. There, under the "Backups" section, I noticed:


Automatically backup >> To this computer >> Encrypt iPhone backup >>Change password.


I'd never assigned a password, so I did. Then it started proceeding with the restoration of my backed-up apps and files.


YEE HA!!!!

Nov 29, 2014 7:45 AM in response to r0cker

That's because your encrypted iTunes password has nothing to do with your Apple ID password. Changing one doesn't change the other, same as if you change your Apple ID password, that doesn't change the password to the email account you use for your Apple ID's primary email address, unless it's an Apple email like an @icloud.com address.

Jun 13, 2015 5:06 AM in response to reemmatloub

What a Mission....... !!!! I tried everything that was suggested but no love( thanks for all the suggestions though )....... BUT when I disconnected my phone And tried via iCloud and signed in my iCloud could not backup either..... So I plugged in the phone again via iTunes and it went strait to " restore iPhone " without any Bloody password or nonsense. I guess singing in with iCloud first does the trick......Worked for me.....!!!!!!

itunes could not restore the iphone because the password was incorrect

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