Where Does WinSCP Store Saved Sessions?
WinSCP hides saved sessions and passwords in a registry key by default, with an INI file option that is simpler to back up.
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Installed WinSCP writes every saved session into the Windows registry under a Martin Prikryl key, with individual sessions beneath a Sessions subkey. Nothing about your servers lives in a file you can see.
That changes with INI storage. Portable builds default to a WinSCP.ini beside the exe, and installed builds can switch in Preferences > Storage. The INI form is plain to copy between machines, which suits anyone managing a fleet of servers.
Where WinSCP stores this, by platform
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Martin Prikryl\WinSCP 2
Sessions sit under the Sessions subkey. For INI mode the same data lives in WinSCP.ini beside the exe or at %APPDATA%\WinSCP.ini.
Frequently asked questions
How do I transfer sessions to a new PC?
Use Tools > Export/Backup Configuration to write an INI file, move it across, and import it there. Stored passwords travel only within the same Windows account, so expect to retype those.
Why did my saved passwords stop working after a move?
WinSCP encrypts passwords against your Windows account. A different user or machine cannot decrypt them, which looks like corruption but is by design. Re-enter them once.
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