Opening a password-protected account backup

Opening a password-protected account backup

Introduction

When you request an account backup, you can set a password to protect the download. Password-protected backups are encrypted with AES-256, a stronger standard that keeps your documents more secure.

The unzip tools built into Windows and macOS cannot open these backups. Double-clicking the file or choosing Extract All may report that the file is invalid or cannot be expanded, or may keep rejecting the correct password. To open a protected backup, use one of the free tools described below.

Backups requested without a password are not encrypted and open with any unzip tool as before. For how to request and download a backup, see Account Backups.

Opening a Backup on Windows

1. Download and install 7-Zip from https://www.7-zip.org. If you cannot install software on your computer, ask your IT team to install it for you
2. Right-click the downloaded backup file and select 7-Zip > Extract files...
   
   
   
3. Choose where to save the files, then click OK
4. Enter the backup password when prompted and click OK
   
   

Opening a Backup on a Mac

1. Install a free unzip app that supports encrypted zip files, such as The Unarchiver or Keka, from the Mac App Store
2. Right-click the downloaded backup file and select Open With, then the app you installed
   
   
3. Enter the backup password when prompted

About the Password

• The password is case-sensitive, and spaces count, including any at the start or end
• It can only contain standard keyboard characters: letters, numbers, spaces and common symbols. Characters such as £, accented letters and emoji are not accepted, and iPassport shows the message, “The backup password can only contain standard keyboard characters: letters, numbers, spaces and common symbols.” if one is used
• To request a backup without a password, leave the Password field empty
• iPassport cannot show you the password again, and it cannot be changed on an existing backup. If you forget it, request a new backup
• The password protects the contents of the files. The names of the files inside the backup can usually still be seen without it

Download Period

A backup can be downloaded for 2 weeks from the date it was requested. See Account Backups for details.