Unveiling the Secret: Locating a Lost iPhone Backup Password in Keychain

Key Takeaways

To find your iPhone backup password, open "Keychain Access" on Mac and search for "backup." Select "iOS Backup" and check the box for "Show Password."

If the password is not saved in Keychain, you have the option to reset all your iPhone settings to generate a new backup with a password of your preference. iPhones and iPads offer the feature to create encrypted backups on Mac, which is convenient until you forget the password. If you are attempting to restore your iPhone but cannot recall the password, there's a solution. Continue reading to learn how to recover a lost iPhone backup password by utilizing Keychain Access.

What Is an iPhone Backup Password?

In addition to utilizing iCloud, you have the option to locally back up your iPhone on a Mac through Finder (on macOS Catalina and newer) or iTunes (macOS Mojave and earlier, or Windows). This method will not occupy any of your iCloud storage space, and it enables you to swiftly restore your data without an internet connection.

You have the option to secure your local backup by encrypting it with a unique password, referred to as the iPhone backup password or, occasionally, an iTunes backup password. This password is distinct from your iPhone passcode or Apple ID password.

This password is essential for tasks such as restoring from your iPhone backup, altering the backup password, or completely removing the protection. By selecting "Remember this password in my Keychain" during the setup, it is securely stored on your computer.

How to Find the iPhone Backup Password in Keychain Access

To access the iPhone backup password stored on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Open "Keychain Access" on your Mac. You can locate it in the Applications folder within Finder or launch it directly from Launchpad.

If prompted with a "Manage Your Passwords in System Settings" pop-up, choose "Open Keychain Access."

In Keychain Access, you'll find all your saved logins, passwords, and other sensitive information. Tap the search bar on top and type "backup."

You'll find an entry named "iOS Backup" or "iPhone Backup." Click on it.

In the pop-up window, check the box next to "Show Password" and enter your Mac administrator password when prompted.

Your iPhone backup password will appear in the box next to it.

Changing Your iPhone Backup Password

Reveal the iPhone backup password in Keychain Access and click on the password text to change it to a more memorable one. After making the change, press "Save Changes" and enter your Mac password if prompted.

Alternatively, you can change the backup password from Finder or iTunes. To do so, open Finder on your Mac and select your iPhone from the sidebar.

In the "General" tab, scroll down and tap "Change Password."

Type your old and new passwords. Check "Remember this password in my Keychain" and click "Set Password" to save.

That's it. You have successfully changed your iPhone backup password without re-creating the backup from scratch.

What to Do If Your iPhone Backup Password Isn’t in Keychain

In the event that you are unable to locate your iPhone backup password in Keychain, it is likely that you overlooked saving it during the initial setup process. Regrettably, there are no available options for recovering it, as Apple does not retain copies of backup passwords. If you neglected to save your password, then you will need to accept that your original backup cannot be retrieved.

However, in such a situation, you can create a new backup with a fresh password, which can be done after resetting your iPhone settings.

To do so, open "Settings" on your iPhone. Select "General."

Here, select "Transfer or Reset iPhone."

Tap "Reset" at the bottom.

Choose "Reset All Settings" and enter your iPhone passcode to proceed.

Restoring your device to its original defaults will not result in any loss of user data. However, it will reset all settings and preferences, including display brightness, home screen layout, network settings, and more.

Once done, connect your iPhone to Finder or iTunes again and create a new backup with a password of your choice.