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How to Back Up and Restore Windows Credentials

Jun 23, 2025

Windows Credentials Manager is a built-in feature of Microsoft Windows that securely stores your login credentials. Knowing how to back up and restore these credentials is essential if you're migrating to a new PC, re-installing Windows, or want a safe copy for backup purposes. This guide walks you through the process step by step.

What Are Windows Credentials

Windows credentials include:

Web Credentials: Stored passwords for websites (used by Internet Explorer and Edge).

Windows Credentials: Login details for local computers, network shares, and RDP sessions.

Certificate-Based Credentials: Digital certificates used for encryption and authentication, such as smart card login or VPN connection.

Generic Credentials: These are used by third-party applications to store login data securely.

How to Back Up Windows Credentials

Backing up credentials helps preserve important login details in case of system changes or failures. Since Windows does not provide a direct export option, backing up requires copying the secure storage files manually.

Step 1. Open Credential Manager

Press Win + R, type control and hit Enter to open Control Panel, then navigate to User Accounts > Credential Manager.

Step 2. Back Up Credentials

click on Back up Credentials
 Click Browse
press the CTRL+ALT+DELETE

How to Restore Windows Credentials

Restoring credentials helps recover saved login data after system changes or during migration to a new device.

Method 1: Using Credential Manager

This restoration method works with backups created through Credential Manager. It's the simplest way to recover your saved credentials.

Click Restore Credentials

Method 2: Using System Restore

If credentials were recently deleted or lost due to system changes, a System Restore can revert Windows to a previous state—bringing back the Credential Manager contents if a restore point was created before the loss.

Conclusion

Windows Credentials simplify authentication, and knowing how to properly back them up and restore them ensures smoother transitions between systems and avoids lost access. Whether you're upgrading your PC or recovering from data loss, use the method that best fits your security and portability needs—always ensuring backups are handled safely.

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