Q: How do I turn off ipad backup encryption in itunes when password is forgotten?

You can't turn it off without the password : About encrypted backups in iTunes - Apple Support

There is no way to recover your information or turn off Encrypt Backup if you lose or forget the password.

 

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To turn off iTunes backup encryption, enter the password and uncheck the Encrypted backup box in iTunes. Your encryption password is always required to turn off backup encryption.

You can't use an encrypted backup if you don't have the password. If you forgot your password, the only way to turn off backup encryption on your device is to erase your device and set up as new. Erasing removes all data from your device. If you don't want to erase your device, restore from an iCloud backup instead.

The password needs to be known to either restore to the backup or to turn encrypted backups 'off'. You can backup to the cloud and copy purchases over to your computer's iTunes and take your own copy of any important documents and photos etc, reset the device to factory defaults, and restart to the cloud backup

My backup encryption password was set to something I don't know.

I followed the instructions at About encrypted backups in iTunes - Apple Support

Backed up to iCloud

erased device

set up as new

restored from iCloud

in addition, I

used iTunes on my Windows7 PC to delete the encrypted backup

uninstalled iTunes

re-installed latest version

When I connect the device to my PC, iTunes shows encryption enabled by default.

When I uncheck backup encryption, it demands a password.  I don't know that password.

My question: Exactly how does one go from erasing the device to removing the backup encryption password?

I eventually want to set my own backup encryption password, but first I have to remove this useless one.

Thanks in advance.

How did you reset the iPad back to factory defaults ? Did you do via your computer's iTunes (Restore iPad button on the Summary tab) ?

Thank you for the response.

I used the "erase all content and settings" button from the "Settings" menu, directly on the iPhone.

The iPhone isn't disabled.  I can access it and make backups to iCloud and to the PC, but the PC backups are encrypted with a password I did not choose.

Is it imperative to erase from iTunes in order to disable backup encryption?

Not sure whether it will make a difference or not, but it's possibly worth a try