How to export and import VPN connections on Windows 10

You can export and import your VPN settings to another computer, and in this guide, you'll learn how to perform this task.

Windows 10 export and import VPN settings
Windows 10 export and import VPN settings

On Windows 10, you can add and remove Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections quickly. However, you won’t find an option to export existing settings that you can import onto another device.

Although setting up a VPN connection is not a difficult task, the ability to export and import settings can always make configuring the same connections on multiple computers faster or when you want to move a VPN connection with a specific configuration to another device.

If you want to move VPN connections to another computer, there is a workaround to export and import the settings.

In this guide, you will learn the steps to export and import VPN connections on Windows 10.

Export VPN connections on Windows 10

To export VPN connections on Windows 10, connect a removable drive to the computer, and use these steps:

Quick note: These instructions will export all the configuration settings, but it is impossible to export the username and password. You have to add them manually with the steps below.
  1. Open File Explorer on Windows 10.

  2. Copy and paste the following path in the address bar and press Enter:

    %AppData%\Microsoft\Network\Connections
  3. Right-click the Pbk folder and select the Copy option.

    Export VPN settings on Windows 10

  4. Open the location that you want to use to export the VPN settings.

  5. Right-click on the folder and select the Paste option.

Once you complete the steps, you can take the removable media to a different computer to import the settings.

This guide uses a removable drive to export and import VPN connections to another device, but you can use a network shared folder or any other sharing method.  

Import VPN connections on Windows 10

To import the VPN connections to a Windows 10 device, connect the removable drive with the exported files, and use these steps:

Warning: Importing all the VPN connections from another device will delete the previous connections in the destination device.
  1. Open the removable drive.

  2. Right-click the Pbk folder and select the Copy option.

  3. Copy and paste the following path in the File Explorer address bar and press Enter:

    %AppData%\Microsoft\Network\Connections
  4. Right-click on the folder and select the Paste option.

    Import VPN settings on Windows 10

  5. Click the Replace the files in the destination button. (This process will delete previously configured connections.)

After completing the steps, the VPN connections should be available in the Settings app. However, there is no way to export and import the usernames and passwords. As a result, you will need to reenter this information manually.

Change VPN connection credentials on Windows 10

To add or change a VPN connection username and password information, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Click on Network & Internet.

  3. Click on VPN.

  4. Select the VPN connection.

  5. Click the Advanced options button.

    VPN settings on Windows 10

  6. Under the “Connections properties” section, click the Edit button.

    Edit VPN settings on Windows 10

  7. Complete the username and password information.

    Change VPN username and password on Windows 10

  8. Click the Save button.

Once you complete the steps, the VPN connection should be able to connect automatically without any additional steps.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.