How to Remove iPhone/iPad/iPod Backup Password if Forgotten

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Have you experienced accidentally deleting some important files on your iPhone, iPad or iPod? And to top it off, you also forgot the password of iPhone back up you ever set? Unfortunately, if you don't have the correct password, you would not be allowed to gain access to the backup files. This is a new mechanism developed by Apple to prevent illegal access to private user data.

Method 1: How to Remove iPhone Backup Up with Apple Key Chain
Method 2 How to Remove iPhone Backup Up with iTunes Backup Unlocker

Method 1: How to Remove iPhone Backup Up with Apple Key Chain (for Mac User)

If you completely forgot the backup password, then the first thing you should check is whether you wrote down the password on somewhere or try the password combinations you use frequently, such as birthday, name shortcuts, 123456, etc..

For Mac users, you should check the password in Keychain as it is the official way to manage passwords and other private staff on Mac. If you ever added a password for iPhone backup, it may be stored in Keychain and you can recover the backup password from there.

How to Remove iPhone Backup on Mac via KeyChain Access:

Step 1: Launch "Keychain Access" app on your Mac, which is under "Other" category in Launchpad.
Step 2: Click "All items" Under "Category" tab, which is located at the left sidebar.
Step 3: Search iPhone backup in upper right corner. If you stored the backup password in Keychain, then there is an item in search result.
Step 4: Double click on the item and check "Show password" on the new window. Enter the admin password of Mac and the backup password will be shown on the screen.
Step 5: Copy the password and paste it in iTunes to unlock the iTunes backup file.

windows login screenshot

Method 2 How to Remove iPhone Backup Up with iTunes Backup Unlocker

Luckily, there is another way for you to recover your forgotten password if you didn’t find the password via method 1. That is by using third-party app called UUkeys iTunes Backup Unlocker, which is empowered by an advanced password scanning engine.

UUkeys iTunes Backup Unlocker is powerful password recovery software that is designed for iOS users to assist in recovering forgotten iTunes backup passwords. Using its unique password recovery algorithms, it can assist in finding the right password in just a short amount of time. There are 2 different recovery types you can choose from depending on your needs and the level of difficulty of the password.

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Things that You Need to Prepare:

Encrypted iPhone Backup File.
A Windows PC or Laptop.
UUkeys iTunes Backup Unlocker.

Tutorial for Removing iPhone Backup Password with UUkeys Software

Step 1. Download and Install UUkeys iTunes Backup Unlocker

The first step is to download the UUkeys iTunes Backup Unlocker program. All you need to do is click the download button for the program.

Once you are done downloading, install the program on your computer using the installation wizard. Once done, launch the program and you are now ready to use it.

Select Password Protected iTunes Backup File

Step 2. Import your Backup File in iTunes

Once the UUkeys iTunes Backup Unlocker has launched, a new window will pop up and display all your backup files from the default location. The backup files would be in a hidden folder by default. To be able to view it, you would need to allow permission in viewing hidden files on your computer.

You can find the name of the device, password info and the backup time from the window. This will aid you in deciding the right back up file for you to select. Then, click 'Next' after options

Step 3. Select your Password Attack Type

There are 2 built-in attack types to ensure high rate of success. The first type is the Brute-force Attack. This kind of attack will try any possible password you could think off randomly so this might take a longer period of time.

The second type is the Brute-force with Mask Attack. This is the best attack to use if you still remember some parts of your password like a certain number or special character. This will aid in speeding up the process in locating your password.

Step 4. Password Recovery Settings (Recommended)

TIt would take days to unlock a strong password if you never set the options properly. To shorten the password recovery time, you should try you best to fill out the setting fields as many as you can, such as password length, character type, prefix, etc.. More accurate you set, the less time it takes.

Plus, if the computer has a Nvidia graphics card, then you can enable GPU acceleration with this program. This would increase the speed at 90X faster.

Step 5. Start the Process of Recovering your iTunes Backup Password

Begin the password recovery process by clicking "OK". A computer with good specification and being able to remember your password partially can aid in speeding up the process of the recovery.

iTunes Backup Password Recovery Succeed.

Step 6. Retrieve the lost Password and Access Data from the iTunes Backup

Once the program has located your password, it will be displayed on the screen. iTunes will signal the program once the correct back up has been located. Next you need to copy the password and launch iTunes and paste it and save it in a safe location.

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We love it when our jobs are made easy by software like this. If you ever need to retrieve your iTunes back up password. UUkeys iTunes Backup Unlocker is the right program for you to solve problems such as iTunes keeps asking for password you never set. In addition, it would take more time to unlock a strong password with brute-force algorith. So please be patient. And important password, it is best to write them down or record them in password manage apps. This will do a great help when you forgot the password.

Feb. 17, 2016 15:28 pm / Posted by Cathryn Akerman to iOS

Cathryn Akerman is a professional freelance technology author and worked 8 years as a computer system engineer. Cathryn keeps sharing this computer skills current through UUkeys to her readers and clients.