Can I create encrypted iPhone backups on my computer?
My iCloud storage is full. I'm planning to backup my iPhone data on my work computer. But I don’t want anyone except me to access the data. Is there a way to let me create an encrypted backup of iPhone on my computer so I’m the only one who can access my data?”
How to create an encrypted backup of iPhone [two options]
If your need to backup your iPhone when your iCloud storage is full, or for any other reason, you may wonder how can you encrypt your iPhone backup to prevent others from seeing your data. Here in this part, we’ll offer you two options to create an encrypted backup of iPhone.
Option 1. Free iOS encrypted backup tool FoneBackup
The first option is to use FoneBackup, which is an excellent iOS data backup tool. It provides users with free yet professional services. With it, you can create an encrypted iPhone backup on a computer within a few clicks. And it has the following highlights:
- Multiple choices. It enables you to fully back up your iPhone or selectively backup iPhone photos, videos, songs, contacts and messages.
- Multiple features. Except for data backup, it also allows you to transfer your computer data to your iPhone, restore your iPhone backups, de-duplicate your photos, erase your iPhone, etc
- Free of data loss. If you need to restore Custom Backups to your iPhone from a computer, it will not erase any data existing on your iPhone already. You are free of data loss.
- Wide compatibility. It is perfectly compatible with iOS devices, which means you’re able to backup your iPads and iPods as well.
Step 1. Download and install FoneBackup on your Windows PC. Connect two iPhones to the computer via a USB cable and then launch FoneBackup.
Step 2. Click Full Backup. If you don't want to backup everything on your iPhone, you can click Custom Backup to backup selective data from your iPhone to your PC.
Step 3. Choose Full Backup.
Step 4. Enable backup encryption.
Step 5. Then you’ll be asked to enter a password, which will be used to access your backup later.
Step 6. You’ll need to enter the iPhone password on your iPhone to allow the backup.
Step 7. Now, you can see you’ve enabled backup encryption.
Step 8. You can also click Manage password if you want to change or clear your password, or you have forgotten your password.
Step 9. Finally, select a storage path to save the backup. Click Start Backup and wait until it finishes.
Note: Please remember your password, you are unable to access the encrypted backup of your iPhone once you have forgotten it.
How to restore an encrypted iPhone backup via FoneBackup
If you need to restore your encrypted iPhone backup via FoneBackup, follow the steps below to start the full restore. This will not erase any data on your iPhone. Keep in mind that Full Restore will overwrite the data already on your iPhone.
Step 1. Click Full Restore.
Step 2. Check the backup file and the device you’re planning to restore to. After this, click Start Restore.
Step 3. Then type in the password of your encrypted backup and click OK.
Option 2. Encrypt your iPhone backup via iTunes
Another way to create an iPhone encrypted backup is to use iTunes to backup iPhone data on a computer.
Step 1. Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes on your computer. Then connect your iPhone to the computer.
Step 2. Click the Device tab.
Step 3. Tick This computer, and then click Back Up Now.
Step 4. To encrypt your backups, select Encrypt local backup, type a password, then click Set Password.
Step 5. On the menu bar of iTunes, go to Edit > Preferences > Devices, and look for a lock icon next to the name of the device to ensure it was encrypted.
Step 6. On Mac, you can find the iPhone backups here: Menu bar of iTunes > Edit > Preferences > Devices > Backup > Reveal in Finder. On Windows computer, Disk C > Users > Administrator > AppData > Roaming > Apple Computer > MobileSync > Backup.
How to restore an encrypted iPhone backup via iTunes
If you need to restore your encrypted iPhone backup, follow the steps below. But before using iTunes to restore the data backed up to your iPhone, this action will overwrite any data on your iPhone that is newer than the backup. Be careful when you do this.
Step 1. Click Restore Backup.
Step 2. Choose the encrypted backup of your iPhone you want to restore and then enter your password. Click Restore to start.
Further reading: How to reset your iTunes backup password
If you have forgotten the password for your encrypted backup, you can use the following method to reset your FoneBackup and iTunes backup passwords. But please note that you won’t be able to use previous encrypted backups, you can only use FoneBackup and iTunes to backup your current data and create a new encrypted backup.
Step 1. You need to go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
Step 2. Choose Reset All Settings. Then enter your iPhone password. This action will remove your encrypted backup password, as well as settings like display brightness, Home screen layout, and wallpaper.
Step 3. Then you need to connect your device to FoneBackup and iTunes again and create a new encrypted backup, the same steps as we mentioned above.
Conclusion
This post mainly introduces two effective ways to create an encrypted backup of iPhone. One is to use FoneBackup, another is to use iTunes. The ways to reset encrypted backup passwords are introduced as well. After reading this post, you may find that FoneBackup has some advantages over iTunes when it comes to iPhone backup. Therefore, if you're looking for a free and easy way to encrypt iPhone backup, give it a try.