Reset the Lockdown folder in iTunes

If you can't sync, back up, or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you might need to reset the Lockdown folder on your Mac or PC.

Don't follow these steps unless an Apple advisor or another support article instructs you to.

OS X

  1. Disconnect all iOS devices from your computer.
  2. Quit iTunes.
  3. In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder.
  4. Type /var/db/lockdown and press Return.
  5. Choose View > as Icons. In the Finder window, you should see one or more files that have alphanumeric file names.
  6. In Finder, choose Edit > Select All.
  7. Choose File > Move to Trash. You might have to enter an administrator password.
  8. Empty Trash to delete the files.

With OS X, you delete the files in the Lockdown folder, but not the folder itself.

Windows Vista, 7, 8, or 10

  1. Disconnect all iOS devices from your computer.
  2. Quit iTunes.
  3. Press the Windows key on your keyboard. If your keyboard doesn't have a Windows key, press the Control (Ctrl) and Escape (Esc) keys on your keyboard.
  4. Click on the magnifying icon or search field. In the search field, enter %ProgramData% and press Return.
  5. 
Double-click the Apple folder.
  6. Right-click the Lockdown folder and choose Delete.
  7. Restart your computer and iOS device. If you don't, you might see error "0xE80003" when you reconnect the device and open iTunes.

Windows XP

  1. Unplug all iOS devices from your computer.
  2. Quit iTunes.
  3. Choose Start > Run.
  4. Type %AllUsersProfile% and click Run.
  5. Double-click the Application Data folder.
  6. Double-click the Apple folder.
  7. Right-click the Lockdown folder and choose Delete.
  8. Restart your computer and iOS device. If you don't, you might see error "0xE80003" when you reconnect the device and open iTunes.

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