Is there a way to test the password on an encrypted iOS backup?

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Level 1

64 points

Is there a way to test the password on an encrypted iOS backup?

I have an 9.7" iPad Pro and an iPhone 6S, both running iOS 11.0.2 and both have been backed up locally multiple times. I believe I have accurately recorded the passwords for their encrypted backups, but I haven't tested them, and a friend recently discovered she couldn't recall her encrypted backup password, and so was sad she lost her photos, etc..

I know I can find another iOS device, and try to restore the backups I have: if I succeed, then I'll know my password is good (and that the backups are good... c.f. How to verify iOS backups (iCloud or iTunes) ), but I don't have extra devices.

Is there any way to test that I've recorded the correct password for my backups?

iPhone 6s, iOS 11.0.2

Posted on Oct 8, 2017 10:04 AM

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Answer 1

FoxFifth

Level 10

475,461 points

Oct 8, 2017 11:12 AM in response to LaughingGoat

I don't have an iTunes encrypted backup so I cannot test this, but I note that the top screenshot in the following link has a "Change password" option and I would suspect that will prompt you for the old password and not allow you to change it if you don't enter it correctly. I suspect this means that you might need to actually change the password to complete the test. See: About encrypted backups in iTunes - Apple Support

Also note that as of iOS 11 it is possible to make a new encrypted backup if you have forgotten the password; that is something that was not previously possible.

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