iPhone is one of the most used mobile devices in the world these days. We keep our personal pictures, multimedia files, text messages and private information in our iPhones. So, it is absolutely necessary to take care of these files. One of the easiest ways to keep your files secure is by creating a backup for iPhone and stores them in a safe place. If you are an iPhone user then you must know that iTunes is the official method recommended by Apple to back up your entire Apple devices whether you are using iPhone or iPad or iPod. However, using iTunes can be really very painful task but it is impossible to live without it since it connects all your Apple devices in one convenient location. Moreover, iTunes allows you to set up a password for the backup file so that no one else can access them. It is a safe feature to keep away strangers, friends and unknown people from accessing the iPhone backup file.
For better security, iTunes does offer advanced encryption technology to encode your backup files. But you should note that encrypted iTunes backup includes advanced features which unencrypted iTunes backup doesn’t. For example, saved passwords, web browser history, Wi-Fi setting and health data. Also, iTunes do not encrypt your backup files by default. If you wish to encrypt your backup files then you must enable the password-protected Encrypt backup option. After that, iTunes automatically encrypts your backup files for that device.
But the real nightmare comes if you forget your iPhone backup password. It is not big news then once in a while you forget your password and then you literally want to smash your iPhone. But never fear, fortunately, there are some ways to get back your backup password even if you forget it.
Method 1: Try All Possible Passwords being Used for Other Accounts.
Now this method may seem a little useless but it is not. If you are using this method correctly then there is a high chance that you will be able to remember your password. The whole theory behind using this method is to try all the possible passwords you are currently using for other accounts. This may include the following password to try:
- Your current Apple ID password.
- Your Google account password.
- Your desktop or laptop administrator password.
- The passwords you use for your social network accounts.
- Some most commonly used passwords like “0000”, “1111”, “0852” and so on.
- Ask your family members to remember your passwords. In many cases, you may have told the password to someone in your family or friends and they might remember it.
Even after trying all the above methods fails then move on to the next option.
Method 2: Creating New Backup Account from iTunes.
If you forgot your iTunes backup encrypted password then sad as it sounds, but there is no way to recover it. But alternatively, you can delete that backup from iTunes and make a new fresh backup of your device and make sure not to enable the encryption option this time. This is one of the easiest ways to get over your issue. However, all data in that backup file will be deleted forever.
Method 3: Retrieve iPhone Backup Password from KeyChain
This method requires some technical knowledge but if you follow the given steps properly then you should be able to get back your backup password.
Step 1. Go to Finder -> Application -> Utilities -> KeyChainAccess
Step 2. You will see typing field on the top right corner that says search, click on that.
Step 3. In that search field, type “iPhone Backup”
Step 4. Simply click on the show password option and enter your MAC password.
Step 5. You will be able to see your iTunes backup password.
Step 6. That’s it.
Method 4: Recover iPhone Backup Password with Third-party Software
If you just had back luck with the methods recommended above, then using password recovery software is the only option left. This kind of programs is able to recover forgotten or lost password from iPhone backup file. However, when you searched it online, a couple of options will pop up. After a few touch testing, UUkeys iTunes Backup Unlocker is the best one among the candidates. First, it can run on a Windows PC or Mac computer. All its competitors failed to do that. Second, it has built-in support for GPU acceleration, which boots the performance 10X+. Lastly, you can make all kinds of settings to reduce the time spent on the password recovery process. Please check the steps in below to recover your iPhone Backup password.
Step 1: Install the Program and Add Encrypted iTunes Backup File
Please go to official site of UUkeys and download the installation file from there. Then follow the instructions to install it on a computer, which hosts the iPhone backup file. Now, Open the program and all iPhone backup files on that computer will be imported automatically.
Step 2: Choose a Password Recovery Mode and Make Proper Settings
Select an encrypted backup file and click ‘Next’. Then you need to choose a password recovery mode. In most case, Brute-force with Mask Attack is preferred because you can do a lot of settings to accelerate the task.
In next screen, please make proper settings according to your own case. You can set password length, character type, prefix. suffix, etc.
Step 3: Wait for the Password Being Recovered
Click ‘OK’, then UUkeys iTunes Backup Unlocker starts to recover the password based on the settings. The more accurate it is, the less time it takes to find the correct password. Once the password is recovered, it will be shown on the screen. Copy it and past it in iTunes to unlock the backup file.
Conclusion:
It is very important to change the password to something easier to remember next time. If you are not good in memorizing your password then it is recommended to write that password down in a piece of paper or in a text notepad so that you can check that later in case if you forget your password again. Moreover, disable the encryption option next time so that you don’t face the same issue.
