Troubleshooting & messages · Backup messages
Why does changing a backup's passphrase delete every existing version?
Short answer: Versions are encrypted with the passphrase, so a new one can't open them — changing it deletes them and starts fresh. To reconnect, enter the original passphrase instead.
A backup's versions are encrypted with its passphrase. A new passphrase can't open versions made with the old one, so they'd be unreadable — which is why changing it means deleting them and starting a fresh backup.
If you just need to reconnect to existing versions (for example on a new Mac), don't change the passphrase — enter the original one instead, and Storage Studio reconnects without deleting anything.