---
title: "Password Element (XMLA) | Microsoft Docs"
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ms.date: "03/06/2017"
ms.prod: "sql-server-2016"
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  - "analysis-services"
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apiname: 
  - "Password Element"
apilocation: 
  - "http://schemas.microsoft.com/analysisservices/2003/engine"
apitype: "Schema"
applies_to: 
  - "SQL Server 2016 Preview"
f1_keywords: 
  - "http://schemas.microsoft.com/analysisservices/2003/engine#Password"
  - "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:xml-analysis#Password"
  - "microsoft.xml.analysis.password"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "Password element"
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---
# Password Element (XMLA)
  Determines the password to be used by the parent [Backup](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/backup-element-xmla.md) or [Restore](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/restore-element-xmla.md) command for encrypting or decrypting a backup file.  
  
## Syntax  
  
```xml  
  
<Backup> <!-- or Restore -->  
   ...  
   <Password>...</Password>  
   ...  
</Backup>  
```  
  
## Element Characteristics  
  
|Characteristic|Description|  
|--------------------|-----------------|  
|Data type and length|String|  
|Default value|None|  
|Cardinality|0-1: Optional element that can occur once and only once.|  
  
## Element Relationships  
  
|Relationship|Element|  
|------------------|-------------|  
|Parent elements|[Backup](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/backup-element-xmla.md), [Restore](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-commands/restore-element-xmla.md)|  
|Child elements|None|  
  
## Remarks  
 For **Backup** commands, if the **Password** element is not included or contains an empty string, the backup file is not encrypted.  
  
 For **Restore** commands, if the **Password** element is not included or contains an empty string while attempting to restore an encrypted backup file, an error occurs.  
  
 If **Location** elements are included in either a **Backup** or a **Restore** command, the same **Password** element is used for both backup and remote backup files. For more information about remote backup files, see [Backing Up, Restoring, and Synchronizing Databases &#40;XMLA&#41;](../../../analysis-services/multidimensional-models-scripting-language-assl-xmla/backing-up-restoring-and-synchronizing-databases-xmla.md).  
  
## See Also  
 [Location Element &#40;XMLA&#41;](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-properties/location-element-xmla.md)   
 [Properties &#40;XMLA&#41;](../../../analysis-services/xmla/xml-elements-properties/xml-elements-properties.md)