Reset End to End Encrypted Data – Follow These Steps

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Reset End to End Encrypted Data

Apple users are familiar with the “Can’t approve this iPhone?” error message. This message pops up on your screen when your Apple develops a problem. If this error happens on your device, you’ll need to log in to another device signed in to iCloud to approve this device. However, if you can’t approve your iPhone or Mac from another device, you’ll need to reset your end-to-end encrypted data as a last resort.

Key Takeaways

  • End-to-end encryption is Apple’s security feature that uses two-factor authentication to protect your data. You’ll need a passcode to access encrypted data.
  • Resetting end-to-end encrypted data on your Apple device doesn’t cause data loss. It only resets your Home data, Apple card transactions, Keychain, Health data, payment information, Search history, and Maps Favorites.
  • Apple guarantees protection against data loss when you reset your end-to-end encrypted data. However, you need to back up your device before starting the resetting process.

Read through the article to learn more about resetting end-to-end encrypted data. You’ll also learn how to reset your iPhone, iPad, or Mac data. 

What Does It Mean to Reset My End-To-End Encrypted Data?

Apple describes End-to-end encryption as a security feature meant to protect data in Apple devices. Users can access their data using keys derived from their passcode and devices. This feature means that you’re the only one permitted to access your information. However, you’ll need a key to access this information on trusted devices. 

This security feature uses two-factor authentication to verify your identity when you sign in to another trusted device. However, if you fail the authentication process, you’ll receive an error message; “Can’t approve this iPhone?” If this is the case, you’ll need to turn off the feature or reset end-to-end encrypted data. 
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Related: How Do I Find My Network Security Key? (Simple Steps!)

What Happens When You Reset Your End-To-End Encrypted Data on Your iPhone?

As we had said earlier, you’ll need to reset end-to-end encrypted data on your Apple device if you can’t sign in using the two-factor authentication code. But what happens after you reset your data?

When you reset your end-to-end encrypted data, you won’t lose your data; instead, the process resets the following.

  • Home Data
  • Search History
  • learned vocabulary
  • Apple Card transactions
  • Health data
  • Screen Time
  • Keychain
  • Messages in iCloud
  • Maps Favorites
  • W1 and H1 Bluetooth keys
  • Maps Collections
  • Tab Groups
  • iCloud Tabs
  • Memoji
  • QuickType Keyboard
  • Payment information
  • Safari History
  • Siri information

Apple claims your data won’t get lost when you reset end-to-end encrypted data. But be warned—don’t take chances. Before you proceed to reset the phone, ensure you back it up. 

Related: iPhone Clear App Cache Without Deleting App – 3 Simple Ways

Will I Lose Everything if I Reset End-To-End Encrypted Data?

No, you won’t lose everything when you reset end-to-end encrypted data on your iPhone. Your music, photos, and other documents remain intact when you reset your data. However, the process will reset the following data. 

  • Apple Card transactions
  • Keychain
  • Health and Health data
  • Maps Favorites, Collections, and search history
  • Memoji
  • Payment and Siri information
  • Messages in iCloud
  • Learned vocabulary in QuickType Keyboard.
  • Safari History and iCloud Tabs
  • Wi-Fi passwords
  • W1 and H1 Bluetooth keys
  • Screen Time

If you have enabled an iCloud account, you won’t lose your iCloud messages. The backup will have a key that safeguards the messages. You can restore your messages if you can’t access your trusted devices or keychains. 

What Happens if You Reset Encrypted Data on MacBook?

If you reset encrypted data on MacBook, the process will reset setting calibrations, including wallpaper, home screen layout, and display brightness. However, your user data and passwords will remain unchanged. Note that you’ll lose your encrypted backup passwords. If this happens, you’ll need to link your device to iTunes and create another encrypted backup.]

Will I Lose Messages if I Reset End-To-End Encrypted Data

Resetting end-to-end encrypted data reset only a few settings without losing user data. However, it can reset your iCloud messages. If you have enabled an iCloud account, you won’t lose your iCloud messages. The backup will have a key that safeguards the messages. You can restore your messages if you can’t access your trusted devices or keychains.

Despite Apple claiming that you won’t lose your data when you reset end-to-end encrypted data, it is a good idea to back up your phone first. 

Below is how to back up your iPhone. 

How to Back up iPhone Data 

You can use FoneTool to back up your iPhone data. The tool is free and has diverse backup methods. 

Fonetool lets you back up all your iPhone data or only a section. 

The tool is ideal for your daily iPhone needs as it back up data fast. Besides, it is compatible with iPhone, iPad, Mac, iPod, and Windows PC. Other than using it to back up data, you can also deduplicate photos, and transfer, restore, or erase data

Below is how you can use Fonetool to back up your iPhone data. 

  1. Download and install MBackupper on your Windows PC. 
  2. Use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to the PC.
  3. Open phone backup.
  4. Navigate to Full Backup.
  5. Select Get started. Alternatively, you can choose Selective Backup if you want to back up selected data only. 
  6. Select Enable Backup encryption tab.
  7. Choose where you want to save your backup. 
  8. Click the Start Backup tab to initiate the process.

How to Reset End-to-End Encrypted Data iPhone

Having gone through the types of data you may lose when you reset end-to-end encrypted data, it is good to learn how the resetting process works. Fortunately, the process is simple and takes just a few steps. You can click Reset Encrypted Data to reset the end-to-end encrypted data or use the steps below to reset your data for other reasons. 

Note that the procedure may vary depending on your iOS version.

iOS 11 or above version

If your phone runs on iOS 11 or above versions, follow the steps below to reset end-to-end encrypted data on your iPhone.

  1. On your iPhone, open Settings.
  2. Navigate to General and select Reset on the Transfer or Reset iPhone option.
  3. Select Reset All Settings. It will prompt you to enter your iPhone password. 
  4. Wait for a few seconds for the process to complete. 
  5. If you need a new backup account, connect your iPhone to iTunes and create one. 

iOS 11 or below

If your iPhone runs on iOS 11 or lower versions, use the steps below to reset end-to-end encrypted data.

  1. On your iPhone, open Settings.
  2. Navigate to General and select Reset.
  3. Select Erase All Content and Setting. It will prompt you to enter your iPhone password.
  4. Give it time to finish the process. This process will erase everything on your iPhone, including your encryption password.

Reset End to End Encrypted Data on iPad

The process of resetting end-to-end encrypted data on an iPad is not different from the one to use when resetting an iPhone. Follow the steps below. 

iPadOS 11 or above

If your iPad runs on iPadOS 11 or above, you can reset end-to-end encrypted data using the steps below. 

  1. On your iPad, go to Settings.
  2. Select General Setting.
  3. Click the Reset options.
  4. Click on Reset all the setting option.
  5. Input your iOS Passcode. Check all the settings to reset.
  6. Link your iPad to iTunes and create another encrypted backup account.

iPadOS 10 or lower

If your device runs on iPadOS 10 or lower, use the steps below to reset end-to-end encrypted data.

  1. On your iPad, open Settings.
  2. Select General Setting.
  3. Click the Reset options.
  4. Tap the Erase all content settings tab. 
  5. Wait for the process to complete and create a new iOS password.

Related: How to Factory Reset iPad Step-by-Step

Reset End-To-End Encrypted Data Mac

Follow the steps below to reset end-to-end encrypted data on your Mac.

  1. Open Setting 
  2. Go to General Setting 
  3. Select the Reset option
  4. Select the Reset all the Setting tab.
  5. Give it time to finish the process.

How Long Does It Take To Reset End-To-End Encrypted Data

Resetting end-to-end encrypted data will take a little of your time. Select Reset all Settings to finish the process in an instant. However, the time it takes to complete the resetting process may vary depending on the size and number of files on your device.

 

Reset End-To-End Encrypted Data to Finish Setting up iCloud

When you reset end-to-end encrypted data on your phone, it will affect other settings. You may need to remove iTunes backup encryption settings to avoid further problems. 

You can use iPhone unlock software to remove iTunes backup encryption settings efficiently. This tool lets you remove Apple ID, export passwords, and unlock your iPhone without the passcode. 

Follow the steps below to remove iTunes backup encryption.

  1. Download EaseUS MobiUnlock on your PC or Mac
  2. Open the software on your computer and connect your iPhone.
  3. Navigate to “Remove iTunes Backup Encryption.”
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  4. Your iPhone will prompt you if you trust the PC. Accept the request. 
  5. Tap on the “Unlock Now tab to continue. 
  6. Wait for the process to complete. Do not disconnect your device until the process finishes. 
  7. After removing iTunes backup encryption, you can set up iCloud.

How to Turn Off iTunes Backup Encryption with Password

If you want to turn off iTunes and have your password, use the steps below. 

  1. Connect your iPhone to your PC.
  2. Open iTunes, the latest version. 
  3. From the left side of the interface, click on the Summary tab.
  4. Navigate to the Backup section. 
  5. Uncheck the box beside Encrypt Local Backup.
  6. Enter the iTunes encryption password to turn off iTunes backup.

Related: Forgot iPhone Passcode Without iTunes? Fixes Here!

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