Originally Posted by vodaholic

Don't know if this helps but I've tried loads of solutions and even with a custom password list the elcomsoft phone password recovery software couldn't find any results. Some people have noted that it uses a random password frm passwords you've stored on your device so try your facebook password, email account, lock code etc. None worked for me but you might want to try this first.

After a few days of scouring forums I had to do it a convoluted way in the end.

I installed iFunbox and copied the keychain-2.db file to my PC after making a backup of it in the same directory on the iPhone (var/keychains)

I then deleted the file from my iPhone and reconnected it to iTunes. This meant all passwords had been deleted (albeit temporarily) from my iPhone. I then selected the encrypted backup option again, entered a new password (make sure you take note of it) and started a backup then cancelled it which created a new keychain-2.db file in var/keychains. I then removed the encrypt option. This asked me for a password but it was set to the new password I'd just entered so the tick was then removed.

I then exported and opened the new keychain-2.db file in sqllite browser (do a search and download it, it's free). I then opened my original file in sqllite browser. The reason I did it this way is because for some reason my keychain files displayed a load of gobbledigook in sqllite browser so I couldn't determine what was the itunes password. Maybe because I'm running iTunes 10.5 but people have previously stated that the files are shown in plain English. Mine weren't.

I then compared the genp tables in sqllite browser until I found the record that had the same set of symbols in the acct column as that in the new keychain-2.db file I'd created as this would be the iTunes password I'd just created. No other records existed in the new keychain file.

I then deleted that record in sqllite browser, saved and imported back into var/keychains using iFunbox.

The encrypted option is no longer ticked and I can make unencrypted backups. I will definitely not be ticking that box again!!!

I know it sounds really long and laborious but if you follow it step by step it isn't as long as you think. I've no previous experience of this and I found all thge info from scouring various forums and piecing it all together to create my own solution. Also, if you're lucky enough to have your keychains file display as plain English in sqllite browser then you can just delete the record that says it is your itunes backup password. Make sure you backup your keychain-2.db file first just in case. I also deleted any encrypted backups I had before backing up again just in case.

Hope it makes sense. It really does work!

Thank you, this took me about 5 minutes to do after about 3 hours of searching. Worked like a charm.

Originally Posted by agahnim

Thank you, this took me about 5 minutes to do after about 3 hours of searching. Worked like a charm.

Awesome! Glad to be of help. I've posted this on a few forums where people have the problem. Seems going through old passwords is working for some people but it didn't work for me. Funny how this solution is ignored by people still having the problem. I suppose you can only lead a horse to water

Originally Posted by vodaholic

I installed iFunbox and copied the keychain-2.db file to my PC after making a backup of it in the same directory on the iPhone (var/keychains)

Uh... what happened to all the steps in between?

I had high hopes for this solution, but I got as far as installing and running i-FunBox. No idea where or how to find keychain-2.db, and I'm not a tech dummy. My first guess was to use SSH Terminal, but it says the port is not open on my device. So I start looking into how to install SSH. Using the InstallApp function in i-FUnBox would be ideal... but everywhere I search refers to jailbreaking your device and using cydia. But if I understand your solution, this shouldn't be necessary. Other possible solutions I've come across are way more convoluted than this... What am I missing here?

Originally Posted by vodaholic

Don't know if this helps but I've tried loads of solutions and even with a custom password list the elcomsoft phone password recovery software couldn't find any results. Some people have noted that it uses a random password frm passwords you've stored on your device so try your facebook password, email account, lock code etc. None worked for me but you might want to try this first.

After a few days of scouring forums I had to do it a convoluted way in the end.

I installed iFunbox and copied the keychain-2.db file to my PC after making a backup of it in the same directory on the iPhone (var/keychains)

I then deleted the file from my iPhone and reconnected it to iTunes. This meant all passwords had been deleted (albeit temporarily) from my iPhone. I then selected the encrypted backup option again, entered a new password (make sure you take note of it) and started a backup then cancelled it which created a new keychain-2.db file in var/keychains. I then removed the encrypt option. This asked me for a password but it was set to the new password I'd just entered so the tick was then removed.

I then exported and opened the new keychain-2.db file in sqllite browser (do a search and download it, it's free). I then opened my original file in sqllite browser. The reason I did it this way is because for some reason my keychain files displayed a load of gobbledigook in sqllite browser so I couldn't determine what was the itunes password. Maybe because I'm running iTunes 10.5 but people have previously stated that the files are shown in plain English. Mine weren't.

I then compared the genp tables in sqllite browser until I found the record that had the same set of symbols in the acct column as that in the new keychain-2.db file I'd created as this would be the iTunes password I'd just created. No other records existed in the new keychain file.

I then deleted that record in sqllite browser, saved and imported back into var/keychains using iFunbox.

The encrypted option is no longer ticked and I can make unencrypted backups. I will definitely not be ticking that box again!!!

I know it sounds really long and laborious but if you follow it step by step it isn't as long as you think. I've no previous experience of this and I found all thge info from scouring various forums and piecing it all together to create my own solution. Also, if you're lucky enough to have your keychains file display as plain English in sqllite browser then you can just delete the record that says it is your itunes backup password. Make sure you backup your keychain-2.db file first just in case. I also deleted any encrypted backups I had before backing up again just in case.

Hope it makes sense. It really does work!

I was just trying to follow your instructions, I kinda got stuck at the comparing/editing genp/acct part. Thing is, I just connected my iPhone to iTunes and it synced... making a new backup! Now it only shows that last backup on the restore list. Does this mean what I think it means... that I just lost EVERYTHING? Contacts, pictures, messages, notes... ?

I had the same issue and followed the advice from some of the posters--I had to go through all of the passwords used on any programs on my iPad. It took about ten tries, but I finally hit the one that was blocking the restoration and then it immediately started up.

I was having the same problem but was quickly solved within 3 min after I read this forum. I tried the Apple login password and it seems to be working. FYI

I just got my new 3rd generation iPad today that I ordered last week. When I tried to restore the files from my iPad1 that is running iOS 5.1, I got a message that I needed to input the password for the back-up to restore it onto the new iPad (3 or whatever it is they are calling it). I was never prompted for a password in backing up the iPad, so this was a surprise. I do use a Passcode Lock since I thse the iPad in connection with work, however that was not the password it was looking for; I also tried my iTunes password without success. I then did a web search & found this forum. After reading through all of the posts, I noted that one of the suggestions was to try the passwords for any apps installed on the old iPad that require a password. I do have a SplashData app on my iPad1 that I used a lot that I had protected with a password. When I tried the SpashData password, it was accepted and the backup was restored to my new iPad.

I have no idea why the backup was treated as being password protected or why it chose to use the SpashData app password as the password for the backup on my computer, but I agree with the comment that it is probably a bug in iOS 5.0 & 5.1. In any event, my suggestion is to try all the passwords that you may have on any of your apps. Good luck with it.

What a *****.... Well, I started by going down each email I have linked to my iphone and entering the password for each.... no avail. So I started going App by App entering the password for each. luckily (out of the 96 apps requiring passwords) it ended up being the password for the 6th app that finally unlocked the backup for my itunes.

Hope this helps (and I hope you remembered all of your passwords)

Had the same problem after installing 5.0 on my I-Pad. I tried my windows password and that worked.

Thanks jt1737, the app by app password thing did it. That is bizarre, though - apple update backup locks devices with a random app password? Good grief.