# Master Password for backup
**URL:** https://community.start9.com/t/master-password-for-backup/5038
**Category:** StartOS Support
**Tags:** how-to
**Created:** [April 18, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/master-password-for-backup/5038 "2026-04-18T18:26:30Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@richmartin](https://community.start9.com/u/richmartin)
#### Post date: [April 18, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/master-password-for-backup/5038/1 "2026-04-18T18:26:30Z")
Hello,
I changed my master password a while back. I am trying to do a back up of my server, but it is asking for the previous password I had used to back up prior to the password change, but I can’t remember it and failed to write it down.
Why is it asking for the previous password when I want to do a new one?
Thanks for any help.
Rich
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### Author:  [@Rexter](https://community.start9.com/u/Rexter)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2026, 12:38pm UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/master-password-for-backup/5038/2 "2026-04-19T12:38:46Z")
The backup is encrypted with the password you provide when it’s created. So the old backup is encrypted with the old password. I would recommend to move that old backup somewhere else, then run a new backup with the new password.
In the future, if you change your server’s password. Preserve the old password in a password manager. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to recover your server from backup.
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### Author:  [@richmartin](https://community.start9.com/u/richmartin)
#### Post date: [April 19, 2026, 1:27pm UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/master-password-for-backup/5038/3 "2026-04-19T13:27:20Z")
Ok thanks. I’ll try that.
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### Author:  [@system](https://community.start9.com/u/system)
#### Post date: [April 21, 2026, 1:27pm UTC](https://community.start9.com/t/master-password-for-backup/5038/4 "2026-04-21T13:27:32Z")
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