It is intended for a full "bare-metal" restore to the exact same device or an identical hardware model.
Since you cannot read the binary file directly, you have two professional workarounds depending on your goal: Option A: The "Export" Method (Best for Viewing) open mikrotik backup file
When working with MikroTik devices, you will encounter two primary configuration files: and .rsc . Understanding the difference is crucial because you cannot simply "open" a .backup file with a text editor as you would a standard document. 1. Can You Open a .backup File? It is intended for a full "bare-metal" restore