If you can’t remember the password for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch encrypted backup - Apple Support (2024)

FAQs

What to do if I forgot my encrypted iPhone backup password? ›

The answer is, yes! If you have locked your device and don't remember the passcode or for some reason, the device is disabled, you can still backup all the data on the device. Backing up all the data on your iPhone is an important exercise that has to be done if you are going to keep your data safe.

If you have forgotten, lost, or otherwise do not know the lock screen or the encryption password for your phone, the phone must be factory data reset. See How to factory reset a device. NOTE: For Android phones on Android 5.0 or higher, Factory Reset Protection may be enabled.

To turn off backup encryption, uncheck the Encrypt local backup checkbox in the Finder, the Apple Devices app, or iTunes and enter the password. If you can't remember your password, you have two options: Use iCloud to back up and restore. Reset your backup password.

You can't restore an encrypted backup without its password.

There's no such thing as a default password for an iOS backup. Perhaps you used one of the following: Your iTunes, Apple ID or iPhone password. Your email password.

If you can't remember your passcode when you try again, use a computer to put your iPhone in Recovery Mode. Recovery mode allows you to erase the iPhone, giving you access to set it up again. You will need your Apple ID and password to set your iPhone up again.

There are five unsuccessful attempts to unlock your iPhone with Face ID or Touch ID.

iPhone passcode is NOT included in the iPhone backup. That's why restoring the phone, from backup, on the LAST computer the phone synced with, removes the passcode.

To find your iPhone backup password, open "Keychain Access" on Mac and search for "backup." Select "iOS Backup" and check the box for "Show Password." If the password is not in Keychain, you can reset all your iPhone settings to create a fresh backup with a password of your choice.

Will I lose everything if I reset my encrypted data? ›

Thankfully, if you're forced to reset your end-to-end encryption data, you won't lose your photos, videos, or text messages. According to Apple, the following information will be deleted if you reset your end-to-end encryption data and will need to be re-entered once you set your device up: Home data. Health data.

To delete multiple saved passwords from iCloud Keychain, go to Settings > Passwords, tap "Edit," select the passwords you want to delete, then tap "Delete." You can delete a single password in Settings > Passwords by selecting an account and tapping "Delete Password."

Note that this password is separate from, and could be different than your Mac's admin password, your Apple ID password or your lock screen passcode. It would have been specified when you checked the "Encrypt iTunes Backups" checkbox in your iPhone's settings in iTunes.

Resetting your encryption data will delete some information from your device, but you will retain photos, videos, and texts.