HT203977: How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch

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SephAllen

Q: How do you reset a forgotten encrypted backup password?

How do you reset a forgotten encrypted backup password? I thought it was the same as my regular Apple ID password.

iPhone 6, iOS 9.3.5

Posted on Sep 3, 2016 10:40 PM

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Q: How do you reset a forgotten encrypted backup password?

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  • by modular747,Apple recommended

    modular747 modular747 Sep 3, 2016 11:07 PM in response to SephAllen
    Level 6 (19,319 points)
    iPad
    Sep 3, 2016 11:07 PM in response to SephAllen

    You can't.  You must delete that backup and create new backups with a new encryption passcode or unencrypted backups.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Sep 5, 2016 5:50 PM in response to SephAllen
    Level 8 (37,788 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 5, 2016 5:50 PM in response to SephAllen

    The best I can suggest is start guessing; you get unlimited guesses. If you are like most people it is a password you have used in the past. To speed up the process you can uncheck "Encrypt backup" in iTunes and you will be prompted immediately. Another option that sometimes works is a good-quality backup password cracker app; the only one I know of that actually works is from Elcomsoft. It's target market is law enforcement, and it is priced accordingly. However, the trial version will deliver the first two characters of the passcode if it can crack it. Note that it won't work if you are in the habit of using strong passwords, as it does guided brute force search.