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Mac2019

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 12, 2016
614
224
New phone today, tried to restore it but informed that I need to enter a password I’ve never set. So I tried to reset settings etc and per google and tried again- nothing worked. Basically I cannot restore my most recent backup because I don’t have the non existent password, I can’t backup with encryption because I don’t have the password and can’t turn off encryption because I don’t have the non existent password.

Am I now resigned to setting the thing up as a new phone and losing everything?
 

Mac2019

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 12, 2016
614
224
Yup, without the password you will not be able to use the backup. Did you try your Apple account password as the backup password?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205220
I’ve tried many passwords!

Also tried reset all settings which is supposed to work but all that did was ask for a new backup password twice and didn’t work when I entered it.

How Apple has done so wellis beyond me when they have such awful inherent flaws.
[doublepost=1526712395][/doublepost]What is the difference between iTunes and iCloud backup? How much more will be restored by using iTunes?
 

Shirasaki

macrumors G5
May 16, 2015
14,798
9,623
There is no visually distinguishable differences between iTunes and iCloud backups. Regarding the password, you can try older Apple ID passwords. If you can backup to iCloud, don’t care much about iTunes backup.
Not sure if you use Mac, but If you do, there is a chance that a backup password is stored in keychain. You can find it out.
 

Newtons Apple

Suspended
Mar 12, 2014
22,757
15,250
Jacksonville, Florida
I’ve tried many passwords!

Also tried reset all settings which is supposed to work but all that did was ask for a new backup password twice and didn’t work when I entered it.

How Apple has done so wellis beyond me when they have such awful inherent flaws.
[doublepost=1526712395][/doublepost]What is the difference between iTunes and iCloud backup? How much more will be restored by using iTunes?

I do not think making you backup secure is an “awful inherent flaw”. It is a security feature. Forgetting your password for your back up is not Apple’s fault.

If you still have you old phone, you can make a non-encrypted backup and use that, if not you are out of luck.
 
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Mac2019

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 12, 2016
614
224
I do not think making you backup secure is an “awful inherent flaw”. It is a security feature. Forgetting your password for your back up is not Apple’s fault.

If you still have you old phone, you can make a non-encrypted backup and use that, if not you are out of luck.
I Never set a password. That’s the flaw.
 

mrochester

macrumors 601
Feb 8, 2009
4,128
1,951
I’ve tried many passwords!

Also tried reset all settings which is supposed to work but all that did was ask for a new backup password twice and didn’t work when I entered it.

How Apple has done so wellis beyond me when they have such awful inherent flaws.
[doublepost=1526712395][/doublepost]What is the difference between iTunes and iCloud backup? How much more will be restored by using iTunes?
Unfortunately it sounds like you’ve turned on the encrypted backup, created a password, and simply forgotten you’ve done it. Please take personal responsibility for your own mistakes.
 
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cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,959
2,151
You likely turned it on a very long time ago. The password is unique to the encrypted backup so it won’t be a phone or iTunes password.

I set mine years ago.

An iCloud back up is just a back saved to iCloud. iTunes is a back saved to your computer on iTunes.

Functionality they are near identical. The difference is iTunes saves more stuff that iCloud will download fresh.

Use the iCloud back up, delete the iTunes, and when/if you make a new iTunes backup and if you decide to encrypt it then save the password you make knowing you may not need to use it for years.
 

Mac2019

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 12, 2016
614
224
Unfortunately it sounds like you’ve turned on the encrypted backup, created a password, and simply forgotten you’ve done it. Please take personal responsibility for your own mistakes.
Woah, hang on there. I deliberately turned on encrypted backup and was absolutely not asked for a password.
[doublepost=1526746283][/doublepost]
You likely turned it on a very long time ago. The password is unique to the encrypted backup so it won’t be a phone or iTunes password.

I set mine years ago.

An iCloud back up is just a back saved to iCloud. iTunes is a back saved to your computer on iTunes.

Functionality they are near identical. The difference is iTunes saves more stuff that iCloud will download fresh.

Use the iCloud back up, delete the iTunes, and when/if you make a new iTunes backup and if you decide to encrypt it then save the password you make knowing you may not need to use it for years.
It won’t allow me to. I’m literally between a rock and a hard place; can’t login to restore it, can’t set a new one and can’t take off encrypted backup.
[doublepost=1526746327][/doublepost]
That is plain wrong. The default setting for this in iTunes is OFF - the user needs to actively opt in in order to use an encrypted password.
I opted in to an encrypted backup, this I’ve not disputed. I absolutely did not set a password.
 

EM2013

macrumors 68020
Sep 2, 2013
2,472
2,304
Woah, hang on there. I deliberately turned on encrypted backup and was absolutely not asked for a password.
[doublepost=1526746327][/doublepost]
I opted in to an encrypted backup, this I’ve not disputed. I absolutely did not set a password.
You can’t turn it on unless you set a password. Just cause you don’t remember setting a password, doesn’t make it apple’s fault.
 

Newtons Apple

Suspended
Mar 12, 2014
22,757
15,250
Jacksonville, Florida
Woah, hang on there. I deliberately turned on encrypted backup and was absolutely not asked for a password.
[doublepost=1526746283][/doublepost]
It won’t allow me to. I’m literally between a rock and a hard place; can’t login to restore it, can’t set a new one and can’t take off encrypted backup.
[doublepost=1526746327][/doublepost]
I opted in to an encrypted backup, this I’ve not disputed. I absolutely did not set a password.

I am afraid you are wrong. Reguardless, it is done and over with at this point. Time to move on.
 

mrochester

macrumors 601
Feb 8, 2009
4,128
1,951
Woah, hang on there. I deliberately turned on encrypted backup and was absolutely not asked for a password.
[doublepost=1526746283][/doublepost]
It won’t allow me to. I’m literally between a rock and a hard place; can’t login to restore it, can’t set a new one and can’t take off encrypted backup.
[doublepost=1526746327][/doublepost]
I opted in to an encrypted backup, this I’ve not disputed. I absolutely did not set a password.

Turning on encrypted backup means you have created a password.
 
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