How to Reset My iTunes Backup Encryption Password If I Forgot It?

If you're like me then you're someone who constantly forgets their iTunes backup password. Don't worry, there's a lot of people like us. According to statistics, 76 out of 100 people who use iPhones or iPads forget their iTunes password. Go to any iOS forum and you'll see people asking how to recover their backup password. It can be a huge annoyance, but thankfully we're prepared to deal with. We'll go through all the methods of iTunes backup password recovery in this article and hopefully save you a headache.

Option #1: Reset iTunes password with iTunes itself.

Quite possibly the simplest solution to a forgotten iTunes password. You could simply try to make a new iTunes backup. This method will immediately delete the old iTunes backup password. This used to be impossible, but with the arrival of the newest iOS (11), you can make a brand new backup which will remove your old password.

Follow these 3 easy steps below to reset your old iTunes backup password:

1. 1. Go to "Settings". From there go to "General" and then "Reset".
   2. Afterward, press "Reset All Settings". You'll be asked to enter your iOS Passcode. Do so and confirm when prompted to reset all settings.
   3. Lastly, hook up your iPhone to iTunes again through your computer and create a brand new password (and try to remember it this time) to make a new encrypted backup.

This method is not flawless, however. There are some problems with it. the cons of this method are:
You may not be able to use your old encrypted backup.
You will not be able to retrieve your old password. Instead, you can only reset it, which will erase your old encrypted data.

If these sound like they're not worth it to you then it's time to move on to the next method on our list.

Option # 2: Use MacOS Keychain Access to find your lost iTunes backup password.

Like so many other iOS users, you may have a habit of saving your passwords in Keychain Access. If you're one of those people we recommend that you search for the encrypted backup password in MacOS Keychain. You know, just in case it's saved there. It could save you a lot of work. Here's how to search for it:

1. Start up MacOS Keychain. It can be found in your Utilities. Alternatively, you can find the app in the spotlight.
2. Click on "All Items" in Categories. Then enter iPhone and look in the upper right-hand corner.
3. You'll see a pop-up window that says "iPhone Backup", in the Attributes tab. Once there simply select the "Show Password" option. Every password you've saved in Keychain Access will be displayed on the list. Keep in mind you'll have to enter your MacOS password to get your iTunes backup password (along with any other password on that list), so I hope you didn't forget that as well.

Option #3: Hack and reset your lost iTunes password with TunesGeeker.

You can use a handy app called TunesGeeker, an effective password recovery tool which can restore your lost iTunes backup password with relatively superior results than the previous method. TunesGeeker has two new attack features named "Mask-Attack" and "Brute-Force Attack ". They can quickly recover your password without erasing the old encrypted data. The app is pretty simplistic, which makes it that much more effective. It can use dictionary-styled attacks to try all possible combinations of characters to find your password. This is a rather simple method that hackers have been using for years to crack passwords. Here's how to install and use TunesGeeker:

1. 1. First, download and install the app on your machine. You can download it from the official website. Install the trial version if your password is 3 characters or less. If it's more you'll need the full version instead.
   2. After that click the "Open" button to browse your local drivers and find the iTunes backup file that needs to be cracked. TunesGeeker will be able to automatically find your backup file.
   3. The next step is selecting the correct attack type for your encrypted file. The tool gives you two options to reset your iTunes backup password. Be sure to choose the correct attack type to speed up the decryption process as much ass possible. Select Brute Force attack if you don't remember anything about your password. If you do remember a word or some part of the password then choose Mask Attack instead.
   4. Once you're done with the setting just press "Start" and let the program do its thing. If you chose the correct attack type the password could be recovered within seconds.

Most iPhone users run across issues like this and panic due to inexperience, lack of computer literacy, or resources. Don't worry, it's an easy issue to solve and we're here to help. Just follow the steps outlined in this article and you'll be right as rain. To prevent problems like this in the future I strongly recommend you look into a password manager. Cyclonis has developed a sturdy and robust password manager can not only make your online experience safer with features like two-factor authentication, end-to-end encryption, cloud-based private data vaults, password analyzer, and password generator tools, but it can also streamline your experience with handy gadgets like an auto-fill tool. Cyclonis Password Manager is free, so why not give it a try?