I want to backup my phone as if it were a new phone. Context that makes my situation different from other similar questions I found:
- I've deleted all my old backups
- I do not have my old backup password
- So I cannot change my password to a new one (this requires the old password)
- And I cannot uncheck "Encrypt iPhone backup"
That is, all my old backups are gone, and my "old password" is effectively useless — I have no need for it anymore. I want iTunes to treat my phone as if were brand new, and allow me to setup a new Encrypt backup password, and make a fresh backup as if for the first time.
How can I get iTunes / my phone into this state?
EDIT
Please note I believe this is not a duplicate of Create backup iPhone with forgotten encryption password. At the very least, the answers there do not answer my question.
From the accepted answer:
The short answer is no. The phone thinks you are a thief trying to steal the data and won't cooperate with attempts to initiate a second backup.
It makes sense that you would need a password to restore a password-protected phone. I am not trying to do that. I am trying to backup a phone that I have access to as if it were fresh. Why should passwords I used to protect previous, now-deleted backups have anything to do with this goal? How would preventing me from backing up my phone in any way prevent theft? What if I lost my laptop —
how would this phone be treated on a brand new laptop? Would I also not be able to back it up there?
From the other answer:
if you have no problem deleting your backup this "problem" is a breeze! head over to iTunes, then open up the preferences, klick on devises, then select your phone, and delete the backup!
…
when backup deleted simply create a new backup from scratch 🙂
I have already deleted my old backups. I still cannot create a new backup from scratch with a fresh password.
Best Answer
As of iOS 11, resetting settings will purge the current backup password (this is relatively new) https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205220#help
Obligatory note: Be sure to do Reset All Settings, and NOT Reset All Contents and Settings, which wipes your device :)
I'm glad you already deleted the old backups, because there may be some bugs in doing this and then running an incremental backup.