If you use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you may have encountered a message that says, “You must reset your end-to-end encrypted data to sign in to iCloud” or something similar.
This message can be confusing and alarming, especially if you don’t know what end-to-end encryption is and why you need to reset it.
In this guide, we will explain what end-to-end encryption means, why you may need to reset it, and how to do it safely.
What is End-to-End Encryption?
End-to-end encryption (E2EE) is a security feature that protects your data from being accessed by anyone else except you and the intended recipient. It works by encrypting (scrambling) your data using a secret key only you and the recipient have.
This way, even if someone intercepts your data in transit or at rest, they won’t be able to read it without the key. For example, when you send a message to someone using an E2EE app like Signal or WhatsApp, your message is encrypted on your device using your and the recipient’s keys.
Then, it is sent over the internet to the recipient’s device, decrypted using the same keys. No one else, not even the app provider, can see the content of your message.
E2EE differs from other types of encryption, such as at rest or in transit. Encryption in transit means that your data is encrypted only while it is being sent over the internet, but not when it is stored on a server or a device.
Encryption at rest means that your data is encrypted only when stored on a server or a device but not when it is being sent over the internet. E2EE combines encryption in transit and at rest, making it more secure.
Why Do You Need to Reset End-to-End Encrypted Data?
You may need to reset your end-to-end encrypted data on your Apple device for several reasons. Some of them are:
- You forgot your Apple ID password or security questions and had to reset them.
- You lost your device, or it was stolen, and you had to erase it remotely.
- You changed your phone number or SIM card and had to verify your identity again.
- You upgraded your device or operating system and had to sign in again.
- You enabled two-factor authentication and had to approve your device from another trusted device.
In any of these cases, you may lose access to some of your end-to-end encrypted data, such as iCloud Keychain, iCloud Messages, Health data, Home data, Screen Time data, Siri information, Apple Pay information, and more.
These types of data are protected by a unique code key linked to your device and your Apple ID. If you change any of these factors, you may need to generate a new encryption key and sync your data again.
Resetting your end-to-end encrypted data means deleting your old encryption key and creating a new one. It will make any data encrypted with the old key unreadable by anyone, including yourself. However, you can access any new encrypted data with the new key.
Check Out: Samsung Galaxy A42 5G vs Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
How to Reset End-to-End Encrypted Data Safely?
Before you reset your end-to-end encrypted data, you should ensure you have a backup of your important data. This way, you won’t lose anything that you may need later. You can use iCloud Backup or iTunes Backup to back up your device.
To reset your end-to-end encrypted data, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud on your device.
- Tap on the message that says “Can’t approve this [device]” or “Reset End-To-End Encrypted Data.”
- Tap on “Reset Encrypted Data” and confirm.
- Insert your Apple ID password and use the instructions.
- Wait for the process to complete and sign in to iCloud again.
After resetting your end-to-end encrypted data, you may need to set up some features again, such as iCloud Keychain, iCloud Messages, Health app, Home app, Screen Time app, Siri app, Apple Pay app, and more.
You may also need to approve your device from another trusted device if you have two-factor authentication enabled.
Will I Lose My Photos If I Reset the Encrypted Data?
One of the common concerns people have when they need to reset their end-to-end encrypted data is whether they will lose their photos. The answer depends on how you store your photos on your device.
If you use iCloud Photos, you don’t have to worry about losing your photos when resetting your end-to-end encrypted data. iCloud Photos automatically uploads and syncs all your photos and videos across all your devices using iCloud.
Even if you delete or reset your end-to-end encrypted data on one device, you can still access your photos on another device or iCloud.com as long as you sign in with the same Apple ID.
However, if you don’t use iCloud Photos and store your photos locally on your device only, you may lose them if you reset your end-to-end encrypted data without backing them up first. It is because resetting your end-to-end encrypted data will erase all the data on your device, including your photos.
Therefore, it is recommended that you backup your photos before resetting your end-to-end encrypted data. You can use iTunes Backup or a third-party app to back up your photos.
Check Out: What is Classified Data? (Best Practices & Data Types)
What Does Reset Encrypted Data on iPhone Mean?
Resetting encrypted data on your iPhone means resetting the encryption settings for all the apps and services that use end-to-end encryption on your iPhone. It includes apps like Messages, FaceTime, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, and more.
It also includes services like iCloud Keychain, iCloud Messages, Health app, Home app, Screen Time app, Siri app, Apple Pay app, and more.
When you reset encrypted data on your iPhone, you delete the encryption keys used to protect your data in these apps and services. It means that any data encrypted with these keys will become inaccessible to anyone, including yourself.
However, you can access any new data encrypted with new keys.
Resetting encrypted data on your iPhone can be necessary if you have changed your Apple ID password, security questions, phone number, SIM card, device, operating system, or two-factor authentication settings. It can also be helpful if you have encountered any issues with syncing or signing in to your apps and services.
To reset encrypted data on your iPhone, you need to go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud and tap on the message that says “Can’t approve this [device]” or “Reset End-to-End Encrypted Data.” Then, you need to tap “Reset Encrypted Data” and confirm.
You will need to input your Apple ID password and follow the instructions. After resetting your encrypted data on your iPhone, you may need to set up some features again, such as iCloud Keychain, iCloud Messages, Health app, Home app, Screen Time app, Siri app, Apple Pay app, and more.
You may also need to approve your device from another trusted device if you have two-factor authentication enabled.
Check Out: Mastering Google Sheets (How to Pull Data from Another Tab)
Conclusion
Resetting your end-to-end encrypted data can be a hassle, but it can also be a necessary step to protect your privacy and security.
If you ever encounter this message on your Apple device, don’t panic. Just follow the steps above and ensure you have a data backup before proceeding.
We hope this guide has helped you understand what resetting end-to-end encrypted data means and how to do it safely. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Thanks for reading!
