Fix! iTunes Backup Password Never Set But Still Asking

After going through Apple’s official forum, we came across this query, which seemed a bit odd, considering iTunes is one of the most reliable tools designed by Apple. On further inspection, we figured out that this is a common iTunes error - iTunes backup password never set but still asking, as hundreds of people encounter it while trying to restore iPhone from last iTunes backup.

Despite being a feature-rich iOS tool, it’s no secret that iTunes has its fair share of blunders. Surprisingly, asking for a password to restore a backup is one of them. But, why does iTunes ask for a password to unlock a backup that you never set? Let’s walk you through a couple of reasons that trigger the said error and how you can fix it to restore data from an iTunes backup without any interruption.

Why iTunes backup password never set but still asking?

It is important to understand why this issue occurs before diving into the fixes. Here are a few reasons why iTunes encrypted backup password never set, even when you haven't set one up:

iTunes Bug: Like any software, iTunes can have bugs or glitches. Sometimes, a bug within iTunes may cause it to incorrectly prompt for a backup password, even if you never set one up. This can be frustrating for users who rely on iTunes for their backup needs.

Previous Encrypted Backup: If you have ever encrypted a backup in the past and have forgotten about it, iTunes may still be expecting a password for subsequent backups. This can happen if you've used a different device or computer in the past that had an encrypted backup associated with it.

Syncing with Encrypted Devices: If you have previously synced your iPhone with another device, such as an iPad or iPod, that had an encrypted backup, iTunes may mistakenly expect a password for your iPhone backups as well.

Whatever the cause of this problem, you’ll have to first enter the password to decrypt it, so that you can uncheck encrypt local backup in iTunes.

Fixes to never set up a iTunes backup password

Now that you encounter the problem of an iPhone backup password never set, we have compiled a step-by-step guide to help you overcome this challenge. When restoring your iPhone from a backup, you may wonder which password it is requesting. Rest assured, we will walk you through a few different methods to address this issue effectively.

Method 1. Try any possible passwords

If you're facing the situation where iTunes is asking for a backup password, one possible solution is to try entering the correct password. Although it's understandable that you may have trouble recalling the password for your backup, with a few attempts, you might be able to remember it.

There are several approaches you can take to help jog your memory and potentially recover your iTunes backup password. Recalling yourself with the habit for an iTunes encrypted backup password can also assist you in getting iTunes backup password.

It can be your:
• Computer login password
• Apple ID password
• Hard Disk Encryption password
• Different websites password
• Default password, i.e., 0000
• Wi-Fi password
• E-Mail password
• Administrator’s passcode
• iPhone passcode

Method 2. Find iTunes password from Keychain

Fail to recall iTunes backup password? You may try the Keychain method to find the password on your iPhone or Mac. While the success rate of this method is relatively low, it is still worth attempting.

Option 1. Use Keychain on iPhone
Go to the Settings app > Scroll down to locate and tap Passwords > Unlock the screen with your Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode.

Option 2. Use Keychain on Mac
Step 1. Open Mac, and select Application > Utilities > Keychain Access > Put your iPhone in the search box and check for iPhone’s backup.

Step 2. Double-click and tick the Show Password > Enter the keychain password. Then, you can get access to your iTunes backup password.

Method 3. Reset iTunes backup password

The last chance when iTunes backup password never set but still asking is to turn off encrypt backup in iTunes. By resetting all iPhone settings, you can turn off encrypt local backup in iTunes. Once this is done, you can proceed to create a new backup.

Here are the steps to reset iTunes backup password when iTunes asks you to enter password but you never set up.

Step 1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone > Tap General.

Step 2. Scroll down to locate and tap Reset > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.

Step 3. Choose Reset All Settings > Enter the lock screen password to confirm the operation.

When it is done, you can reconnect your iPhone to iTunes, and create a new encrypted backup.

Bonus: One-click backup iPhone with iTunes alternative

Dealing with the complexities and issues surrounding iTunes backups can be time-consuming and frustrating. Fortunately, there is a convenient alternative available - FoneTool.

FoneTool is a powerful and user-friendly tool that allows you to backup your iPhone with or without the need for a password as per your need. With just a few clicks, you can securely backup your iPhone data to your computer.

FoneTool outweighs iTunes from the following aspects:
Two backup options: Free to fully or selectively backup iPhone to PC.
Various backup locations: Save your backup files to local folders, USB flash drives, NAS, etc. according to your needs.
Easy to access backup files: One-click locate, view, and restore backed-up data.
Free of data loss: No existing data be erased when restoring selective backup.

To backup your iPhone using FoneTool, simply following these steps:

Step 1. Download, install, and launch FoneTool > Connect your iPhone to computer with USB.

Step 2. Click Phone Backup from the left pane in FoneTool > Mouse over to Full Backup and click Get Started. You can also try Selective Backup function to selectively backup iPhone.

Step 3. Switch on Enable Backup Encryption > When asked, enter and verify your password to encrypt iPhone backup > Click OK to continue.

Note: When you want to delete or modify the password, you can click Manage backup password to make it.

Step 4. Modify the backup storage path if needed. Finally, click Start Backup to begin the backup process.

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.

Summary

Experiencing the prompt for an iTunes backup password, even though you never set one up, can be perplexing. However, with the fixes mentioned above and the availability of convenient alternatives like FoneTool, you can overcome this issue - iTunes backup password never set but keeps asking and backup your iPhone without the hassle of a password prompt.