Complete Guide to Forgot iTunes Backup Password

“How do I recover my iTunes backup password?”

Let’s take a look at how you can backup password for your iTunes. But, are there any real solutions available to this problem? Well, in reality, the answers are a mix of both common as well as advanced software usage. We’ll discuss both types of methods below. So, it’s a complete guide that will take you through all the possible ways to reset the iTunes backup password.

No doubt, passwords are great! But they can be damaging also if you forgot them, especially the backup password. So, get to know our different ways to check out on restoration or recovering iTunes backup password.

Part 1: What does the iTunes backup password do?

It’s all about understanding the concept of encrypted backups so that you can also have password protection. As the name suggests, a password protects a particular file or folder from any unauthorized person. The feature Encrypt Backup is available in both iTunes and Finder to encode information. The data contained in encrypted backups is comparatively more and essential than unencrypted files.

It also contains information as follows.

• • Wi-Fi Settings
• • Saved Passwords
• • Health Data
• • Website History
• • Call History

However, they won’t contain your Touch ID, Face ID, and device passcode.

Well, backup encryption does not activate by default. You have to turn on Encrypt Backup option in iTunes or Finder for the first time only. After that, all your backups will automatically encrypt. On the other hand, if you opt for iCloud to have a backup, it will routinely encrypt all data every time.

Part 2: How to encrypt your backups?

To get iTunes encrypted backup password, follow the simple steps given below.

Step 1: Open iTunes

The first step is to open iTunes if you have a Mac Operating system Mojave 10.14 or its earlier version. On the other hand, you should launch Finder in the case of the Mac operating system Catalina 10.15.

Step 2: Connect iPhone with PC

Now, connect the device with a computer via USB cable. Then, locate the widget on your PC or laptop.

Step 3: Start Encryption

Right from the Summary tab or General tab, choose Encrypt Local Backup option under the Backups section.

Step 4: Create Password

Make a password when asked in the window. Create a strong but that you can remember easily. You can also store it somewhere safe to remember.

After the creation of the password, all your previous backups automatically overwrite and get encrypted. Make sure the process of encryption gets complete successfully.

• • Open Finder and tap the General tab. Then, select Manage Backups. A list of backups will then get displayed. On the other hand, if you have Mac operating system Mojave 10.14 or its earlier version, go to the Menu bar on top and select the Edit> Preferences> Devices tab.
• • You will also see a lock icon next to the device's name with the timestamp and date on which the Backup got created.

• • Confirm OK and close the backup panel.

So, this is how iTunes encrypted backup gets created. Given above are some quick and straightforward steps to do so.

Part 3: How to reset if you forgot iTunes Password?

If you forgot the iTunes backup password, make sure to consider some essential facts beforehand. First of all, it is not possible at all to restore encrypted backup folder. You must have a password for it to happen. However, you can reset all settings and make a new password, after all.

Follow the steps given below to reset the iTunes backup password.

Step 1: Click Settings on your iOS device

First, click on Settings on your iOS device and then General> Reset.

Step 2: Go for Reset option

Now, you can go to Reset All Settings and confirm with the security passcode. Then, your phone will automatically go through the resetting process and set it to default preference settings. You can also remove the previous backup password without worrying about erasing any other apps or data.

Step 3: Connect the iOS device.

Connect your iPhone with PC via USB cable. Consider the small iOS icon given in the below figure. Simply click it.

Step 4: Encrypt new backup password

Go to Summary Page and select The Computer. Set a new password after tapping Encrypt Local Backup. Tap the Backup Now button and wait for iTunes to set your new password.

So, you don't need to change or enter a password every time. It's just that you are required to set up a new password every time you forget it. Well, it's a kind of inconvenience also that you can't recover a forgotten password.

Part 4: How to solve ‘iTunes could not restore the iPhone because the password was incorrect’?

“Why does iTunes say my password is incorrect?”

You may also have encountered this problem once in your lifetime. Even though you haven’t created a backup password, a message may sometimes pop up, saying that iTunes could not restore the iPhone because the password was incorrect.

No matter you try several possible passwords, it won’t help you in any way except the four solutions given below.

Try them out one by one and have your query fixed in no time.

Solution 1: Try every possible passcode.

And, the usual way every person tries the first time is entering all the possible passcodes. Even if it is the most direct method, you can miss one of them. So, consider all of the passwords you can enter as below.

It can be yours:

• • Computer login password
• • Apple ID password
• • Hard Disk Encryption password
• • Different websites password
• • Default password, i.e., 0000
• • Wi-Fi password
• • E-Mail password
• • Administrator’s passcode
• • iPhone passcode

Solution 2: Restore & Reset iPhone’s factory settings

Restore factory device settings after removing all settings and contents. The method can effectively fix the error and also any other potential bug.

Steps to reset iTunes backup password factory settings

Step 1: Make a backup first on your iTunes.

Step 2: Go to Settings> General> Reset and Reset all Content and Settings. Enter the password if prompted.

Step 3: Select the Erase button on warning pop-ups and ask the phone screen for confirmation.

Step 4: Connect iPhone with PC, open iTunes, and select Restore Backup, as shown in the image below.

Solution 3: Search iTunes password via Keychain (Only for Mac users)

Step 1: Open Mac and select Application> Utilities> Keychain Access.

Step 2: Put your iPhone in the search box and check for iPhone's backup.

Step 3: Double-click and tick the Show Password option. Then, enter the keychain password. Finally, your iPhone backup password will appear.

Solution 4: Use iCloud for Backup and start the restoration

Use iCloud for recovery if you already have iCloud’s backup.

Step 1: Turn the device on and check for Hello Screen. You should erase or remove all the contents if you have set up your iPhone already.

Step 2: Select Apps & Data> Restore from iCloud Backup.

Step 3: Sign in to Apple ID and select Backup. Also, make sure that the Wi-Fi connection is on while the restoration process.

So, these are possible solutions for forgot iTunes backup password restoration.

Conclusion

To wrap up, first of all, we would like to advise you to save your passwords after creation carefully. It is best to avoid such problems. You can either create a secret folder or save the passwords somewhere safe instead of adding it in the notepad of your iPhone itself. However, no matter how secure your device is, the password leakage may happen, and it will get you to troublesome conditions that you can’t even imagine. So, be careful with iTunes and other critical passwords because prevention is better than cure.

If you end up encountering a situation when iTunes could not restore the iPhone because the password was incorrect, use our recommended methods by following all the steps provided above.

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Axel Nash

staff Editor