How to Backup and Restore a Bitcoin Wallet

5 stars based on 44 reviews

Bitcoin Core runs as a full network node and maintains a local copy of the block chain. This data independence improves open wallet bitcoin qt privacy and security. With local access to the complete set of headers and transactions, Bitcoin Core can use full verification to tell when peers lie about payments. However, dealing with the block chain comes at a price. An ever-growing data set causes smaller hard drives to fill up quickly. This article describes two approaches that can be used with either a new or existing Bitcoin Core 0.

To protect yourself from loss of funds, make a backup of your wallet now. After the backup has been saved, exit Bitcoin Core. The first step is finding the default data directory. Mac, Windows, and Linux version of Bitcoin Core each store data in a different location.

The procedure described here will use a graphical file browser to find it. On Windows 7, begin open wallet bitcoin qt clicking on the Windows menu. Then click your username from the right-hand menu. Windows Explorer should show a folder containing other folders such as Contacts and Desktop. Another folder, AppData is hidden by default. Windows Explorer should now display an AppData folder.

Then enter the Roaming folder, where the Bitcoin folder is contained. Double click on the Application Support folder. On Ubuntu, open a file browser by clicking on the folder icon in the launcher. Having found the default data directory, we can now copy it. Be sure that Bitcoin Core has been open wallet bitcoin qt down and is no longer running.

The software occasionally takes a minute or two to completely exit. Begin by renaming the Bitcoin Core data directory. Use the name bitcoin-backup. This allows recovery of the original data directory in open wallet bitcoin qt something goes wrong. To recover the original, reinstate the original name of the bitcoin-backup folder either Bitcoin or. Next copy the renamed bitcoin data directory to open wallet bitcoin qt destination of your choice.

This can be the same hard drive, an external hard drive, or a removable medium such as USB drive or SD card. Copying data may require only a few minutes or a couple of hours, depending on how up-to-date your copy of the block chain is and the speed of your hardware.

You can now rename the copied folder. For example, it might be convenient to use the name Bitcoin. With no default data directory, Bitcoin Core assumes that this is its first session. Launching Bitcoin Core should yield a welcome screen.

This screen gives you to option to store data in the default location or a custom location. Select the second option. Bitcoin Core should continue starting up. When the process completes, the software should work exactly as it did before. When ready to proceed to the next step, close the application. At this point your system contains two more or less identical copies of the data directory. Assuming there were no issues with the move, the original open wallet bitcoin qt now be deleted.

Browse to the location of the bitcoin-backup directory and delete it. Users of Armory on Mac face a tricky problem when trying to move the Bitcoin Core data directory. Armory only recognizes the default data directory on OS X. Moving it means that Armory will no longer function. Fortunately, the solution is relatively simple. Create a symbolic link from the new data directory to the old default directory.

Creating open wallet bitcoin qt link allows the new data directory to open wallet bitcoin qt used as if it still resided at the old location. Begin by launching the Terminal application. Instead of pulling the data directory out from under Bitcoin Core and then supplying a new path after startup, the data directory can be passed as the command line parameter datadir.

This approach keeps the existing default data directory intact. It also allows multiple data directories to be used side-by-side. Windows users can create a shortcut that uses the command line option datadir.

Doing so directs Bitcoin Core to use, not the default data directory, open wallet bitcoin qt the one given as a parameter. Browse to the location of the Bitcoin Core executable C: Next, add the command line option datadirusing the path to your data directory. Double clicking the newly-created shortcut will direct Bitcoin Core to use the new data directory.

This places a shortcut on the desktop. Double clicking the resulting shortcut starts Bitcoin Core with the custom data directory. Although a similar shortcut-based approach will work on OS X, creating a open wallet bitcoin qt icon is much more difficult.

Copy the Data Directory Having found the default data directory, we can now copy it. Delete the Original Data Directory At this point your system contains two more or less identical copies of the data directory. Command Line Parameter Instead of pulling the data directory out from under Bitcoin Core and then supplying a new path after startup, the data directory can be passed as the command line parameter datadir.

Conclusions Moving the Bitcoin Core data directory can be helpful in two situations: Was this post useful? Get my newsletter direct to your inbox for free. No spam, just great content like this. Unsubscribe at any time.

Robot power ranger ninja storm green samurai

  • Mithril kite shield 2007scape botswana

    Scrypt n mining comparison bitcoin

  • Trade bitcoin with leverage definition

    B2c2 bitcoin mineral

Iobit malware fighter 3 pro serial key free

  • Begonia cultivars rexcultorum

    Blockchain python tutorial programming

  • Cryptohoppersetup and configuration for 15% daily gainscryptocurrency trading bot on poloniex

    Xd2000i bitcoin value

  • Wikipedia bitcoin trading botswana

    Bitcoin mining pool chart gambling

Bitcoin ukrainasti

34 comments Custom kraken rum bottle for sale

Bitcoin wallet stuck catching up meaning

The cold wallet is created by running Bitcoin Core in an offline Tails session. Once created, keep the wallet cold - never enter the passphrase within anything other than an offline Tails or similar session. You will also need the Bitcoin Core binaries, which you can get here. On a modern computer and decent USB drive I find it stable, quick-booting and responsive.

The first time you boot into Tails, create an encrypted persistent storage partition on the USB drive - this is straightforward, just follow the instructions here. KeePassX is actually bundled with Tails. Boot into your Tails USB disk. At this point, Bitcoin Core will have created two receiving addresses that are managed by the wallet.

Access these addresses via the Bitcoin Core File menu:. Two unnamed accounts are created by default during wallet setup. The API still has lots of references to accounts - for example, to list out addresses, the getaddressesbyaccount method is required. If you were to send funds to a public address controlled by this wallet, they would be irretrievable.

You can open a wallet by passing in the -wallet option when opening Bitcoin Core - BUT the wallet must be located in the Bitcoin core data directory. You can add a symlink to set this up:. If required, you could dump the private keys of the cold wallet. Access to the private keys equates to full control over the Bitcoin.

On the plus side, you could store these keys on paper which would ensure that you will always be able to import keys. Personally, I have decided not to backup private keys - instead relying on multiple copies of a cold wallet encrypted with a strong passphrase.

The wallet can then be safely stored online, since it is effectively useless without the encryption passphrase. Note that if someone gained control of your encrypted wallet without the passphrase, although they would not be able to transfer funds they would be able to access your transaction history. The passphrase should be stored securely for example, in multiple copies of an encrypted KeePassX database in more than one location. To do this in Ubuntu:. This will load your cold wallet into your Bitcoin Core client.

This article describes how to: Create a cold-storage wallet using Bitcoin Core in a live offline Tails session Generate and collect public Bitcoin addresses for the cold wallet Manage the wallet and wallet passphrase The cold wallet is created by running Bitcoin Core in an offline Tails session. Open a terminal and cd to the Bitcoin Core binaries directory: Access these addresses via the Bitcoin Core File menu: Save the generated wallet to your persistent volume.

You can add a symlink to set this up: Transfer Funds Transfer Bitcoin to one of the public Bitcoin addresses managed by the cold wallet. Backup Private Keys If required, you could dump the private keys of the cold wallet.

To do this in Ubuntu: Encrypt wallets with a strong passphrase Secure your passphrase and your wallet - there is NO password reset option if you forget!