diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_init.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_init.go
index 43de7ff89..b9dabdc2d 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_init.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_init.go
@@ -87,9 +87,9 @@ func runInit(ctx context.Context, opts InitOptions, gopts GlobalOptions, args []
 		return err
 	}
 
-	be, err := create(ctx, repo, gopts.extended)
+	be, err := create(ctx, repo, gopts, gopts.extended)
 	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Fatalf("create repository at %s failed: %v\n", location.StripPassword(gopts.Repo), err)
+		return errors.Fatalf("create repository at %s failed: %v\n", location.StripPassword(gopts.backends, gopts.Repo), err)
 	}
 
 	s, err := repository.New(be, repository.Options{
@@ -102,11 +102,11 @@ func runInit(ctx context.Context, opts InitOptions, gopts GlobalOptions, args []
 
 	err = s.Init(ctx, version, gopts.password, chunkerPolynomial)
 	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Fatalf("create key in repository at %s failed: %v\n", location.StripPassword(gopts.Repo), err)
+		return errors.Fatalf("create key in repository at %s failed: %v\n", location.StripPassword(gopts.backends, gopts.Repo), err)
 	}
 
 	if !gopts.JSON {
-		Verbosef("created restic repository %v at %s", s.Config().ID[:10], location.StripPassword(gopts.Repo))
+		Verbosef("created restic repository %v at %s", s.Config().ID[:10], location.StripPassword(gopts.backends, gopts.Repo))
 		if opts.CopyChunkerParameters && chunkerPolynomial != nil {
 			Verbosef(" with chunker parameters copied from secondary repository\n")
 		} else {
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ func runInit(ctx context.Context, opts InitOptions, gopts GlobalOptions, args []
 		status := initSuccess{
 			MessageType: "initialized",
 			ID:          s.Config().ID,
-			Repository:  location.StripPassword(gopts.Repo),
+			Repository:  location.StripPassword(gopts.backends, gopts.Repo),
 		}
 		return json.NewEncoder(globalOptions.stdout).Encode(status)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/restic/global.go b/cmd/restic/global.go
index 3136e8990..f4886ec90 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/global.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/global.go
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ type GlobalOptions struct {
 	stdout   io.Writer
 	stderr   io.Writer
 
+	backends                              *location.Registry
 	backendTestHook, backendInnerTestHook backendWrapper
 
 	// verbosity is set as follows:
@@ -98,6 +99,18 @@ var isReadingPassword bool
 var internalGlobalCtx context.Context
 
 func init() {
+	backends := location.NewRegistry()
+	backends.Register("b2", b2.NewFactory())
+	backends.Register("local", local.NewFactory())
+	backends.Register("sftp", sftp.NewFactory())
+	backends.Register("s3", s3.NewFactory())
+	backends.Register("gs", gs.NewFactory())
+	backends.Register("azure", azure.NewFactory())
+	backends.Register("swift", swift.NewFactory())
+	backends.Register("rest", rest.NewFactory())
+	backends.Register("rclone", rclone.NewFactory())
+	globalOptions.backends = backends
+
 	var cancel context.CancelFunc
 	internalGlobalCtx, cancel = context.WithCancel(context.Background())
 	AddCleanupHandler(func(code int) (int, error) {
@@ -554,8 +567,8 @@ func parseConfig(loc location.Location, opts options.Options) (interface{}, erro
 
 // Open the backend specified by a location config.
 func open(ctx context.Context, s string, gopts GlobalOptions, opts options.Options) (restic.Backend, error) {
-	debug.Log("parsing location %v", location.StripPassword(s))
-	loc, err := location.Parse(s)
+	debug.Log("parsing location %v", location.StripPassword(gopts.backends, s))
+	loc, err := location.Parse(gopts.backends, s)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Fatalf("parsing repository location failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -576,32 +589,14 @@ func open(ctx context.Context, s string, gopts GlobalOptions, opts options.Optio
 	lim := limiter.NewStaticLimiter(gopts.Limits)
 	rt = lim.Transport(rt)
 
-	switch loc.Scheme {
-	case "local":
-		be, err = local.Open(ctx, *cfg.(*local.Config))
-	case "sftp":
-		be, err = sftp.Open(ctx, *cfg.(*sftp.Config))
-	case "s3":
-		be, err = s3.Open(ctx, *cfg.(*s3.Config), rt)
-	case "gs":
-		be, err = gs.Open(ctx, *cfg.(*gs.Config), rt)
-	case "azure":
-		be, err = azure.Open(ctx, *cfg.(*azure.Config), rt)
-	case "swift":
-		be, err = swift.Open(ctx, *cfg.(*swift.Config), rt)
-	case "b2":
-		be, err = b2.Open(ctx, *cfg.(*b2.Config), rt)
-	case "rest":
-		be, err = rest.Open(ctx, *cfg.(*rest.Config), rt)
-	case "rclone":
-		be, err = rclone.Open(ctx, *cfg.(*rclone.Config), lim)
-
-	default:
+	factory := gopts.backends.Lookup(loc.Scheme)
+	if factory == nil {
 		return nil, errors.Fatalf("invalid backend: %q", loc.Scheme)
 	}
 
+	be, err = factory.Open(ctx, cfg, rt, lim)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.Fatalf("unable to open repository at %v: %v", location.StripPassword(s), err)
+		return nil, errors.Fatalf("unable to open repository at %v: %v", location.StripPassword(gopts.backends, s), err)
 	}
 
 	// wrap with debug logging and connection limiting
@@ -623,7 +618,7 @@ func open(ctx context.Context, s string, gopts GlobalOptions, opts options.Optio
 	// check if config is there
 	fi, err := be.Stat(ctx, restic.Handle{Type: restic.ConfigFile})
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.Fatalf("unable to open config file: %v\nIs there a repository at the following location?\n%v", err, location.StripPassword(s))
+		return nil, errors.Fatalf("unable to open config file: %v\nIs there a repository at the following location?\n%v", err, location.StripPassword(gopts.backends, s))
 	}
 
 	if fi.Size == 0 {
@@ -634,9 +629,9 @@ func open(ctx context.Context, s string, gopts GlobalOptions, opts options.Optio
 }
 
 // Create the backend specified by URI.
-func create(ctx context.Context, s string, opts options.Options) (restic.Backend, error) {
+func create(ctx context.Context, s string, gopts GlobalOptions, opts options.Options) (restic.Backend, error) {
 	debug.Log("parsing location %v", s)
-	loc, err := location.Parse(s)
+	loc, err := location.Parse(gopts.backends, s)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -651,31 +646,12 @@ func create(ctx context.Context, s string, opts options.Options) (restic.Backend
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	var be restic.Backend
-	switch loc.Scheme {
-	case "local":
-		be, err = local.Create(ctx, *cfg.(*local.Config))
-	case "sftp":
-		be, err = sftp.Create(ctx, *cfg.(*sftp.Config))
-	case "s3":
-		be, err = s3.Create(ctx, *cfg.(*s3.Config), rt)
-	case "gs":
-		be, err = gs.Create(ctx, *cfg.(*gs.Config), rt)
-	case "azure":
-		be, err = azure.Create(ctx, *cfg.(*azure.Config), rt)
-	case "swift":
-		be, err = swift.Open(ctx, *cfg.(*swift.Config), rt)
-	case "b2":
-		be, err = b2.Create(ctx, *cfg.(*b2.Config), rt)
-	case "rest":
-		be, err = rest.Create(ctx, *cfg.(*rest.Config), rt)
-	case "rclone":
-		be, err = rclone.Create(ctx, *cfg.(*rclone.Config))
-	default:
-		debug.Log("invalid repository scheme: %v", s)
-		return nil, errors.Fatalf("invalid scheme %q", loc.Scheme)
+	factory := gopts.backends.Lookup(loc.Scheme)
+	if factory == nil {
+		return nil, errors.Fatalf("invalid backend: %q", loc.Scheme)
 	}
 
+	be, err := factory.Create(ctx, cfg, rt, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/restic/integration_helpers_test.go b/cmd/restic/integration_helpers_test.go
index a0e4d49d6..b7cb5b333 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/integration_helpers_test.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/integration_helpers_test.go
@@ -206,6 +206,8 @@ func withTestEnvironment(t testing.TB) (env *testEnvironment, cleanup func()) {
 
 		// replace this hook with "nil" if listing a filetype more than once is necessary
 		backendTestHook: func(r restic.Backend) (restic.Backend, error) { return newOrderedListOnceBackend(r), nil },
+		// start with default set of backends
+		backends: globalOptions.backends,
 	}
 
 	// always overwrite global options
diff --git a/internal/backend/azure/azure.go b/internal/backend/azure/azure.go
index 4041d3adc..b33b8dca6 100644
--- a/internal/backend/azure/azure.go
+++ b/internal/backend/azure/azure.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/layout"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/location"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/debug"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
@@ -43,6 +44,10 @@ const defaultListMaxItems = 5000
 // make sure that *Backend implements backend.Backend
 var _ restic.Backend = &Backend{}
 
+func NewFactory() location.Factory {
+	return location.NewHTTPBackendFactory(ParseConfig, location.NoPassword, Create, Open)
+}
+
 func open(cfg Config, rt http.RoundTripper) (*Backend, error) {
 	debug.Log("open, config %#v", cfg)
 	var client *azContainer.Client
diff --git a/internal/backend/b2/b2.go b/internal/backend/b2/b2.go
index 7f4dba831..eb2cfe3c2 100644
--- a/internal/backend/b2/b2.go
+++ b/internal/backend/b2/b2.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/layout"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/location"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/debug"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
@@ -36,6 +37,10 @@ const defaultListMaxItems = 10 * 1000
 // ensure statically that *b2Backend implements restic.Backend.
 var _ restic.Backend = &b2Backend{}
 
+func NewFactory() location.Factory {
+	return location.NewHTTPBackendFactory(ParseConfig, location.NoPassword, Create, Open)
+}
+
 type sniffingRoundTripper struct {
 	sync.Mutex
 	lastErr error
diff --git a/internal/backend/gs/gs.go b/internal/backend/gs/gs.go
index 022f2534a..445ccc77d 100644
--- a/internal/backend/gs/gs.go
+++ b/internal/backend/gs/gs.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/layout"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/location"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/debug"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
 
@@ -47,6 +48,10 @@ type Backend struct {
 // Ensure that *Backend implements restic.Backend.
 var _ restic.Backend = &Backend{}
 
+func NewFactory() location.Factory {
+	return location.NewHTTPBackendFactory(ParseConfig, location.NoPassword, Create, Open)
+}
+
 func getStorageClient(rt http.RoundTripper) (*storage.Client, error) {
 	// create a new HTTP client
 	httpClient := &http.Client{
diff --git a/internal/backend/local/local.go b/internal/backend/local/local.go
index d6bdef1e4..02ac81b8d 100644
--- a/internal/backend/local/local.go
+++ b/internal/backend/local/local.go
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/layout"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/limiter"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/location"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/debug"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/fs"
@@ -28,6 +30,14 @@ type Local struct {
 // ensure statically that *Local implements restic.Backend.
 var _ restic.Backend = &Local{}
 
+func NewFactory() location.Factory {
+	return location.NewLimitedBackendFactory(ParseConfig, location.NoPassword, func(ctx context.Context, cfg Config, _ limiter.Limiter) (*Local, error) {
+		return Create(ctx, cfg)
+	}, func(ctx context.Context, cfg Config, _ limiter.Limiter) (*Local, error) {
+		return Open(ctx, cfg)
+	})
+}
+
 const defaultLayout = "default"
 
 func open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*Local, error) {
diff --git a/internal/backend/location/location.go b/internal/backend/location/location.go
index 612ae1b4c..947ca17c3 100644
--- a/internal/backend/location/location.go
+++ b/internal/backend/location/location.go
@@ -4,15 +4,6 @@ package location
 import (
 	"strings"
 
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/azure"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/b2"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/gs"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/local"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/rclone"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/rest"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/s3"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/sftp"
-	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/swift"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
 )
 
@@ -23,34 +14,8 @@ type Location struct {
 	Config interface{}
 }
 
-type parser struct {
-	scheme        string
-	parse         func(string) (interface{}, error)
-	stripPassword func(string) string
-}
-
-func configToAny[C any](parser func(string) (*C, error)) func(string) (interface{}, error) {
-	return func(s string) (interface{}, error) {
-		return parser(s)
-	}
-}
-
-// parsers is a list of valid config parsers for the backends. The first parser
-// is the fallback and should always be set to the local backend.
-var parsers = []parser{
-	{"b2", configToAny(b2.ParseConfig), noPassword},
-	{"local", configToAny(local.ParseConfig), noPassword},
-	{"sftp", configToAny(sftp.ParseConfig), noPassword},
-	{"s3", configToAny(s3.ParseConfig), noPassword},
-	{"gs", configToAny(gs.ParseConfig), noPassword},
-	{"azure", configToAny(azure.ParseConfig), noPassword},
-	{"swift", configToAny(swift.ParseConfig), noPassword},
-	{"rest", configToAny(rest.ParseConfig), rest.StripPassword},
-	{"rclone", configToAny(rclone.ParseConfig), noPassword},
-}
-
-// noPassword returns the repository location unchanged (there's no sensitive information there)
-func noPassword(s string) string {
+// NoPassword returns the repository location unchanged (there's no sensitive information there)
+func NoPassword(s string) string {
 	return s
 }
 
@@ -88,16 +53,13 @@ func isPath(s string) bool {
 // starts with a backend name followed by a colon, that backend's Parse()
 // function is called. Otherwise, the local backend is used which interprets s
 // as the name of a directory.
-func Parse(s string) (u Location, err error) {
+func Parse(registry *Registry, s string) (u Location, err error) {
 	scheme := extractScheme(s)
 	u.Scheme = scheme
 
-	for _, parser := range parsers {
-		if parser.scheme != scheme {
-			continue
-		}
-
-		u.Config, err = parser.parse(s)
+	factory := registry.Lookup(scheme)
+	if factory != nil {
+		u.Config, err = factory.ParseConfig(s)
 		if err != nil {
 			return Location{}, err
 		}
@@ -111,7 +73,12 @@ func Parse(s string) (u Location, err error) {
 	}
 
 	u.Scheme = "local"
-	u.Config, err = local.ParseConfig("local:" + s)
+	factory = registry.Lookup(u.Scheme)
+	if factory == nil {
+		return Location{}, errors.New("local backend not available")
+	}
+
+	u.Config, err = factory.ParseConfig("local:" + s)
 	if err != nil {
 		return Location{}, err
 	}
@@ -120,14 +87,12 @@ func Parse(s string) (u Location, err error) {
 }
 
 // StripPassword returns a displayable version of a repository location (with any sensitive information removed)
-func StripPassword(s string) string {
+func StripPassword(registry *Registry, s string) string {
 	scheme := extractScheme(s)
 
-	for _, parser := range parsers {
-		if parser.scheme != scheme {
-			continue
-		}
-		return parser.stripPassword(s)
+	factory := registry.Lookup(scheme)
+	if factory != nil {
+		return factory.StripPassword(s)
 	}
 	return s
 }
diff --git a/internal/backend/location/location_test.go b/internal/backend/location/location_test.go
index 9f5db70c9..6e9042200 100644
--- a/internal/backend/location/location_test.go
+++ b/internal/backend/location/location_test.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-package location
+package location_test
 
 import (
 	"net/url"
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/b2"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/local"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/location"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/rest"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/s3"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/sftp"
@@ -24,11 +25,11 @@ func parseURL(s string) *url.URL {
 
 var parseTests = []struct {
 	s string
-	u Location
+	u location.Location
 }{
 	{
 		"local:/srv/repo",
-		Location{Scheme: "local",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: &local.Config{
 				Path:        "/srv/repo",
 				Connections: 2,
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"local:dir1/dir2",
-		Location{Scheme: "local",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: &local.Config{
 				Path:        "dir1/dir2",
 				Connections: 2,
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"local:dir1/dir2",
-		Location{Scheme: "local",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: &local.Config{
 				Path:        "dir1/dir2",
 				Connections: 2,
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"dir1/dir2",
-		Location{Scheme: "local",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: &local.Config{
 				Path:        "dir1/dir2",
 				Connections: 2,
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"/dir1/dir2",
-		Location{Scheme: "local",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: &local.Config{
 				Path:        "/dir1/dir2",
 				Connections: 2,
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"local:../dir1/dir2",
-		Location{Scheme: "local",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: &local.Config{
 				Path:        "../dir1/dir2",
 				Connections: 2,
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"/dir1/dir2",
-		Location{Scheme: "local",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: &local.Config{
 				Path:        "/dir1/dir2",
 				Connections: 2,
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"/dir1:foobar/dir2",
-		Location{Scheme: "local",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: &local.Config{
 				Path:        "/dir1:foobar/dir2",
 				Connections: 2,
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		`\dir1\foobar\dir2`,
-		Location{Scheme: "local",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: &local.Config{
 				Path:        `\dir1\foobar\dir2`,
 				Connections: 2,
@@ -109,7 +110,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		`c:\dir1\foobar\dir2`,
-		Location{Scheme: "local",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: &local.Config{
 				Path:        `c:\dir1\foobar\dir2`,
 				Connections: 2,
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		`C:\Users\appveyor\AppData\Local\Temp\1\restic-test-879453535\repo`,
-		Location{Scheme: "local",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: &local.Config{
 				Path:        `C:\Users\appveyor\AppData\Local\Temp\1\restic-test-879453535\repo`,
 				Connections: 2,
@@ -127,7 +128,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		`c:/dir1/foobar/dir2`,
-		Location{Scheme: "local",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "local",
 			Config: &local.Config{
 				Path:        `c:/dir1/foobar/dir2`,
 				Connections: 2,
@@ -136,7 +137,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"sftp:user@host:/srv/repo",
-		Location{Scheme: "sftp",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "sftp",
 			Config: &sftp.Config{
 				User:        "user",
 				Host:        "host",
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"sftp:host:/srv/repo",
-		Location{Scheme: "sftp",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "sftp",
 			Config: &sftp.Config{
 				User:        "",
 				Host:        "host",
@@ -158,7 +159,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"sftp://user@host/srv/repo",
-		Location{Scheme: "sftp",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "sftp",
 			Config: &sftp.Config{
 				User:        "user",
 				Host:        "host",
@@ -169,7 +170,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"sftp://user@host//srv/repo",
-		Location{Scheme: "sftp",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "sftp",
 			Config: &sftp.Config{
 				User:        "user",
 				Host:        "host",
@@ -181,7 +182,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 
 	{
 		"s3://eu-central-1/bucketname",
-		Location{Scheme: "s3",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "s3",
 			Config: &s3.Config{
 				Endpoint:    "eu-central-1",
 				Bucket:      "bucketname",
@@ -192,7 +193,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"s3://hostname.foo/bucketname",
-		Location{Scheme: "s3",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "s3",
 			Config: &s3.Config{
 				Endpoint:    "hostname.foo",
 				Bucket:      "bucketname",
@@ -203,7 +204,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"s3://hostname.foo/bucketname/prefix/directory",
-		Location{Scheme: "s3",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "s3",
 			Config: &s3.Config{
 				Endpoint:    "hostname.foo",
 				Bucket:      "bucketname",
@@ -214,7 +215,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"s3:eu-central-1/repo",
-		Location{Scheme: "s3",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "s3",
 			Config: &s3.Config{
 				Endpoint:    "eu-central-1",
 				Bucket:      "repo",
@@ -225,7 +226,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"s3:eu-central-1/repo/prefix/directory",
-		Location{Scheme: "s3",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "s3",
 			Config: &s3.Config{
 				Endpoint:    "eu-central-1",
 				Bucket:      "repo",
@@ -236,7 +237,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"s3:https://hostname.foo/repo",
-		Location{Scheme: "s3",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "s3",
 			Config: &s3.Config{
 				Endpoint:    "hostname.foo",
 				Bucket:      "repo",
@@ -247,7 +248,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"s3:https://hostname.foo/repo/prefix/directory",
-		Location{Scheme: "s3",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "s3",
 			Config: &s3.Config{
 				Endpoint:    "hostname.foo",
 				Bucket:      "repo",
@@ -258,7 +259,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"s3:http://hostname.foo/repo",
-		Location{Scheme: "s3",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "s3",
 			Config: &s3.Config{
 				Endpoint:    "hostname.foo",
 				Bucket:      "repo",
@@ -270,7 +271,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"swift:container17:/",
-		Location{Scheme: "swift",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "swift",
 			Config: &swift.Config{
 				Container:   "container17",
 				Prefix:      "",
@@ -280,7 +281,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"swift:container17:/prefix97",
-		Location{Scheme: "swift",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "swift",
 			Config: &swift.Config{
 				Container:   "container17",
 				Prefix:      "prefix97",
@@ -290,7 +291,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 	},
 	{
 		"rest:http://hostname.foo:1234/",
-		Location{Scheme: "rest",
+		location.Location{Scheme: "rest",
 			Config: &rest.Config{
 				URL:         parseURL("http://hostname.foo:1234/"),
 				Connections: 5,
@@ -298,7 +299,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 		},
 	},
 	{
-		"b2:bucketname:/prefix", Location{Scheme: "b2",
+		"b2:bucketname:/prefix", location.Location{Scheme: "b2",
 			Config: &b2.Config{
 				Bucket:      "bucketname",
 				Prefix:      "prefix",
@@ -307,7 +308,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 		},
 	},
 	{
-		"b2:bucketname", Location{Scheme: "b2",
+		"b2:bucketname", location.Location{Scheme: "b2",
 			Config: &b2.Config{
 				Bucket:      "bucketname",
 				Prefix:      "",
@@ -320,7 +321,7 @@ var parseTests = []struct {
 func TestParse(t *testing.T) {
 	for i, test := range parseTests {
 		t.Run(test.s, func(t *testing.T) {
-			u, err := Parse(test.s)
+			u, err := location.Parse(test.s)
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 			}
@@ -346,7 +347,7 @@ func TestInvalidScheme(t *testing.T) {
 
 	for _, s := range invalidSchemes {
 		t.Run(s, func(t *testing.T) {
-			_, err := Parse(s)
+			_, err := location.Parse(s)
 			if err == nil {
 				t.Fatalf("error for invalid location %q not found", s)
 			}
diff --git a/internal/backend/location/registry.go b/internal/backend/location/registry.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5d644dfb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/backend/location/registry.go
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+package location
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net/http"
+
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/limiter"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
+)
+
+type Registry struct {
+	factories map[string]Factory
+}
+
+func NewRegistry() *Registry {
+	return &Registry{
+		factories: make(map[string]Factory),
+	}
+}
+
+func (r *Registry) Register(scheme string, factory Factory) {
+	if r.factories[scheme] != nil {
+		panic("duplicate backend")
+	}
+	r.factories[scheme] = factory
+}
+
+func (r *Registry) Lookup(scheme string) Factory {
+	return r.factories[scheme]
+}
+
+type Factory interface {
+	ParseConfig(s string) (interface{}, error)
+	StripPassword(s string) string
+	Create(ctx context.Context, cfg interface{}, rt http.RoundTripper, lim limiter.Limiter) (restic.Backend, error)
+	Open(ctx context.Context, cfg interface{}, rt http.RoundTripper, lim limiter.Limiter) (restic.Backend, error)
+}
+
+type GenericBackendFactory[C any, T restic.Backend] struct {
+	parseConfigFn   func(s string) (*C, error)
+	stripPasswordFn func(s string) string
+	createFn        func(ctx context.Context, cfg C, rt http.RoundTripper, lim limiter.Limiter) (T, error)
+	openFn          func(ctx context.Context, cfg C, rt http.RoundTripper, lim limiter.Limiter) (T, error)
+}
+
+func (f *GenericBackendFactory[C, T]) ParseConfig(s string) (interface{}, error) {
+	return f.parseConfigFn(s)
+}
+func (f *GenericBackendFactory[C, T]) StripPassword(s string) string {
+	if f.stripPasswordFn != nil {
+		return f.stripPasswordFn(s)
+	}
+	return s
+}
+func (f *GenericBackendFactory[C, T]) Create(ctx context.Context, cfg interface{}, rt http.RoundTripper, lim limiter.Limiter) (restic.Backend, error) {
+	return f.createFn(ctx, *cfg.(*C), rt, lim)
+}
+func (f *GenericBackendFactory[C, T]) Open(ctx context.Context, cfg interface{}, rt http.RoundTripper, lim limiter.Limiter) (restic.Backend, error) {
+	return f.openFn(ctx, *cfg.(*C), rt, lim)
+}
+
+func NewHTTPBackendFactory[C any, T restic.Backend](parseConfigFn func(s string) (*C, error),
+	stripPasswordFn func(s string) string,
+	createFn func(ctx context.Context, cfg C, rt http.RoundTripper) (T, error),
+	openFn func(ctx context.Context, cfg C, rt http.RoundTripper) (T, error)) *GenericBackendFactory[C, T] {
+
+	return &GenericBackendFactory[C, T]{
+		parseConfigFn:   parseConfigFn,
+		stripPasswordFn: stripPasswordFn,
+		createFn: func(ctx context.Context, cfg C, rt http.RoundTripper, _ limiter.Limiter) (T, error) {
+			return createFn(ctx, cfg, rt)
+		},
+		openFn: func(ctx context.Context, cfg C, rt http.RoundTripper, _ limiter.Limiter) (T, error) {
+			return openFn(ctx, cfg, rt)
+		},
+	}
+}
+
+func NewLimitedBackendFactory[C any, T restic.Backend](parseConfigFn func(s string) (*C, error),
+	stripPasswordFn func(s string) string,
+	createFn func(ctx context.Context, cfg C, lim limiter.Limiter) (T, error),
+	openFn func(ctx context.Context, cfg C, lim limiter.Limiter) (T, error)) *GenericBackendFactory[C, T] {
+
+	return &GenericBackendFactory[C, T]{
+		parseConfigFn:   parseConfigFn,
+		stripPasswordFn: stripPasswordFn,
+		createFn: func(ctx context.Context, cfg C, _ http.RoundTripper, lim limiter.Limiter) (T, error) {
+			return createFn(ctx, cfg, lim)
+		},
+		openFn: func(ctx context.Context, cfg C, _ http.RoundTripper, lim limiter.Limiter) (T, error) {
+			return openFn(ctx, cfg, lim)
+		},
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/backend/rclone/backend.go b/internal/backend/rclone/backend.go
index 881990bc3..f3a97ef75 100644
--- a/internal/backend/rclone/backend.go
+++ b/internal/backend/rclone/backend.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/cenkalti/backoff/v4"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/limiter"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/location"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/rest"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/debug"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
@@ -36,6 +37,10 @@ type Backend struct {
 	conn       *StdioConn
 }
 
+func NewFactory() location.Factory {
+	return location.NewLimitedBackendFactory(ParseConfig, location.NoPassword, Create, Open)
+}
+
 // run starts command with args and initializes the StdioConn.
 func run(command string, args ...string) (*StdioConn, *sync.WaitGroup, chan struct{}, func() error, error) {
 	cmd := exec.Command(command, args...)
@@ -283,8 +288,8 @@ func Open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config, lim limiter.Limiter) (*Backend, error
 }
 
 // Create initializes a new restic repo with rclone.
-func Create(ctx context.Context, cfg Config) (*Backend, error) {
-	be, err := newBackend(ctx, cfg, nil)
+func Create(ctx context.Context, cfg Config, lim limiter.Limiter) (*Backend, error) {
+	be, err := newBackend(ctx, cfg, lim)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/internal/backend/rclone/backend_test.go b/internal/backend/rclone/backend_test.go
index a562a99e6..738462577 100644
--- a/internal/backend/rclone/backend_test.go
+++ b/internal/backend/rclone/backend_test.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func newTestSuite(t testing.TB) *test.Suite[rclone.Config] {
 		// CreateFn is a function that creates a temporary repository for the tests.
 		Create: func(cfg rclone.Config) (restic.Backend, error) {
 			t.Logf("Create()")
-			be, err := rclone.Create(context.TODO(), cfg)
+			be, err := rclone.Create(context.TODO(), cfg, nil)
 			var e *exec.Error
 			if errors.As(err, &e) && e.Err == exec.ErrNotFound {
 				t.Skipf("program %q not found", e.Name)
diff --git a/internal/backend/rest/rest.go b/internal/backend/rest/rest.go
index 0906a7f10..4fb2d54de 100644
--- a/internal/backend/rest/rest.go
+++ b/internal/backend/rest/rest.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/layout"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/location"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/debug"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
@@ -29,6 +30,10 @@ type Backend struct {
 	layout.Layout
 }
 
+func NewFactory() location.Factory {
+	return location.NewHTTPBackendFactory(ParseConfig, StripPassword, Create, Open)
+}
+
 // the REST API protocol version is decided by HTTP request headers, these are the constants.
 const (
 	ContentTypeV1 = "application/vnd.x.restic.rest.v1"
diff --git a/internal/backend/s3/s3.go b/internal/backend/s3/s3.go
index 7b7a761ce..dd5cc36e6 100644
--- a/internal/backend/s3/s3.go
+++ b/internal/backend/s3/s3.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/layout"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/location"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/debug"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
@@ -31,6 +32,10 @@ type Backend struct {
 // make sure that *Backend implements backend.Backend
 var _ restic.Backend = &Backend{}
 
+func NewFactory() location.Factory {
+	return location.NewHTTPBackendFactory(ParseConfig, location.NoPassword, Create, Open)
+}
+
 const defaultLayout = "default"
 
 func open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config, rt http.RoundTripper) (*Backend, error) {
diff --git a/internal/backend/sftp/sftp.go b/internal/backend/sftp/sftp.go
index 12c355003..f0a7ef9bc 100644
--- a/internal/backend/sftp/sftp.go
+++ b/internal/backend/sftp/sftp.go
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/layout"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/limiter"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/location"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/debug"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
@@ -41,6 +43,14 @@ type SFTP struct {
 
 var _ restic.Backend = &SFTP{}
 
+func NewFactory() location.Factory {
+	return location.NewLimitedBackendFactory(ParseConfig, location.NoPassword, func(ctx context.Context, cfg Config, _ limiter.Limiter) (*SFTP, error) {
+		return Create(ctx, cfg)
+	}, func(ctx context.Context, cfg Config, _ limiter.Limiter) (*SFTP, error) {
+		return Open(ctx, cfg)
+	})
+}
+
 const defaultLayout = "default"
 
 func startClient(cfg Config) (*SFTP, error) {
diff --git a/internal/backend/swift/swift.go b/internal/backend/swift/swift.go
index cfa9ed665..019456be7 100644
--- a/internal/backend/swift/swift.go
+++ b/internal/backend/swift/swift.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/layout"
+	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/backend/location"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/debug"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/errors"
 	"github.com/restic/restic/internal/restic"
@@ -34,6 +35,10 @@ type beSwift struct {
 // ensure statically that *beSwift implements restic.Backend.
 var _ restic.Backend = &beSwift{}
 
+func NewFactory() location.Factory {
+	return location.NewHTTPBackendFactory(ParseConfig, location.NoPassword, Open, Open)
+}
+
 // Open opens the swift backend at a container in region. The container is
 // created if it does not exist yet.
 func Open(ctx context.Context, cfg Config, rt http.RoundTripper) (restic.Backend, error) {