Disable iOS backup encryption
iOS 11 or later
Removing an unwanted backup encryption setting has become easier under iOS 11 and later versions. See Turn off backup encryption for details. Your device needs to be working and able to backup to iCloudor you need to be prepared to reset all settings on the device. The steps are as follows:
- On your devicego to Settings > General > Reset.
- Tap Reset All Settings and enter your device passcode.
- Follow the steps to reset your settings. This won't affect your user data or passwordsbut it will reset settings like display brightnessHome screen layoutand wallpaper. It also removes your encrypted backup password.
- Connect your device to the Finder or iTunes again and create a new encrypted backup.
An alternative method is to backup to iCloudand then restore from iCloud.
Note these steps won't give you access to existing encrypted backupsbut they will let you take control of those made in future.
iOS 10 and earlieror you're not able to backup to iCloud
The only way to use an encrypted backupor turn off backup encryption if currently enabledis with the password that was entered when it was set up. The setting is stored on the device itselfso persists even if you delete your current backup set or switch to a new computer. If you have forgotten the passwordor were not aware that encryption had been enabledconsider that it might be any computerApple IDWi-Fi password or device PIN that you've used in the pastworking from the assumption that you might have reused a common password that you were using when encryption was first activated. See About encrypted backups on your iPhoneiPador iPod touch - Apple Support for details.
Having a Microsoft Exchange email account on your device will force iTunes to make encrypted backups. There could be other routes that enforce this policy setting.
If you want to turn off encryption going forward you can either erase and set up as a new deviceor backup the current state of the device to iCloudthen subsequently restore from it. Non-iTunes media will need reloading from your computer once the restore is complete. See How to back up your iPhoneiPadand iPod touch - Apple Support for details. Obviously this approach is only helpful if your device is currently functioning correctly. If you have content on your device that isn't in your library see Recover your iTunes library from your iPod or iOS device. It is also a good idea to copy everything out of the camera roll andwhere possiblecopy off data held in File Sharing or save important projects to iCloud Drive so that if you are unable to restore the backup you have at least minimised any data loss.
If you are still running iOS 10your device supports iOS 11 or laterand you don't mind losing access to any 32-bit appsthen upgrading to iOS 11 or later and then using the first method is an easier course of action.
See also: