How can I recover or reset my encryption password for iTunes backup for a new phone?

I just purchased an iPhone 6 and it is replacing an iPhone 5. I want to transfer my data in iTunes but can't remember my encryption password. Is there a way to recover the password, or change it?

iPhone 6s, iOS 9.2.1

Posted on Feb 24, 2016 9:29 AM

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8 replies

Feb 24, 2016 3:54 PM in response to Craven2014

The backup encryption passphrase is set the first time you do a backup after checking "Encrypt backup" either intentionally or because a corporate security profile required it. At that time you are prompted for a passcode, and asked to confirm it. After that, unless you intentionally change it, the passcode never changes. It is most likely a passcode you have used in the past, because most people reuse passcodes. The good news is that you get unlimited guesses. To speed up the guessing process uncheck "Encrypt backup" and you will be prompted immediately for the current passcode. There is a good backup passcode cracker made by Elcomsoft. It is intended for law enforcement use, and is priced accordingly. However, the trial version will return the first 2 characters of the passcode if it can crack it. Elcomsoft's FAQ says that it is not guaranteed to work, and if you are in the habit of using strong passcodes it won't be able to crack it.

Feb 25, 2016 9:49 AM in response to mendonipadrehab

mendonipadrehab wrote:


I Had a customer last week for data recovery and her backup was encrypted by default. She had tried many of her common passcodes and it turned out that the passcode was "sprint". She had never set that passcode

Well, SOMEBODY set it. Passwords do not set themselves. Was it, perhaps, a Sprint phone that was set up by a Sprint store employee, who had previously used Sprint as a password for a different device on his or her computer?

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How can I recover or reset my encryption password for iTunes backup for a new phone?

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