Backup iPhone without a password

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Backup iPhone without a password

Hello! 1st post here,

How can I backup iPhone A to iTunes and then restore into iPhone B without getting prompted for a backup password that I do no know or remember ever setting?

To clarify, I am not trying to read an encrypted backup. I would like to make a NEW backup but I do not want it to be encrypted as I do not know nor remeber how a password was set in the 1st place. If I click on the encryption checkbox, I am prompted to enter the password. Defeats the purpose of clicking on the box, no?

Thanks,

Henry

iPhone 4, iOS 7.1.1

Posted on Aug 29, 2014 11:26 AM

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Answer 1

mario49

Community Specialist

Aug 31, 2014 9:10 AM in response to henskibaby

Hey henskibaby,

Thanks for the question. After reviewing your post, it sounds like you have existing encrypted backup and you want to have a non encrypted backup and put that on another device. If the backup is encrypted and you do not have the password you will have to restore the device then make a new backup.

iTunes: About iOS backups

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4946

If you can't remember the password and want to start again, you must perform a full software restore and chooseset up as a new device when iTunes prompts you to select the backup from which to restore.

iOS: Troubleshooting encrypted backups

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5162

When backup encryption is first enabled, iTunes asks to enter a password and then creates a new encrypted backup for the device. iTunes will continue making encrypted backups until you deselect the Encrypt backup checkbox in the iTunes Device Summary screen. You need the backup password to disable backup encryption or to restore from an encrypted backup. The setting to encrypt backups is stored on the device.

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.

Have a nice day,

Mario

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Answer 2

henskibaby Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 31, 2014 10:28 AM in response to mario49

Hi Mario,

Thank you for your clear and helpful reply.

I must say I don’t find Apple’s approach justified. The password should certainly protect PAST backups. I do not understand why the decision to make a new backup without encryption is made nearly impossible by the insistence on providing the password.

I have seen tons of similar requests from your users saying they no longer know the password. Tough luck if they have an encrypted backup but if they still have access to the data on the device, preventing them from further backups is simply non-sensical.

Again, not your personal fault. I very much appreciate your excellent reply.

Best regards,

Henry Dagher

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