In the world of network administration, the ability to back up and restore configurations is not just a convenience—it is a necessity. For MikroTik administrators, the export command is one of the most powerful tools available. Unlike a binary backup file, a configuration export provides a human-readable, script-based representation of the device's settings.
Command:
Whether you are migrating to a new RouterBOARD, setting up a backup strategy, or troubleshooting a complex firewall rule, knowing how to properly use the Mikrotik export configuration command is an essential skill for any network administrator. mikrotik export configuration
Panic. She logged in via WinBox. The config looked… incomplete. A corrupted sector on the flash had wiped out half of the /interface bridge settings and all of the /ip hotspot profiles.
The current (broken) config scrolled by—short, missing entries. Then she opened her latest backup file from a week ago: backup-jan-12-2025.rsc. Command: Whether you are migrating to a new
/system script add name="backup-email" source=
/export file=auto-backup;
/tool e-mail send to="admin@example.com" subject=("Backup: " . [/system identity get name]) file=auto-backup.rsc;
:delay 10s;
/file remove auto-backup.rsc;
This happens because you forgot show-sensitive. The restored router will have an empty password for that user. Always use show-sensitive when exporting for a migration; otherwise, keep it hidden for security.
Export configuration via API - General - MikroTik community forum The config looked… incomplete
MikroTik offers two distinct ways to save configuration data, each serving a different technical purpose: