jsn007
Level 1 (4 points)
iBooks

Q: Cannot switch off encrypt backup in itunes

I have recently discovered that I cannot restore from my iphone backup because I do not know the password. Never had one and have given up guessing what it might be. Having accepted my fate I now want to switch off the encrypt so this problem never plagues me again but I cannot seem to switch it off. i.e. You have to know the old password to change it which I do not have. I have deleted all previous backups. Any ideas? I think apples solution is buy a new mac or an iphone based on previous experience!

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Sep 18, 2014 8:13 AM

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jsn007

Q: Cannot switch off encrypt backup in itunes

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  • by alex_h1,

    alex_h1 alex_h1 Sep 20, 2014 8:59 AM in response to jsn007
    Community Specialists
    Sep 20, 2014 8:59 AM in response to jsn007

    Hello jsn007,

     

    Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.

     

    To troubleshoot this issue of a forgotten iTunes encrypted backup password please see the information in the article linked to below.

     

    iOS: Troubleshooting encrypted backups

     

    Take care,

    Alex H.

  • by jsn007,

    jsn007 jsn007 Sep 20, 2014 10:41 AM in response to alex_h1
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iBooks
    Sep 20, 2014 10:41 AM in response to alex_h1

    Thanks Alex but this explanation still relies on you remembering a password eventually. I spent hours trying all my passwords I have ever thought I had over the last few years since I bought the phone. The problem is that once you have exhausted that list then you are still stuck. You cannot switch off encryption because you need a password for that and all new backups continue being encrypted. That is the real problem, that you can never switch off encryption for the device, let alone recover from a backup. I have checked keychain and I have also out of desperation deleted all backups in the hope that this would set the flag but it does not. The only thing you can do is rebuild the iphone as a new device from scratch which I have now resigned myself to doing.