# borg key change-passphrase

    borg [common options] key change-passphrase [options] [REPOSITORY]

positional arguments
| `REPOSITORY` |
Common options

## Description

The key files used for repository encryption are optionally passphrase protected. This command can be used to change this passphrase.

Please note that this command only changes the passphrase, but not any secret protected by it (like e.g. encryption/MAC keys or chunker seed). Thus, changing the passphrase after passphrase and borg key got compromised does not protect future (nor past) backups to the same repository.

## Examples

    # Create a key file protected repository
    $ borg init --encryption=keyfile -v /path/to/repo
    Initializing repository at "/path/to/repo"
    Enter new passphrase:
    Enter same passphrase again:
    Remember your passphrase. Your data will be inaccessible without it.
    Key in "/root/.config/borg/keys/mnt_backup" created.
    Keep this key safe. Your data will be inaccessible without it.
    Synchronizing chunks cache...
    Archives: 0, w/ cached Idx: 0, w/ outdated Idx: 0, w/o cached Idx: 0.
    Done.

    # Change key file passphrase
    $ borg key change-passphrase -v /path/to/repo
    Enter passphrase for key /root/.config/borg/keys/mnt_backup:
    Enter new passphrase:
    Enter same passphrase again:
    Remember your passphrase. Your data will be inaccessible without it.
    Key updated

    # Import a previously-exported key into the specified
    # key file (creating or overwriting the output key)
    # (keyfile repositories only)
    $ BORG_KEY_FILE=/path/to/output-key borg key import /path/to/repo /path/to/exported

Fully automated using environment variables:

    $ BORG_NEW_PASSPHRASE=old borg init -e=repokey repo
    # now "old" is the current passphrase.
    $ BORG_PASSPHRASE=old BORG_NEW_PASSPHRASE=new borg key change-passphrase repo
    # now "new" is the current passphrase.

# borg key export

    borg [common options] key export [options] [REPOSITORY] [PATH]

positional arguments
| `REPOSITORY` |
| `PATH` | where to store the backup
optional arguments
| `--paper` | Create an export suitable for printing and later type-in
| `--qr-html` | Create an html file suitable for printing and later type-in or qr scan
Common options

## Description

If repository encryption is used, the repository is inaccessible without the key. This command allows one to backup this essential key. Note that the backup produced does not include the passphrase itself (i.e. the exported key stays encrypted). In order to regain access to a repository, one needs both the exported key and the original passphrase.

There are three backup formats. The normal backup format is suitable for digital storage as a file. The `--paper` backup format is optimized for printing and typing in while importing, with per line checks to reduce problems with manual input. The `--qr-html` creates a printable HTML template with a QR code and a copy of the `--paper`-formatted key.

For repositories using keyfile encryption the key is saved locally on the system that is capable of doing backups. To guard against loss of this key, the key needs to be backed up independently of the main data backup.

For repositories using the repokey encryption the key is saved in the repository in the config file. A backup is thus not strictly needed, but guards against the repository becoming inaccessible if the file is damaged for some reason.

Examples:

    borg key export /path/to/repo > encrypted-key-backup
    borg key export --paper /path/to/repo > encrypted-key-backup.txt
    borg key export --qr-html /path/to/repo > encrypted-key-backup.html
    # Or pass the output file as an argument instead of redirecting stdout:
    borg key export /path/to/repo encrypted-key-backup
    borg key export --paper /path/to/repo encrypted-key-backup.txt
    borg key export --qr-html /path/to/repo encrypted-key-backup.html

# borg key import

    borg [common options] key import [options] [REPOSITORY] [PATH]

positional arguments
| `REPOSITORY` |
| `PATH` | path to the backup (‘-’ to read from stdin)
optional arguments
| `--paper` | interactively import from a backup done with `--paper`
Common options

## Description

This command restores a key previously backed up with the export command.

If the `--paper` option is given, the import will be an interactive process in which each line is checked for plausibility before proceeding to the next line. For this format PATH must not be given.

For repositories using keyfile encryption, the key file which `borg key import` writes to depends on several factors. If the `BORG_KEY_FILE` environment variable is set and non-empty, `borg key import` creates or overwrites that file named by `$BORG_KEY_FILE`. Otherwise, `borg key import` searches in the `$BORG_KEYS_DIR` directory for a key file associated with the repository. If a key file is found in `$BORG_KEYS_DIR`, `borg key import` overwrites it; otherwise, `borg key import` creates a new key file in `$BORG_KEYS_DIR`.