Backup & Restore Credentials in Windows 10

Windows 10 stores your saved passwords for network shares, mapped drives, and some websites in a secure vault called Credential Manager. This guide shows you how to back up those credentials to a file and restore them on the same or a different PC, so you don’t have to re-enter every password after a reinstall or when setting up a new machine.

What You’ll Need

• Access to an administrator account on the Windows 10 PC.
• A USB drive or other storage location to save the backup file (the file is not encrypted, so keep it safe).
• Your Windows sign-in password (or PIN) to confirm the backup action.

Step-by-Step

1. Open Credential Manager. Press Windows + S and type “Credential Manager”, then click the top result. Alternatively, go to Control Panel → User Accounts → Credential Manager.
2. Choose the credential type. You’ll see two tabs: Web Credentials (passwords saved by Edge/Internet Explorer) and Windows Credentials (passwords for network shares, mapped drives, and some apps). You can back up both, but you must do each separately.
3. Click “Back up credentials”. On the right side of the window, under the relevant tab, click the “Back up credentials” link. A wizard opens.
4. Confirm the backup. Click “Browse” to choose where to save the file (e.g., your USB drive). Pick a filename and location, then click “Save”. Click “Next”.
5. Enter a password to protect the backup (optional but recommended). The wizard asks for a password to encrypt the backup file. If you leave it blank, the file is not protected. Enter a strong password and confirm it, then click “Next”.
6. Finish the backup. Click “Finish”. A small pop-up may appear asking you to confirm the action; click “OK”. Your credentials are now saved as a .crd file.
7. Restore on the same or another PC. On the target Windows 10 PC, open Credential Manager again, and click “Restore credentials” (under the same tab type).
8. Select the backup file. Click “Browse”, locate the .crd file you saved, and click “Open”. Then click “Next”.
9. Enter the backup password. Type the password you set during the backup (if any) and click “Next”.
10. Complete the restore. Click “Finish”. The credentials are now imported. You may need to restart any apps that use those credentials.

Common Mistakes

• Backing up only one type. If you have both web and Windows credentials, you must back up each tab separately. The backup file only contains the type you were on when you clicked “Back up”.
• Losing the backup password. If you set a password and forget it, you cannot restore the backup. Store the password in a password manager or write it down in a secure place.
• Saving the backup on the same drive you’re reinstalling. If you’re backing up before reinstalling Windows, save the .crd file to a USB drive or another partition that won’t be wiped.
• Restoring to the wrong tab. If you backed up Windows credentials, you must restore them under the “Windows Credentials” tab. Restoring web credentials under the Windows tab will not work.

Tips

• Use a strong, unique password for the backup file. This is the only thing protecting your saved passwords.
• Keep the backup file in a safe place, such as an encrypted USB drive or a locked drawer.
• If you’re moving to a new PC, back up credentials on the old PC and restore them on the new one before you sign into network resources.
• Regularly update your backup if you add or change credentials.
• You can also use the command line: cmdkey /list shows all stored credentials, but the GUI method is safer for backup/restore.

Troubleshooting

Restore fails with “The file is not a valid backup file.”
Make sure you selected the correct file type. The backup file has a .crd extension. Also, verify you are restoring the correct type (web vs. Windows). If you’re sure, try backing up again and restoring immediately to test.

You forgot the backup password.
There is no way to recover it. You will need to re-enter the credentials manually. If you haven’t deleted the original credentials, they are still on the original PC; you can export them again with a new password.

Credentials don’t appear after restore.
Restart the app or service that uses the credential. For mapped drives, disconnect and reconnect them. For web credentials, restart the browser. If they still don’t show, verify you restored to the correct tab.

The “Back up credentials” link is grayed out.
This happens if you’re not an administrator. Sign in with an administrator account or ask your IT admin to perform the backup.

Restore works but the password is wrong.
If you changed the password on the network resource after the backup, the restored credential is outdated. Update it manually in Credential Manager or through the resource’s sign-in prompt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does backing up credentials include my Wi-Fi passwords?

No. Wi-Fi passwords are stored in the Wireless Profile, not in Credential Manager. To back those up, you need a separate command: netsh wlan export profile key=clear.

Can I restore credentials on a different Windows version?

Yes, the .crd file format is compatible with Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. However, some credentials may not work if the underlying service has changed.

Is the backup file encrypted?

Only if you set a password during the backup. If you leave the password blank, the file is not encrypted and anyone with access can read it. Always set a password.

What happens to the original credentials after I restore them on another PC?

Nothing. The original credentials remain on the original PC. Restore adds a copy to the target PC.

Can I back up credentials using the command line?

There is no built-in command to export all credentials to a file. The GUI method is the official way. You can use cmdkey to add or delete individual credentials, but not to export them.

Do I need to restart my PC after restoring?

Usually not. Restart the apps that use the credentials. For mapped drives, disconnect and reconnect them. A reboot is only necessary if the credentials are for a system service.

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