Where TortoiseSVN stores your login information

TortoiseSVN saves your username and password in the Windows credential manager, not in a text file you can open directly. When you first connect to a repository and check the box "Save authentication," Windows stores those credentials behind the scenes. To see what you saved, you go through Windows settings, not through TortoiseSVN itself.

The credentials live in a protected location that Windows encrypts. This is safer than storing passwords in plain text, but it also means you cannot just search your computer for a file and read it. You have to use the Windows Credential Manager tool to view what TortoiseSVN has stored.

Key Takeaways

  • TortoiseSVN stores credentials in Windows Credential Manager, which you access through Settings or the Control Panel, not through TortoiseSVN itself.
  • Open Credential Manager, select "Windows Credentials," and look for entries labeled with your repository server address to find saved usernames.
  • Windows Credential Manager shows you the username but does not display the password in plain text for security reasons.
  • If you cannot remember your password, you will need to contact your repository administrator or use your repository provider's password reset option.
  • You can delete old or incorrect credentials from Credential Manager and let TortoiseSVN prompt you to save new ones on your next connection.

Opening Windows Credential Manager on Windows 10 and 11

The fastest way is to search for "Credential Manager" in the Windows search box. Click the search icon in your taskbar, type "credential manager," and select the result labeled "Credential Manager." This opens the tool directly.

If search does not work, you can reach it through Settings. Open Settings, go to Accounts, then select "Manage your credentials" on the left side. This takes you to the same Credential Manager window.

On older Windows versions, you can also open it through Control Panel. Go to Control Panel, select "User Accounts," then "Credential Manager." All three routes lead to the same place.

Finding your TortoiseSVN username in Credential Manager

Once Credential Manager is open, click on "Windows Credentials" at the top. You will see a list of saved credentials organized by service. Look for entries that contain your repository server address — for example, if your repository is at "svn.company.com," search for that domain name in the list.

Click on the credential entry that matches your repository. A dropdown will expand showing the username field. The username is displayed in plain text. This is the account name you used when TortoiseSVN first saved your login.

If you have multiple repositories, you may see several entries. Each one is labeled with the server address, so you can identify which username goes with which repository.

Why the password does not appear in Credential Manager

Windows Credential Manager intentionally hides passwords even from you, the account owner. This is a security feature. If someone gains temporary access to your computer, they cannot straightforward open Credential Manager and read all your passwords. The password is encrypted and only used when TortoiseSVN needs to authenticate with the server.

You can see a small button labeled "Show" next to the password field, but clicking it will not reveal the actual password. Instead, it may prompt you to confirm your Windows login before showing anything, and even then, most systems do not display the actual password text.

Resetting a forgotten TortoiseSVN password

If you cannot remember your password, you cannot recover it from TortoiseSVN or Credential Manager. Instead, you need to contact your repository administrator or use your repository provider's password reset tool. For example, if you use GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket, each has its own password reset page on their website.

Once you reset your password through the repository provider, delete the old credential from Credential Manager. Right-click the entry and select "Remove." The next time you connect to the repository with TortoiseSVN, it will prompt you for your new credentials. Check the "Save authentication" box again to store the new password.

Removing old or incorrect credentials

If you have saved credentials that are outdated or belong to a repository you no longer use, you can delete them from Credential Manager. Find the entry in the Windows Credentials list, click on it to expand it, and look for a "Remove" button or option. Click it to delete that credential.

Removing a credential does not affect TortoiseSVN itself — it only clears the stored login from Windows. The next time you try to access that repository, TortoiseSVN will ask for your username and password again. This is useful if you changed your password and want to force TortoiseSVN to use the new one instead of the old saved version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see my actual password in Credential Manager?

No. Windows Credential Manager stores passwords in encrypted form and does not display them in plain text, even to you. This is by design for security. If you need to know your password, you must reset it through your repository provider's website.

What if I do not see my repository in Credential Manager?

If you never checked "Save authentication" when TortoiseSVN first prompted you, the credentials were not stored. You can also check if you are looking in the right place — make sure you are in "Windows Credentials," not "Vault" or another section. If the entry is truly missing, TortoiseSVN will ask for your login the next time you connect.

Can I change my username or password from Credential Manager?

You cannot edit credentials directly in Credential Manager. You must change your password through your repository provider's website, then delete the old credential from Credential Manager and let TortoiseSVN save the new one on your next connection.

Does deleting a credential from Credential Manager affect my repository account?

No. Deleting a credential only removes it from your computer's storage. Your actual account on the repository server remains unchanged. You can still log in with your username and password anywhere else.