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Everything about iTunes Backup Password

author Emily Watson
date Thursday, March 10, 2022
Summary:

What is iTunes backup password? To protect iTunes backups of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can use set a password to encrypt and protect it. Many people may be confused between iTunes backup password and iTunes password. This post will show everything about iTunes backup password. In addition, if you forget iTunes backup password, you can get some tips here as well.

What is iTunes backup password? It is a password to protect and encrypt backup files of your iPhone, iPad or iPod in iTunes. You may be confused between iTunes password and iTunes backup password. Keep reading and distinguish between the two passwords.

iTunes Backup Password

The difference between iTunes password and iTunes backup password

iTunes Sign-in Password

iTunes password: It is a password when you need to sign in to iTunes Store. In another word, iTunes password equals Apple ID password. iTunes password is along with Apple ID account. If you forgot iTunes password, you can change Apple ID.

iTunes encrypted backup password: Also named as iTunes backup password, it is used when you want to protect iTunes backups of your iPhone, iPad or iPod. When the password is created, the feature of encrypted backup will automatically lock and encode your files in iTunes. Compared with iTunes password, no account is needed for iTunes backup password.

You can keep reading and learn more about iTunes encrypted backup and the way to set iTunes encrypted backup password.

What data and information can you encrypt in iTunes?

You can choose to encrypt backup in iTunes to lock and encode your data, and this feature can do more than other backup (those unencrypted ones). Besides contacts, videos, music and other regular data, it can back up other information:

  • Wi-Fi setting
  • All saved passwords
  • Health data
  • Website history

iTunes doesn't encrypt your backups automatically. To encrypt a backup in iTunes for the first time, you are required to turn on the password-protected Encrypt backup option. Then, iTunes will make encrypted backups by default for that device from then on.

tips Pay attention:

No Way to recover your information or turn off Encrypt Backup when you forget or lose the password. (Don't remember iTunes backup password?)

iTunes backup password: encrypt your backup in iTunes

Here we will show you how to set an iTunes backup password for you to encrypt your backup in iTunes. Also, we share some tips for turn off such feature if you want to unencrypt the backup.

How to create encrypted backup password in iTunes

iTunes won't automatically set encryption feature. If you want to encrypt a backup of your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch for the first time, you need to turn on the feature by creating iTunes backup password. After that, iTunes will automatically help you make encrypted backups.

Step 1. Download and launch the latest iTunes.

Step 2. Plug your iOS device into computer with a USB cable, and then iTunes will detect it. Click the device icon in the top-left corner to enter the "Summary" window.

Step 3. From the main interface, you will not miss "Encrypt iPhone/iPad/iPod backup" option.

Encrypt iPhone iPad iPod Backup

Step 4. iTunes will prompt you to create a iTunes backup password. Make an easy-to-remember password, or it will be difficult to recover iTunes backup password and then get access to iTunes backups.

Set Password

Step 5. Confirm the password. Then iTunes will overwrite your previous backups and make encrypted backup afterwards.

Check if you manage to encrypt the backup

Choose "Edit" (for Windows) or "iTunes" (for Mac) > "Preferences" > "Device", and then you will a lock icon appearing right of your device name, as well as the data and time of iTunes backup.

Check if iTunes Encrypted

Turn off iTunes backup encryption

To shut down the iTunes encryption feature, you need to enter the password and uncheck the box of encrypted backup.

The iTunes backup password is must-have. If you don't remember it, you have to recover iTunes backup password, make an iCloud backup instead or reset your iPhone/iPad/iPod to factory settings.

What if you lose iTunes backup password?

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iTunes backup password is necessary when you want to get access to encrypted backup. If you lose the iTunes backup password:

tips More tips

Apple's suggestions for Recovering iTunes Backup Password

You can't restore an encrypted backup without its password. But don't worry. With the device running iOS 11 or later, you can make a new encrypted iTunes backup of your device by resetting the password.

Step 1. On your iOS device, go to Settings > General > Reset.

Step 2. Tap Reset All Settings and enter your iOS passcode.

Reset All Settings

Step 3. Follow the steps to reset your settings. This won't affect your user data or passwords, but it will reset settings, including your old encrypted backup password.

Step 4. Connect your iOS device to iTunes again and make a new encrypted backup.

The previous encrypted backups are not available again, but you can back up your current device data using iTunes and setting a new iTunes backup password.

For device running iOS 10 or earlier, you can't reset the password. Maybe you can get backup the old iTunes backup password using the following hints:

  • Yourself.
  • If someone else set up your device, ask them for the iTunes password.
  • Use an iCloud backup instead. No iCloud backup, make a new one.
  • Try using an older iTunes backup.

Other Tips for You to Recover or Reset iTunes Backup Password

Try known password

  • Common passwords include:
  • Apple ID password
  • iPhone or iPad Passcode
  • Main e-mail password
  • Your computer user account's password
  • Simple passwords such as 0000 or 1234

Use Keychain Access on Mac

Maybe you save your iTunes backup password to Keychain if you are a Mac. Navigate to Keychain Access and find if you can get the iTunes backup password.

Step 1. On your Mac, open Application > Utilities > Keychain Access. Or you can search Keychain from the spotlight.

Search Keychain Access on Mac

Step 2. Click on All Items from "Categories".

All Items from Keychain

Step 3. In the upper right search field enter "iPhone" and look for an "Application Password" named "iPhone Backup". If you see it, double click it.

Search iPhone

Step 4. A new window that will open, tick the checkbox of "Show password", enter your keychain password and click the "Allow" button.

Then you will see the iTunes Backup password for your iPhone in the pop up window.

Find iTunes Backup Password

Try some iTunes backup password recovery tools

If all the above methods can't help you out, then you have no choice but try some iTunes backup password recovery tools, which may help you recover iTunes backup password.

In this post, we let you know what iTunes backup password is and offer some tips if you forget iTunes backup password. If you have something to say, welcome to tell us.