# Migration users from 18 to 26

**URL:** <https://forum.keycloak.org/t/migration-users-from-18-to-26/31277>\
**Category:** Getting advice\
**Tags:** authentication, user-federation, oidc\
**Created:** [February 16, 2026, 5:50am UTC](https://forum.keycloak.org/t/migration-users-from-18-to-26/31277 "2026-02-16T05:50:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![akhrulloi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/forum.keycloak.org/akhrulloi/32/12474_2.png) [@akhrulloi](https://forum.keycloak.org/u/akhrulloi)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 5:50am UTC](https://forum.keycloak.org/t/migration-users-from-18-to-26/31277/1 "2026-02-16T05:50:28Z")

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My current issue:

I have a running Keycloak 18 instance that is actively used in production.  
On another server, I have deployed Keycloak 26 and configured it to match the Keycloak 18 setup as closely as possible. The new Keycloak 26 instance is working correctly.

The remaining problem is migrating all users from Keycloak 18 to Keycloak 26 while keeping their existing login credentials (username and password unchanged).

The challenge is that export/import commands are not available or cannot be used on my Keycloak 18 instance.

What is the recommended way to migrate users in this case?

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**Author:** ![dasniko](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/forum.keycloak.org/dasniko/32/2969_2.png) [@dasniko](https://forum.keycloak.org/u/dasniko)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2026, 12:00pm UTC](https://forum.keycloak.org/t/migration-users-from-18-to-26/31277/2 "2026-02-16T12:00:19Z")

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The recommended way for an upgrade is to do it in-place, not migrating it to another environment.

I don’t see a reason, why im-/export should not work or should not be available.

You can still do a manual database export and import. Well… good luck…

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**Author:** ![akhrulloi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/forum.keycloak.org/akhrulloi/32/12474_2.png) [@akhrulloi](https://forum.keycloak.org/u/akhrulloi)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 6:23am UTC](https://forum.keycloak.org/t/migration-users-from-18-to-26/31277/3 "2026-02-18T06:23:07Z")

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Big thanks for advice.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/keycloak/original/1X/eb342909d95cf32cbb7517610022c6a0046a9ffb.png) [@system](https://forum.keycloak.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 6:23am UTC](https://forum.keycloak.org/t/migration-users-from-18-to-26/31277/4 "2026-02-20T06:23:37Z")

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