Why didn’t Finder ask me to set password for my backup?

[ThisIs🐵]

I bought the new MacBook Pro this week. Today I connected my iPhone to this new MacBook to backup it. The option “Encrypt local backup was already selected” so I clicked “Back Up Now” and was expecting it will ask me to set the backup password, but it didn’t. It just started the backup.
So what will the password be set to for this backup?

 

[CoastalOR]

If you did an encrypted backup for the iPhone on the old Mac and migrated your files from the old Mac to the new MBP, then it would have the password you setup for the first encrypted backup on the old Mac.

 

[jz0309]

I bought the new MacBook Pro this week. Today I connected my iPhone to this new MacBook to backup it. The option “Encrypt local backup was already selected” so I clicked “Back Up Now” and was expecting it will ask me to set the backup password, but it didn’t. It just started the backup.
So what will the password be set to for this backup?

I got a new Studio like 6 weeks ago, setup as new, signed in with the same appleID on all devices and never prompted me for a password either when backing up iphone. So I have to assume it’s somewhat tied to your AppleID/iPhone.

 

[ThisIs🐵]

If you did an encrypted backup for the iPhone on the old Mac and migrated your files from the old Mac to the new MBP, then it would have the password you setup for the first encrypted backup on the old Mac.

I did not migrate files from the old Mac, that’s why it surprised my by not asking to set new password.

 

[ThisIs🐵]

I got a new Studio like 6 weeks ago, setup as new, signed in with the same appleID on all devices and never prompted me for a password either when backing up iphone. So I have to assume it’s somewhat tied to your AppleID/iPhone.

I don’t use iCloud Keychain either, so I doubt it got it from iCloud.

 

[jz0309]

I don’t use iCloud Keychain either, so I doubt it got it from iCloud.

interesting - I'd contact Apple support. but I will now check what's happening on mine ...

 

[MacCheetah3]

So I have to assume it’s somewhat tied to your AppleID/iPhone.

Based on the following discussions, both seem possible(?):

i never set a backup password but it says… - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

Unknown enforced backup password - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

I am not seeing anything related to Apple ID in the Knowledge Base article:

About encrypted backups on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

You can use password protection and encryption to protect backups of your device.

support.apple.com

So, an interesting behavior indeed. 🤔

 

[jz0309]

Based on the following discussions, both seem possible(?):

i never set a backup password but it says… - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

Unknown enforced backup password - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

I am not seeing anything related to Apple ID in the Knowledge Base article:

About encrypted backups on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

You can use password protection and encryption to protect backups of your device.

support.apple.com

So, an interesting behavior indeed. 🤔

Thanks for the links.
I did setup my Mac Studio as new, and I certainly noticed that several settings were set to the same as they were on my iMac (and are on my MBA) so I assume there is some Tue to the AppleID.
As far as the iPhone backup goes, if the pwd for the encrypted backup were taken from the iPhone, why did it not prompt to verify it?
The other behavior I’m noticing is that when plugging my iPhone into the studio it asks me everything “trust this computer” and I have to enter the passcode…

 

[NoBoMac]

The other behavior I’m noticing is that when plugging my iPhone into the studio it asks me everything “trust this computer” and I have to enter the passcode…

That behavior was introduced a few updates ago. Security measure.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/always-asking-trust-this-computer-merged.2365348/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-trust-this-computer-password-prompt-shows-up-every-sync-on-ventura.2367279/

iOS Backup Passcode Prompt

imazing.com

As to why not asking about encrypting backups, guessing here as have not setup a new Mac in a while: Setup Assistant with settings only transferred? Could be coming from iCloud Keychain: some things are stored in iCloud Keychain but not viewable, so when signing into Apple ID/iCloud, down comes with the existing password?

Secure keychain syncing

When a user enables iCloud Keychain for the first time on a two-factor authentication account, the device establishes a creates a syncing identity for itself.

support.apple.com

Apple sets [kSecAttrSynchronizable] attribute for Safari user data (including user names, passwords, and credit card numbers) as well as for Wi-Fi passwords, HomeKit encryption keys, and other keychain items supporting end-to-end iCloud encryption.

 

[jz0309]

That behavior was introduced a few updates ago. Security measure.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/always-asking-trust-this-computer-merged.2365348/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/the-trust-this-computer-password-prompt-shows-up-every-sync-on-ventura.2367279/

iOS Backup Passcode Prompt

imazing.com

As to why not asking about encrypting backups, guessing here as have not setup a new Mac in a while: Setup Assistant with settings only transferred? Could be coming from iCloud Keychain: some things are stored in iCloud Keychain but not viewable, so when signing into Apple ID/iCloud, down comes with the existing password?

Secure keychain syncing

When a user enables iCloud Keychain for the first time on a two-factor authentication account, the device establishes a creates a syncing identity for itself.

support.apple.com

Thanks, was running Monterey on my iMac so this prompt every time was introduced with Ventura, somewhat annoying but fine.
As for encryption password, I did not run setup assistant so can only think of iCloud Keychain, but…

 

[DeputyDawg]

I am experiencing the same issue. Seems to have started fairly recently.

My Iphone IS encrypted so I kinda understand that (but again never used to prompt). However on my iPad which has no encryption it also prompts for password when I start a backup.

I would be curious as to why this is and how to disable this (take it back to how it was before where I just connected to iMac, clicked backup now and walked away.

Btw... while i'm here in the iTunes screen where you select to back up - HOW do you change the buttons to tell it to backup to Mac and not iCloud? I know this is a setting but forget how.