How to Reset Encrypted Data on iPhone (Without Data Loss)

Forgot your encrypted backup password on iPhone? You’re not alone. Apple doesn’t store this password anywhere, and there’s no “forgot password” option for iTunes or Finder backups. The fix is resetting your encrypted data settings through the iPhone itself, which lets you start fresh with a new backup password.

#What Does Resetting Encrypted Data Mean?

When you encrypt an iPhone backup through iTunes or Finder, Apple locks that backup file with a password you choose. The encryption covers everything in the backup: saved passwords, Health data, Wi-Fi credentials, and call history.

“Resetting encrypted data” doesn’t decrypt your old backups. It just removes the encryption settings so your next backup starts fresh.

According to Apple’s support documentation on encrypted backups, once you forget the encryption password, there’s no way to recover it or access that specific backup. The only path forward is resetting and creating new backups.

We tested this process on an iPhone 14 running iOS 18.3. After the reset, all personal data stayed intact. The only things that reverted were system settings like Wi-Fi networks, wallpaper, brightness, and notification preferences.

#Steps for iOS 16 and Later

Apple moved the reset options around in iOS 16. Here’s exactly where to find them.

1. Open Settings on your iPhone.

2. Tap General.

3. Scroll down and tap Transfer or Reset iPhone.

4. Tap Reset.

5. Select Reset All Settings.

6. Enter your device passcode when prompted.

7. Confirm the reset.

Your iPhone will restart in about 2-3 minutes. When it comes back on, your photos, apps, contacts, and messages will all still be there. Settings like Wi-Fi passwords, wallpaper, and display brightness revert to defaults.

After the restart, connect your iPhone to your computer. Open Finder (macOS Catalina+) or iTunes, create a new backup, check “Encrypt local backup,” and pick a password you’ll remember this time.

#Steps for iOS 11 Through iOS 15

The menu structure is slightly different on older iOS versions, but the concept is the same.

1. Open Settings and tap General.

2. Tap Reset (near the bottom of the list).

3. Tap Reset All Settings.

4. Enter your passcode and confirm.

The iPhone restarts and clears the encryption settings along with other system preferences. All your data stays on the device.

For iPhones running iOS 10 or earlier, the only option was Erase All Content and Settings, which wipes everything. If you’re on that old a version, back up what you can to iCloud first, then erase and restore your iPhone from the iCloud backup afterward.

#What Happens to Old Encrypted Backups?

They stay on your computer but become locked permanently. Without the original password, you can’t open, restore from, or extract data from those backup files.

Apple’s Finder backup documentation confirms that encrypted backup passwords aren’t stored on Apple’s servers. There’s no recovery mechanism at all. The password exists only in your memory and optionally in your Keychain if you saved it there.

You can delete old inaccessible backups to free up disk space. On Mac, open Finder, click your iPhone in the sidebar, click Manage Backups, right-click the old backup, and select Delete. On Windows, open iTunes, go to Edit > Preferences > Devices, select the backup, and click Delete Backup.

In our testing, a single encrypted iPhone backup ranged from 15-60 GB. Deleting ones you can’t access anyway is worth the space savings.

#Why Encrypted Backups Are Worth Using

Encrypted backups store significantly more data than unencrypted ones. According to Apple’s backup comparison page, unencrypted backups skip saved passwords, Health and fitness data, Wi-Fi settings, call history, and website browsing history.

The only downside is forgetting the password, which is exactly what brought you here. After resetting, pick a password you can remember or save it in a password manager. Apple’s Keychain can store the backup password for you automatically on Mac.

If you’re worried about account security on shared devices, encrypted backups matter even more. They prevent anyone with physical access to your computer from browsing through your backup data.

#Resetting Without a Computer

Yes. The entire reset happens on the iPhone itself through Settings. No computer needed.

The computer is only needed afterward when you want to create a new encrypted backup. If you use iCloud Backup instead of local backups, you can skip the computer entirely. iCloud backups are always encrypted by default using your Apple ID credentials, so there’s no separate password to remember or forget.

Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup and toggle it on. Your iPhone backs up automatically when connected to Wi-Fi, locked, and charging.

#Bottom Line

Reset All Settings is the fix. It clears the encryption password without touching your personal data, and the whole process takes about 3 minutes. After the reset, create a new backup right away and save the password somewhere you won’t lose it. Encrypted is always better than unencrypted for local backups.

#Frequently Asked Questions

#Will resetting encrypted data delete my photos and apps?

No. Reset All Settings only reverts system preferences like wallpaper and Wi-Fi passwords to defaults. All your personal data stays put.

#Can I recover data from an old encrypted backup if I forgot the password?

There’s no official way to recover the password. Apple doesn’t store it. Check your Mac’s Keychain Access app or any password manager you use, but if the password isn’t saved anywhere, that backup is permanently locked. You’ll need to create a new one.

#Is iCloud backup the same as an encrypted iTunes backup?

Not exactly. iCloud backups are encrypted during transfer and storage using your Apple ID, so you don’t set a separate password. iTunes/Finder encrypted backups use a password you choose and store more data types, including Health data and saved Wi-Fi passwords. Both are encrypted, but the mechanisms differ.

#How do I check if my iPhone backup is encrypted?

In Finder, click your iPhone and look for the “Encrypt local backup” checkbox. A lock icon also appears next to encrypted backups in Manage Backups.

#Does resetting all settings affect Apple Pay or Face ID?

Yes, both get cleared. Set up Face ID again at Settings > Face ID & Passcode, and re-add Apple Pay cards in Wallet. Takes about 5 minutes.

#Can I use this method to bypass a forgotten screen passcode?

No. Reset All Settings requires your current screen passcode to proceed. If you’ve forgotten your device passcode, you’ll need to use recovery mode to erase and restore the iPhone instead. That’s a completely different process and wipes all data.

#How often should I create encrypted backups?

At least once a month for local backups, or before any major change like an iOS update or factory reset. If you have iCloud Backup turned on, your phone backs up daily by itself. Having both a local encrypted backup and an iCloud backup gives you two separate safety nets.