Recover WhatsApp backup if you forgot encrypted password

Hi,

I am using iphone12. I had WhatsApp back using encrypted password which I have forgot. I have reinstalled my WhatsApp but I am unable to restore it without password.


Can someone pls help to recover the WhatsApp chat backup and tell me how many attempts are possible to make.


It has some important chats which need to be restored.


Thanks in advance


iPhone 12, iOS 17

Posted on Oct 27, 2023 8:52 AM

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Question marked as ⚠️ Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 27, 2024 7:37 PM

This is an absolute nightmare!! I have some really personal messages and photos from family members and friends who are now deceased, and it would be heartbreaking to lose all these (as well as all the other chats and ongoing chats from the past 7 years!). I am really worried my backup will be deleted. I now have to wait another 3 hours until I try another password. I am currently at the 7 hour wait. How many more tries will I have? I have a 14GB WhatsApp backup and also have an iCloud backup from last night, but just can't access it!! Really need some help here. Some expert out there must know a workaround. Please help!!

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Oct 27, 2024 8:12 AM in response to tomdin

tomdin wrote:
I want to emphasize that the process of password retrieval and the associated time lag is specific to iCloud, not WhatsApp. This was confirmed by Apple support, and it's an important distinction. We shouldn't rely on a time-bound and attempt-restricted solution for password recovery.

Or at least if we visit apple center for support they can authenticate and provide the retrieval support even that you are not doing

You may remember a time when companies used security questions to verify your identity such as your mother's maiden name and quickly found out that your account is not secure with this kind of verification. For security of your account you need Two Factor authentication that uses a Trusted Phone number to reset your password. There is no waiting period by Apple for using this method. In addition to the Trusted Phone number, you can also use another Trusted Device or a previously set up Account Recovery contact without a waiting period.


There is no other information that you could possibly provide that would allow Apple to prove that a person requesting to reset your password is actually you. Even WhatsApp realizes that by requiring the 64 digit key to recover their backups that are encrypted. Without that key, you have lost all your data and don't even have the option for a waiting period. To reiterate, the only time you would ever have a waiting period to reset your Apple password is if you do not have a:

  • Trusted Device
  • Trusted Phone number
  • Account Recovery contact on your account


There really is no reason why a user should not have that information on an account that is using Two Factor Authentication. That is all that is needed to reset your Apple password immediately.



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Oct 29, 2024 7:56 AM in response to Belal2548

@Belal2548 your message is THE ONLY hope that I have been able to find online as I experience the same problem as everyone else on this thread. I would be forever grateful if you can give me a little extra details on how this worked, as I would like to try:

  1. When you set up the Whatsapp on your NEW phone, you had the same SIM card as you had used on your old phone, now on your new phone?
  2. When you say you were logged off fro Whatsapp on your old phone: had you de-installed and re-installed your whatsapp on your OLD phone? i.e. how were you able to skip the step, on your old phone, that asks for your password ... ?
  3. When you skiped "restore backup" on your new phone, the whatsapp backup was not lost? I mean, when you skiped the "restore backup" on the new phone, there was no notice saying "if you do this you won't be able to do it later..."?

All of this information would be HUGELY helpful. Thank you in advance

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Oct 25, 2024 7:19 AM in response to Belal2548

@belal, unfortunately, without the old iPhone, it seems we're facing a challenging situation with prolonged Apple support calls. I'm currently dealing with a 7-hour wait myself, and the password I used for my iTunes backup isn't working. Additionally, I never set a separate password for WhatsApp. I have crucial data in the backup, and retrieving it now seems daunting. Any assistance in recovery would be immensely appreciated.

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Feb 19, 2024 10:39 AM in response to poonam136

Hello everyone,


I'm facing the same problem since last Thursday and trying all the way out to get the encrypted password reset but nothing till now.


Tried with What's app GO but no response yet. I have vvv important data in chats which I can't let go so easily.


I have also received the same last try msg so holding up if anyone replies from What's app team.


We need to find a way otherwise everyone will keep getting into this stupid trap of end to end encryption.


Do share if any leads you get.


Thanks in advance!!

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Oct 27, 2024 5:47 AM in response to tomdin

tomdin wrote:
Another curious thing is that if I am backing my data in ITunes and iCloud then why apple is asking me to restore from iCloud when rest alll of the apps I got it back from iTunes

For data saved on your phone, you can restore from either iTunes or iCloud. WhatsApp only uses iCloud as a backup option and they uses a separate 64 digit key that they require you to remember. For all data that is backed up on your phone, except for WhatsApp, here are the steps to restore from either iTunes or iCloud.

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

I confirmed with apple that the iCloud gives 10 attempts to enter the password and after the time lag applies and after the 10th attempt you are doomed 🥵 and for whatsapp they are least bothered about as it’s not easy to contact their support it’s all a QandA sessions but no one comes to answer specific to our queries

Your Apple Account will be locked after too many wrong attempts, then you just need to reset your password to gain access again. To say your doomed is a bit of an exaggeration. Your password is reset immediately using any of these 3 methods:

  • Trusted Device
  • Trusted Phone Number
  • Account Recovery Contact


Without any of that information, you will have to use Account Recovery, and then a waiting period is required. This is only necessary if those appropriate measures were not taken before you lost our password to avoid the waiting period. Yes, remembering your password is your responsibility.

If you forgot your Apple Account password - Apple Support

I am getting to terms with the lost data and lesson learnt is that you save your important data like pictures to your photo drives and export chats with media if anything is importance relay before you switch devices as we can’t rely that we will get back our whatsapp data in iCloud / apple device

The problems faced with backing up WhatsApp data to iCloud is only due to WhatsApp using a separate 64 digit key. Apple has nothing to do with WhatsApp and cannot get the data for you. It is saved by Apple in iCloud just fine, but it is unreadable due to the key that WhatsApp requires you to have.

https://faq.whatsapp.com/490592613091019/?helpref=hc_fnav

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Aug 18, 2024 7:27 AM in response to kash99

kash99 wrote:

Same issue
first of all my WhatsApp automatically got offload when I enable it I got backup option from iCloud and asking for password which I didn’t n tried with all passwords it’s not taking n change iCloud password tried that too that also didn’t worked so now I lost my data still there’s anything tht I cn backup from iCloud ??
please hlp

Unfortunately any support will need to come from WhatsApp as it is the app that stores the data and gives you the option to recover it. It is well known that WhatsApp/Meta has terrible support for their customers and they continue to offer updates to the app that often causes more bugs. They have had 13 updates in the last month, which makes it clear that testing the updates is not a high priority and they rely on their users to be bug testers.


If you do not want your apps offloaded automatically to free up space when storage becomes restricted, then go to Settings > App Store > Offload Unused Apps.

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Oct 26, 2024 8:32 AM in response to Mayur9719

WhatsApp is the only one that will be able to help if they are able to do it at all. This is what they say about your key:


  • You can’t access your encrypted backup if you don’t have your encryption key or password.
  • You can’t restore your backup if you lose access to your WhatsApp account and forget your password or encryption key. WhatsApp can’t send you a copy of your password or encryption key, reset your password or encryption key, or restore your backup for you.

https://faq.whatsapp.com/490592613091019/?helpref=search&query=64%20digit%20key&search_session_id=7ce3d5c3b6947db6708a76e7b2908d0d&sr=1


There is nothing Apple can do to resolve a problem with WhatsApp.


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Recover WhatsApp backup if you forgot encrypted password

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