diff --git a/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/Password/UserGlobalAuth.php b/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/Password/UserGlobalAuth.php
index 4c277405b18c0..84f2c698f073a 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/Password/UserGlobalAuth.php
+++ b/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/Password/UserGlobalAuth.php
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 namespace OCA\Files_External\Lib\Auth\Password;
 
 use OCA\Files_External\Lib\Auth\AuthMechanism;
+use OCA\Files_External\Lib\DefinitionParameter;
 use OCA\Files_External\Lib\InsufficientDataForMeaningfulAnswerException;
 use OCA\Files_External\Lib\StorageConfig;
 use OCA\Files_External\Service\BackendService;
@@ -41,6 +42,12 @@ public function saveBackendOptions(IUser $user, $id, $backendOptions) {
 		if (!isset($backendOptions['user']) && !isset($backendOptions['password'])) {
 			return;
 		}
+
+		if ($backendOptions['password'] === DefinitionParameter::UNMODIFIED_PLACEHOLDER) {
+			$oldCredentials = $this->credentialsManager->retrieve($user->getUID(), self::CREDENTIALS_IDENTIFIER);
+			$backendOptions['password'] = $oldCredentials['password'];
+		}
+
 		// make sure we're not setting any unexpected keys
 		$credentials = [
 			'user' => $backendOptions['user'],
diff --git a/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/Password/UserProvided.php b/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/Password/UserProvided.php
index fe9fd357b8935..a7c51d7353a83 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/Password/UserProvided.php
+++ b/apps/files_external/lib/Lib/Auth/Password/UserProvided.php
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ private function getCredentialsIdentifier($storageId) {
 	}
 
 	public function saveBackendOptions(IUser $user, $mountId, array $options) {
+		if ($options['password'] === DefinitionParameter::UNMODIFIED_PLACEHOLDER) {
+			$oldCredentials = $this->credentialsManager->retrieve($user->getUID(), $this->getCredentialsIdentifier($mountId));
+			$options['password'] = $oldCredentials['password'];
+		}
+
 		$this->credentialsManager->store($user->getUID(), $this->getCredentialsIdentifier($mountId), [
 			'user' => $options['user'], // explicitly copy the fields we want instead of just passing the entire $options array
 			'password' => $options['password'] // this way we prevent users from being able to modify any other field
diff --git a/build/integration/files_features/external-storage.feature b/build/integration/files_features/external-storage.feature
index 134b8c54c73e9..d313cfb328765 100644
--- a/build/integration/files_features/external-storage.feature
+++ b/build/integration/files_features/external-storage.feature
@@ -80,6 +80,22 @@ Feature: external-storage
     Then fields of last external storage match with
       | status | 0 |
 
+  Scenario: Save an external storage again with an unmodified password provided by user
+    Given Logging in using web as "admin"
+    And logged in user creates external global storage
+      | mountPoint     | "ExternalStorageTest" |
+      | backend        | "owncloud" |
+      | authMechanism  | "password::userprovided" |
+      | backendOptions | {"host":"http://localhost:8080","secure":false} |
+    And fields of last external storage match with
+      | status | 2 |
+    And logged in user updates last external userglobal storage
+      | backendOptions | {"user":"admin","password":"admin"} |
+    When logged in user updates last external userglobal storage
+      | backendOptions | {"user":"admin","password":"__unmodified__"} |
+    Then fields of last external storage match with
+      | status | 0 |
+
   Scenario: Save an external storage with global credentials provided by user
     Given Logging in using web as "admin"
     And logged in user creates external global storage
@@ -93,3 +109,19 @@ Feature: external-storage
       | backendOptions | {"user":"admin","password":"admin"} |
     Then fields of last external storage match with
       | status | 0 |
+
+  Scenario: Save an external storage again with unmodified global credentials provided by user
+    Given Logging in using web as "admin"
+    And logged in user creates external global storage
+      | mountPoint     | "ExternalStorageTest" |
+      | backend        | "owncloud" |
+      | authMechanism  | "password::global::user" |
+      | backendOptions | {"host":"http://localhost:8080","secure":false} |
+    And fields of last external storage match with
+      | status | 2 |
+    And logged in user updates last external userglobal storage
+      | backendOptions | {"user":"admin","password":"admin"} |
+    When logged in user updates last external userglobal storage
+      | backendOptions | {"user":"admin","password":"__unmodified__"} |
+    Then fields of last external storage match with
+      | status | 0 |