MikroTik backup and restore
Last updated: 2 October 2026
MikroTik has two kinds of backup and they are not interchangeable. Use the binary backup to restore the same router and the text export to move a configuration to a different one. Keep both.
1. Binary backup (same router)
/system backup save name=before-changesThe file appears in Files as before-changes.backup. Drag it to your computer; a backup that only exists on the router is lost with the router.
Restore (the router reboots):
/system backup load name=before-changes.backup2. Text export (readable, for another router)
RouterOS v7:
/export show-sensitive file=configRouterOS v6:
/export file=configThis writes config.rsc, a list of commands you can read and edit. On v7, show-sensitive includes passwords; without it they are left out.
Restore on a clean router:
/import file-name=config.rscWhich to use
| Binary backup | Text export | |
|---|---|---|
| Same device | Best | Works |
| Different model | Do not use | Yes, after editing interface names |
| Includes users and passwords of the router | Yes | No (router logins are not exported) |
| Readable | No | Yes |
Automatic nightly backup
/system scheduler add name=nightly-backup start-time=03:00:00 interval=1d on-event="/system backup save name=auto-backup"This keeps one file and overwrites it each night. Copy it off the router regularly.
Common mistakes
- Loading a binary backup on a different model: interfaces and MAC addresses get mixed up.
- Keeping the only backup on the router.
- Importing an export onto a router that still has its default configuration: reset with no defaults first (how).
- Leaving export files with passwords lying around.
Where RadiusNest fits
A router backup covers the router. Your customers, packages, vouchers and sales history are a different matter: with RadiusNest they are kept in the cloud with encrypted daily backups, so replacing a dead router means pasting one command into the new one.
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Questions and answers
Can I restore a backup from a different MikroTik model?
Use a text export for that, not the binary backup, and adjust interface names before importing.
Are hotspot users included in the backup?
Yes, both kinds include users stored on the router. Users kept on a RADIUS server are not on the router at all.
How often should I back up?
Before every change, and automatically every night if the router holds your users.