The only official way to get human-readable config is to use the native export command while the router is running :
: You want to check specific firewall rules or scripts without restoring the file to a live router.
Network administrators frequently find themselves in scenarios where a backup extractor is the only lifesaver:
Even if you successfully use a CHR or an old script to extract data, you will notice something immediately:
Drag and drop the .backup file into the Files menu via WinBox. mikrotik backup extractor
| Tool | Language | Functions | Supports Encryption? | |------|----------|-----------|----------------------| | | Python | Decrypt, encrypt, unpack, pack, bruteforce, reset password | Yes (AES‑256, RC4) | | mikrotik‑tools (decode_backup.py) | Python | Extract .idx/.dat pairs from plaintext backups | No (rejects encrypted files) | | mtpass | Python | Password recovery from user.dat | No | | GOMBAK | Go | Automates backup creation (not extraction) | No (only creation) | | mikrotik-backups.py | Python | Automated backup creation, Telegram alerts | Yes (creation only) |
When you run /system backup save name=config.backup in RouterOS, you generate a binary file. This file is not a text file. It is a byte-for-byte representation of the router's entire memory state regarding configuration, users, firewall rules, and even certificates.
A foundational tool created by "BigNerd95" (and later forked by others) that can process .backup files from RouterOS v6.13 and above. It's one of the few public projects to have cracked the encryption format for older versions, primarily built using Python.
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While backup extractors are powerful tools, they also introduce security risks:
For quick, one-off extractions, online tools are the most convenient option. Websites like allow users to upload a .backup file and instantly download the readable plain-text equivalent.
Enter the – a tool that lets you decrypt and extract the readable configuration from a .backup file offline.
Once restored, log in and run the /export file=recovered_config command. A foundational tool created by "BigNerd95" (and later
To protect your network, implement the following safety measures:
The output is not a single config file, but a collection of binary files. The data in these .dat files requires further parsing by the tools' own modules. For immediate human review, the most reliable method remains creating an .rsc export directly from a running RouterOS using /export .
/export file=config
Most local extraction tools require Python 3 and specific cryptographic libraries to handle the encryption layers found in newer RouterOS versions. pip install pycryptodome Use code with caution. Step 2: Download the Extractor Tool
Once restored, run the /export file=extracted_config command in the terminal.