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Craven2014
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: 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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Craven2014

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

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Feb 24, 2016 9:36 AM in response to Craven2014
    Level 9 (58,434 points)
    iPhone
    Feb 24, 2016 9:36 AM in response to Craven2014

    It is not recoverable.

     

    About encrypted backups in iTunes - Apple Support

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Feb 24, 2016 9:36 AM in response to Craven2014
    Level 9 (54,040 points)
    Wireless
    Feb 24, 2016 9:36 AM in response to Craven2014

    Sorry, but your issue has nothing to do with Apple networking. You may have better luck getting a potential solution if you post to the iPhone or iTunes areas of the Apple Support Communities.

  • by Craven2014,

    Craven2014 Craven2014 Feb 24, 2016 9:37 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 24, 2016 9:37 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Thank you.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Feb 24, 2016 3:53 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 8 (37,891 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 24, 2016 3:53 PM in response to Tesserax

    It's been moved to iTunes.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Feb 24, 2016 3:54 PM in response to Craven2014
    Level 8 (37,891 points)
    Mac OS X
    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.

  • by mendonipadrehab,

    mendonipadrehab mendonipadrehab Feb 24, 2016 4:06 PM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 2 (182 points)
    Feb 24, 2016 4:06 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

    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

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Feb 25, 2016 7:55 AM in response to mendonipadrehab
    Level 9 (50,282 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 25, 2016 7:55 AM in response to mendonipadrehab

    mendonipadrehab is not an authorized repair facility for Apple. I advise you to avoid her services. Don't tell her anything at all. Instead take the iPhone to Apple, they made it, they have the correct parts and the knowledge to deal with it correctly.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Feb 25, 2016 9:49 AM in response to mendonipadrehab
    Level 8 (37,891 points)
    Mac OS X
    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?