[Stepwise Guide] Should You Encrypt Backup for iPhone?

You may think that iPhone backup encryption is overkill, but is indeed necessary. Here in this guide, we’d like to answer you the questions: Should you encrypt backup for iPhone, and how can you make it?

Demi by Demi Updated November 1, 2024
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Your iPhone must save a vast amount of personal and sensitive information. From contacts and messages to photos and app data, your iPhone stores a treasure trove of data that needs to be protected. One crucial aspect of safeguarding your iPhone data is encrypting your backups. You might ask yourself, should I encrypt iPhone backup?

encrypted backup iphone

In this article, we will cover all the essential information about encrypt backup for iPhone and explore potential workarounds.

Should iPhone backups be encrypted?

By utilizing iTunes, you can encrypt the backup of your iPhone. While it may seem excessive, there is an underlying advantage to this approach.

What does encrypt backup mean?
By using password to encrypt iPhone backup, you can easily secure your iPhone data. And an iPhone encrypted backup may contain:
✅ iPhone passwords for Wi-Fi;
✅ email accounts;
✅ websites;
✅ call history;
✅ and some apps.

Should I encrypt my iPhone backup?
Encrypting your iPhone backups adds an extra layer of security to your data, ensuring that even if your backups fall into the wrong hands, the information remains inaccessible. Here are some key reasons why you should consider encrypting your iPhone backups:

• Protection against Unauthorized Access: Encrypting your iPhone backup protects your sensitive information from unauthorized access, whether it's personal conversations, financial data, or confidential business information.

• Secure Transfer and Storage: When you back up your iPhone to your computer or cloud storage, encryption ensures that your data remains protected throughout the process, reducing the risk of interception or data breaches.

• Safeguarding Personal Privacy: By encrypting your backups, you maintain control over your personal privacy. It prevents anyone, including service providers or third-party entities, from accessing your data without your permission, ensuring that your privacy rights are respected.

iTunes logo

How to set up encrypt backup for iPhone

Setting up encrypted backups for your iPhone is a straightforward process. You will get detailed steps to encrypt backup for iPhone using iTunes in this part, together with how you can full master it.

Steps on how to encrypt iPhone backup
Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer, then connect your iPhone to the computer, and follow the steps below to encrypt your iPhone backup via iTunes.

Step 1. Launch iTunes, and click the Device tab > Tick This computer.

Step 2. Select Encrypt iPhone backup, and you will be asked to set up password to encrypt iPhone backup.

create encrypted backup password

Step 3. Click Back Up Now to backup your iPhone to PC.

How to check encrypted iPhone backup
On the menu bar of iTunes, go to Edit > Preferences > Devices. The lock icon next to the name of the device implies that your iPhone backup is encrypted.

device encrypted backup

How to restore encrypted iPhone backup
Restoring backup from iTunes will overwrite any data on your iPhone that is newer than the backup. Thus, be careful when you do this.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to PC > Launch iTunes, click the phone icon > Click Restore Backup.

iPhone restore backup

Step 2. Choose the encrypted backup of your iPhone you’d like to restore > Enter the password > Click Restore to begin.

enter password itunes

How to reset iTunes backup password
If you have forgotten the password for your encrypted backup for iPhone in iTunes, you can reset it using the following method. However, it's important to note that you won't be able to access your previous encrypted backups. Instead, you can create a new encrypted backup with a new password, allowing you to backup your current data securely.

To reset iTunes backup password: Go to iPhone Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. Enter your iPhone password to confirm the operation.

reset all settings iPhone

Bonus: An easier way to keep iPhone backup safe

While iTunes offers the option to encrypt iPhone backups, it may not always be the most convenient method. FoneTool, an all-in-one iPhone management tool, provides a simpler and more user-friendly way to keep your iPhone backups safe and secure.

FoneTool - Your Ultimate iPhone Data Safeguard

 Two backup choices. It provides both selective and full iPhone backup services, satisfying your different backup demands.

 Optional backup location. For your iPhone data security, you may want to backup iPhone to USB drives, external hard drives, and NAS, etc. FoneTool has got you covered.

 Easy to access backup files. Easily locate and view your backed-up data on your computer in one click.

 Free of data loss. When restoring a selective backup to iPhone, it will not erase any data existing on your iPhone.

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Free download FoneTool to your computer, and let’s see how to backup iPhone and keep it safe using FoneTool.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone to computer using USB > Launch FoneTool, and click Phone Backup from the left pane > Click Get Started under Full Backup. You can also choose Selective Backup to selectively backup iPhone.

full backup start

Step 2. Switch on Enable Backup Encryption > When asked, enter and verify your password to encrypt iPhone backup > Click OK to continue.

Please keep your password in mind, since it will be used to access the backup files in the future.

enable backup password

Step 3. Modify the backup storage path if needed. Finally, click Start Backup to begin the backup process.

full backup confirm

When you need to restore the encrypt backup for iPhone from FoneTool, just get to the Backup History page > locate the backup files > Click the restore icon > Enter your backup password to restore it.

full restore

Besides, if you have trouble restoring iPhone from iTunes backup, you can rely on powerful FoneTool to import and restore iTunes backup.

import full backup

Summary

In conclusion, it is a crucial step to encrypt backup for iPhone to protect your personal and sensitive data. By setting up encrypted backups, you add an extra layer of security and prevent unauthorized access to your information.

While iTunes provides a method for encrypting backups, FoneTool offers a more user-friendly and convenient way to keep your iPhone backups safe. Choose the method that suits your preferences and ensure the security of your valuable iPhone data.

 

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