{"id":2895,"date":"2026-05-24T05:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T05:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sreschool.com\/blog\/?p=2895"},"modified":"2026-05-24T05:40:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T05:40:00","slug":"tabby-ssh-migration-guide-move-saved-sessions-and-password-protected-vault-to-a-new-mac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sreschool.com\/blog\/tabby-ssh-migration-guide-move-saved-sessions-and-password-protected-vault-to-a-new-mac\/","title":{"rendered":"Tabby SSH Migration Guide: Move Saved Sessions and Password-Protected Vault to a New Mac"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The correct thing is to migrate the Tabby config folder<\/strong>, and separately consider macOS Keychain<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tabby\u2019s official config location on macOS is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

~\/Library\/Application Support\/tabby\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Inside that, config.yaml<\/code> contains your Tabby profiles\/sessions. Tabby\u2019s Vault is also stored inside the YAML config under the vault<\/code> attribute, and the Vault is encrypted with your passphrase. So copying this file\/folder does not<\/strong> expose the password in plain text, but you must know the same Vault password to unlock it on the new Mac. (GitHub<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Important: Tabby passwords can be in 2 places<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Case 1: Passwords saved in Tabby Vault<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Then copying this folder should migrate sessions + encrypted vault:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
~\/Library\/Application Support\/tabby\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
On the new laptop, Tabby may ask for the same Vault password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Case 2: SSH passwords saved in macOS Keychain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tabby\u2019s maintainer has said SSH passwords may be saved to the OS keychain when connecting the first time. (GitHub<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In that case, copying Tabby config alone may bring sessions but not the saved SSH passwords<\/strong>. For Keychain items, Apple says Setup Assistant\/Migration Assistant transfers keychains automatically; otherwise, use Keychain Access export\/import where possible. (Apple Support<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So the safest answer is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
Copy Tabby config folder + migrate Keychain if passwords were stored in macOS Keychain.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Best Safe Method: Manual encrypted backup<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
On old Mac<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
First completely quit Tabby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then run:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
cd \"$HOME\/Library\/Application Support\"\n\ntar -czf \"$HOME\/Desktop\/tabby-config.tgz\" tabby\n\nhdiutil create \\\n  -encryption AES-256 \\\n  -volname TabbyBackup \\\n  -srcfolder \"$HOME\/Desktop\/tabby-config.tgz\" \\\n  \"$HOME\/Desktop\/TabbyBackup.dmg\"\n\nrm \"$HOME\/Desktop\/tabby-config.tgz\"\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
This creates an encrypted file here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
~\/Desktop\/TabbyBackup.dmg\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Transfer this DMG using AirDrop, USB, external drive, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
On new Mac<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Install Tabby first, then quit Tabby completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mount the DMG by double-clicking it, or:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
hdiutil attach \"$HOME\/Downloads\/TabbyBackup.dmg\"\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Backup existing Tabby folder if it exists:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
mv \"$HOME\/Library\/Application Support\/tabby\" \\\n   \"$HOME\/Library\/Application Support\/tabby.backup.$(date +%F-%H%M%S)\" 2>\/dev\/null\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Restore:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
tar -xzf \"\/Volumes\/TabbyBackup\/tabby-config.tgz\" \\\n  -C \"$HOME\/Library\/Application Support\"\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Detach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
hdiutil detach \"\/Volumes\/TabbyBackup\"\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Now open Tabby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It should ask for the same Tabby Vault\/master password<\/strong>. Enter the same password you used on the old laptop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Also copy SSH keys if your sessions use key-based login<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
Tabby sessions are one thing. SSH private keys are separate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On old Mac:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
tar -czf \"$HOME\/Desktop\/ssh-backup.tgz\" -C \"$HOME\" .ssh\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Move it to the new Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On new Mac:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
tar -xzf \"$HOME\/Downloads\/ssh-backup.tgz\" -C \"$HOME\"\n\nchmod 700 \"$HOME\/.ssh\"\nfind \"$HOME\/.ssh\" -type f -name \"*.pub\" -exec chmod 644 {} \\;\nfind \"$HOME\/.ssh\" -type f ! -name \"*.pub\" -exec chmod 600 {} \\;\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Then test:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ssh-add -l\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
For macOS Keychain-backed SSH keys:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ssh-add --apple-use-keychain ~\/.ssh\/id_ed25519\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Adjust key name if different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
My recommended migration order<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  1. Quit Tabby on both laptops.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Copy encrypted backup of:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    ~\/Library\/Application Support\/tabby\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
      \n
    1. Copy ~\/.ssh<\/code> only if you use SSH keys.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Use Apple Migration Assistant or Keychain Access if Tabby passwords were saved in macOS Keychain.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Open Tabby on new Mac and unlock with the same Vault password.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Test 2\u20133 SSH sessions before deleting anything from old laptop.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      Small but important: do not<\/strong> paste or upload config.yaml<\/code>, TabbyBackup.dmg<\/code>, or .ssh<\/code> files anywhere public. They may contain encrypted secrets and server inventory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
      How to Safely Transfer Tabby SSH Sessions, Saved Passwords, and Settings from One Mac to Another<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
      Other good options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      1. Tabby SSH Migration Guide: Move Saved Sessions and Password-Protected Vault to a New Mac<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. How to Backup and Restore Tabby Terminal SSH Sessions on macOS<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. Safe Way to Move Tabby Terminal Profiles, SSH Keys, and Vault Passwords to Another Mac<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Complete Guide to Migrating Tabby Terminal from Old Mac to New Mac<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      5. How to Transfer Tabby Terminal Configuration and SSH Sessions Between Mac Laptops<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        My recommended SEO-friendly blog title:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
        How to Safely Migrate Tabby Terminal SSH Sessions and Saved Passwords to a New Mac<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
        The correct thing is to migrate the Tabby config folder, and separately consider macOS Keychain. Tabby\u2019s official config location on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nTabby SSH Migration Guide: Move Saved Sessions and Password-Protected Vault to a New Mac - SRE School<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sreschool.com\/blog\/tabby-ssh-migration-guide-move-saved-sessions-and-password-protected-vault-to-a-new-mac\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Tabby SSH Migration Guide: Move Saved Sessions and Password-Protected Vault to a New Mac - SRE School\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The correct thing is to migrate the Tabby config folder, and separately consider macOS Keychain. 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