If you are seeing an error or alert that the child's iOS device is encrypted, this guide will help you fix it.
Start here: Remove encryption in iTunes or Finder
PC or iTunes
Open
iTunes on Windows or Mac.
Don't have iTunes on your Mac? Newer Macbooks use Finder instead. Click the Finder instructions tab above.
Plug in your child's iOS device.
If applicable, click Trust in iTunes.
Unlock your child's iOS device and tap Trust Computer, if prompted. If there is no prompt to tap Trust, you may have granted it already.
Click the small phone button at the top of iTunes:
⬜ uncheck the Encrypt Local Backup option:
Enter the encryption password.
Forgot the encryption password? Move on to the next solution below.
Check your child's iOS device screen for a prompt to enter their lock screen passcode twice.
Once the password is entered successfully, iTunes will automatically back up the device again.
Click Apply or Sync on the bottom right.
Then, unplug the device and plug it back in.
If the analysis continues to fail due to encryption, move on to the next solution below.
Mac or Finder
Open
Finder.
Plug in your child's iOS device.
Find Locations on the left column, and click on your child's iOS device.
If applicable, click Trust on Finder.
If applicable, tap Trust Computer on the child's iOS device itself. You will need to unlock your child's iOS device with their PIN/Passcode to do so.
⬜ uncheck the Encrypt Local Backup option:
Enter the encryption password.
Forgot the encryption password? Let's see if you saved it to your Mac's keychain by clicking on "Change Password" next to "Encrypt local backup." In the next screen, if it pre-populated the old password, that means it saved it to your keychain. Now set a new password that you'll remember. After you do, uncheck "Encrypt local backup" and type in the new password you've just set.
Check your child's iOS device screen for a prompt to enter their lock screen passcode twice.
Once the password is entered successfully, Finder will automatically back up the device again.
Once it's done, click Apply or Sync on the bottom right.
Then, unplug the device and plug it back in.
If the analysis continues to fail due to encryption, move on to the next solution below.
Remove encryption caused by third-party apps
Your child's iOS device may have a device management profile or configuration profile added by a third-party app.
Here's how to check and remove a configuration profile.
If you removed one, then:
Restart the device.
Unplug the device and plug it back in.
If you didn't remove one, or if the analysis continues to fail due to encryption, move on to the next solution below.
Use the 'Reset All Settings' option (without erasing data)
If encryption is still enabled after the steps above, this method will definitely remove it:
Follow the steps below to Reset All Settings:
Newer Devices Older Devices
Is this the same as a factory reset? No, this is not going to affect your device's data. This will change your preferences to default for Backup Encryption, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, Notifications, General, Sounds, Brightness, Wallpaper, Apple Screen Time, and Privacy. You can always adjust those settings later.
Then, unplug the device and plug it back in.
That should be it! 🎉
Still getting an encryption error?
Please reach out to us with screenshots of the issue and the steps you've tried.