iTunes backup encryption password

Question

Level 1

9 points

iTunes backup encryption password

Hi,

I've just connected my iPad mini 4 to my MacBook to try and backup the iPad to iTunes. iTunes still thinks my very old backup is has a password? I know you usually can't recover a backup without the password, but I thought that would be if you weren't using all new devices? The MacBook has never been used for an iTunes backup and the iPad mini 4 has never been backed up to a computer. The backup would've been from about 10yrs ago with devices I don't even have anymore. I've tried all the old passwords I can think of and none work. I thought that it would let me start a new backup if its the first time the device is being backed up?

Please help.

I don't want to never be able to back up a device to a computer for the rest of my life.

Posted on Feb 11, 2018 3:20 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Feb 11, 2018 5:54 PM in response to Mickymoo1

Restoring an encrypted backup requires the password. Backing up the current state of the device to iTunes should not, unless you opt to make a encrypted backup in which case you will get a prompt for one. I suppose it is just possible your device has inherited a policy setting that requires you to make encrypted backups, but again that would be you choosing the password rather than typing in an old one. If the device itself has previously be configured for encrypted iTunes backups then it should make one using the old password without any prompts.

What exactly are you doing that prompts for a password? If your options on connecting to iTunes are restore backup or set up as new device choose the second one, no content on the device will be changed.

Assuming the device is running iOS 11 you can follow the steps to remove the unwanted encryption requirement.

tt2

Reply

Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Feb 11, 2018 5:38 PM in response to Mickymoo1

See Disable iOS backup encryption.

tt2

Reply

Answer 3

Mickymoo1 Author

Level 1

9 points

Feb 11, 2018 5:43 PM in response to turingtest2

thanks for your reply. I have another question now though. The info says the encryption password is stored on the device, I'm guessing that means the device I no longer have. My current iPad mini was set up from iCloud so didn't receive any possible info/password from iTunes on the laptop I had. So if I reset the settings it talks about to get rid of the password, that won't work will it as it probably isn't there?

Reply

iTunes backup encryption password

Similar questions