Everything You Need to Know About iPhone Backup Encryption

Part 1: What is iPhone Backup Encryption?

You can use encryption to safeguard your computer's backups of your iOS devices. Your information is locked and encrypted using the "Encrypt local backup" option in the Finder or iTunes.

Data related to Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcodes are not included in encrypted backups. By default, your backup is not encrypted. For the first time, enable the password-protected "Encrypt local backup" option in the Finder or iTunes. Your device's backups will be encrypted automatically. You can also create a backup in iCloud, which always encrypts your data.

Features:

The features of iPhone backup encryption assist in protecting your data. Some of the most notable are listed below:

• Automatically encrypts all data kept on computer backups or in the cloud.
• It gives you the option of selecting a solid password for your backups.
• For added protection, it can be used with optional two-factor authentication.

Pros

• Backup data that has been encrypted is only accessible by you and cannot be used or accessed by anyone else. No thief can access your files, even if the backup is stolen.
• Thanks to backup data encryption, your backup files will always be secure and shielded from any data breach.
• Data security in cloud services is a constant concern while backing up your data there. Your worries about unwanted access will be put to rest by encrypting backup data.
• Your backup will be within the provider's control if you use cloud services. Therefore, it is wiser to encrypt backup data to stop anyone from viewing and accessing your files.

Cons

• Although encryption may benefit you while harming others, bad luck can strike anytime if you forget the password. What happens if you need to remember your password or save it somewhere? You will no longer be able to access the files.
• Backup data can become damaged or lost, just as all storage devices are susceptible to certain malfunctions that result in data loss. Therefore, encryption will make it more challenging to recover backup data when it becomes corrupted.

Types of Data:

Backups that have been encrypted may contain data that hasn't been encrypted in the past:

• Your saved passwords
• Wi-Fi settings
• Website history
• Health data
• Call history

Part 2: How to Encrypt iTunes Backup?

Some of your most private information is backed up only if you link your iOS device to your computer rather than utilizing iCloud. By default, an iTunes backup excludes saved passwords, Wi-Fi settings, website history, and health information due to security concerns.

If you want to encrypt your iTunes backup, an option provided by Apple, you can preserve data such as passwords and internet history. Although encrypted backups are not the default option, we've produced a tutorial that will lead you through encrypting and decrypting iTunes backups for those who wish to make more complete backups to your computer.

1. As usual, use an iOS smartphone to connect to your computer.
2. If iTunes doesn't launch when you connect your device, open it manually, then let your device sync normally.
3. In iTunes, choose your device. Next, select "Summary."
4. Check the "Encrypt iPhone Backup" box in the Backups section.
5. A password must be created, as required. Please do your best to make it something you won't forget. The password is stored in your keychain for easy recall.
6. The data on your device will be completely backed up by iTunes, which will replace any previous backups and encrypt them.
7. Attend until the backup's conclusion. After that, make sure the encryption is successful. From the iTunes toolbar, select Preferences. Select Devices next. The backup would have a lock next to it if it were encrypted.

It's great if you had a password to enable and modify your encrypted backups. You can use iCloud to sync your iOS device if you need help remembering the password for your encrypted backup. Because there is no method to recover data or disable encryption if you forget the password, it is advised to use a password manager to save your encryption password.

Part 3: How Can I Decrypt iTunes Backup?

1. Reset All Settings (passcode required)

Remove all settings and contents, then reset the device to its default settings. The technique efficiently resolves the error and any additional potential bugs. Resetting the encrypted iPhone backup password in a few easy steps:

1. Create a backup on iTunes first.
2. Reset all content and settings under Settings> General> Reset. If asked, enter the password.
3. When a warning pop-up appears, select the Erase option and request confirmation from the phone screen.
4. As seen in the image below, connect your iPhone to your computer, launch iTunes, and choose Restore Backup.

2. Uncheck Encrypt iPhone backup (encryption password required)

To decrypt an iTunes or iCloud backup, adhere to the methods listed below:

1. Start iTunes and attach your iOS device to a computer with a USB cord. Next, select the device-shaped icon at the top of the iTunes window.
2. Navigate to the Backups section by clicking Summary and additionally selecting Encrypt backup. It would help if you unchecked the box to get it back.
3. Your password will be requested in a window that appears. Your iPhone or iPad backup will be unlocked when you enter it and hit OK.

3. Dr.Fone-Screen Unlock

In the article above, we learned how to encrypt iPhone backup. But what if you lose the password for your iTunes backup? You won't be able to retrieve your backup data or restore it from your settings without the encryption password.

Your best bet for locating your iPhone's encryption password is Wondershare Dr.Fone-Screen Unlock. You can change the encryption settings or find your iPhone backup password using the methods it offers.

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Steps:

1. Please run Dr.Fone after installation, then look for the red "Screen Unlock" button.

2. To continue, you can press the "Remove iTunes BackUp Encryption" option in the Screen Unlock interface's bottom right corner.

3. Before accessing this page, please use a USB cable to connect your iOS device to the PC. If Dr.Fone recognizes this relationship, you will see the image below.

4. Please read the following three notes carefully before selecting "Remove Now":

Ensure "Find My iPhone" is not turned on.

Don't start "iTunes" while doing this.

While being removed, your device will reboot.

5. Your iTunes backup can be checked and deleted automatically with Dr.Fone. This encryption will be removed after the bar at 100% has been reached. This procedure will take a little time.

6. Encryption on iTunes backups has been successfully removed! You can easily back up, restore, move, or wipe your device.

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Part 4: What to do if Encrypt iPhone Backup is Greyed out?

As you are aware, the fact that some profiles are already loaded on your iPhone is one of the reasons you cannot stop the encrypted backup of your iPhone. You can only create encrypted backups for your iOS-based device because these profiles interfere with the backup procedure.

Thankfully, the iPhone allows you to delete profiles from your device. It will enable you to remove any problematic profiles and solve your issue. One of the iPhone's built-in apps lets you do it.

However, there are a few things to remember only the profiles that you believe to be problematic must be deleted. A frequently used program will stop working if you accidentally delete something from it.

1. Start your iPhone's Settings app. To access the general settings menu on your iPhone, discover General by scrolling down on the following screen and tapping on it.
2. On the next screen, scroll down to find the option labeled "Profile." Your iPhone profiles are saved there. To see the installed profiles, tap on them.
3. All the profiles installed on your iPhone are listed on the screen that follows. To open the suspicious profile's screen, tap on it.
4. Now look for the option labeled "Remove Profile." The selected profile will be removed from your iPhone when you tap this option.
5. Once the profile has been deleted from your device, you can connect it to your computer and use the iTunes program to create non-encrypted backups.

Conclusion

You should be able to encrypt backup of your iPhone using those straightforward techniques. Or, if you've lost your password, bypass the encryption with Wondershare Dr.Fone-Screen Unlock.

In any event, for increased security, we advise you to encrypt your iPhone backup. It would help if you didn't ever have to worry about losing your backups or forgetting your passwords again, thanks to technologies like Wondershare Dr.Fone-Screen Unlock.

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