---
id: troubleshooting.passphrase-on-file-doesnt-unlock
url: https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/passphrase-on-file-doesnt-unlock
category: "Troubleshooting & messages"
subcategory: "Backup messages"
question: "What does \"The passphrase on file doesn't unlock\" a backup mean?"
alt_questions:
  - "the passphrase on file doesn't unlock"
  - "enter the passphrase this backup was encrypted with"
  - "reconnect to your existing versions nothing is deleted"
  - "backup passphrase wrong after new mac"
short_answer: "The stored passphrase isn't the one the backup was encrypted with (common on a new Mac). Enter the original passphrase and Storage Studio reconnects to your versions — nothing is deleted."
tags: ["backup", "passphrase"]
related: ["https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/changing-backup-passphrase-deletes-versions", "https://storagestudio.us/faq/troubleshooting/destination-holds-backup-with-different-passphrase"]
applies_to: "all"
last_reviewed: 2026-10-01
---

# What does "The passphrase on file doesn't unlock" a backup mean?

The passphrase Storage Studio has stored for this backup isn't the one its versions were encrypted with — for example, after setting the backup up again on a new Mac. Nothing is deleted.

Enter the passphrase the backup was **originally** encrypted with. Storage Studio then reconnects to all your existing versions.