Where Does TortoiseSVN Store Settings?
TortoiseSVN keeps its own settings in the Windows registry, while Subversion credentials and global ignores live under %APPDATA%\Subversion.
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TortoiseSVN splits its state across two places, and that split surprises people every time they migrate PCs. The Tortoise-specific options (overlays, dialogs, diff tools) live in the registry under HKCU\Software\TortoiseSVN. The Subversion-level data (server configs, ignore patterns, cached credentials) lives in files under %APPDATA%\Subversion.
Back up both if you are moving machines. The registry key alone misses your auth cache and global ignores. The Settings dialog also offers an encrypted settings export with sync, which is the least error-prone route.
Where TortoiseSVN stores this, by platform
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TortoiseSVN
Most Tortoise options live here. Export it with regedit when migrating, and use the Settings dialog sync or export feature if you would rather not touch the registry by hand.
%APPDATA%\Subversion
config and servers files set shared Subversion behavior for every SVN client on the machine. The auth subfolder caches usernames, passwords (via WinCrypt), and certificates. Clear it from the Settings Saved Data page instead of guessing.
Frequently asked questions
I exported HKCU\Software\TortoiseSVN but some settings did not transfer. Why?
HKCU\Software\TortoiseSVN holds the Tortoise-specific options. Shared Subversion behavior such as global ignores lives under HKCU\Software\Tigris.org or %APPDATA%\Subversion\config, which is why copying one key sometimes seems to miss settings.
How do I clear saved SVN passwords?
Open TortoiseSVN Settings, go to the Saved Data page, and use the Clear buttons there. Deleting %APPDATA%\Subversion\auth by hand works too, and a logoff script that removes that folder signs you out on every shutdown.
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