Difference between revisions of "Help:How to import private keys in Bitcoin Core 0.7+"

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==Unlock your wallet==
 
1st you must unlock your wallet.
 
  
 
==Open Debug Window==
 
==Open Debug Window==
 
Then go to menu:
 
Then go to menu:
 +
/Help/Debug Window
  
/Help/Debug Window
 
  
[[File:Screen1.PNG]]
+
[[File:Screen1.PNG|px200]]
  
 
and click on the tab - Console.
 
and click on the tab - Console.
 +
 +
==Unlock your wallet==
 +
 +
If your wallet is encrypted (I hope it is!). 1st you must unlock it.
 +
 +
To do this just type:
 +
 +
walletpassphrase YourLongPassphrase 600
 +
 +
The 600 means your wallet is unlocked for 10 mins (600seconds
 +
 +
[[File:Unlock.PNG|px200]]
  
 
==Run Import Command in Debug Window==
 
==Run Import Command in Debug Window==
Line 17: Line 27:
 
importprivkey yourPrivateKeyInWalletImportFormat TheLabelThatIWant
 
importprivkey yourPrivateKeyInWalletImportFormat TheLabelThatIWant
  
Note that this can take a good few seconds and during that time it looks like the client has hung!
+
[[File:Import1.PNG]]
 +
 
 +
You now have to be patient. On a fast PC it takes 2 minutes to import, and
 +
during this time it looks like you application has hung. After waiting a few minutes
 +
you will see:
 +
 
 +
[[File:Import2.PNG]]
 +
 
 +
You are now done. But always best to check it worked.
  
 
==Check Key Imported OK==
 
==Check Key Imported OK==
 +
 
Once Imported you can check that you have the address by closing the Debug window and going back to your address book.
 
Once Imported you can check that you have the address by closing the Debug window and going back to your address book.
  
In there you should see the address you imported and the label.
+
You should see the address here:
 +
 
 +
[[File:InAddressBook.PNG]]
 +
 
 +
And you can even send a transaction to check e.g.
 +
 
 +
[[File:ReceivedTrans.PNG]]
 +
 
 +
==Backup Wallet==
 +
Your backup of you wallet will not have this key in obviously. So before you do anything else close the
 +
client (to ensure that it is locked again) and backup the wallet.dat file as normal.

Revision as of 20:59, 10 October 2012


Open Debug Window

Then go to menu: /Help/Debug Window


px200

and click on the tab - Console.

Unlock your wallet

If your wallet is encrypted (I hope it is!). 1st you must unlock it.

To do this just type:

walletpassphrase YourLongPassphrase 600

The 600 means your wallet is unlocked for 10 mins (600seconds

px200

Run Import Command in Debug Window

In the console at the very bottom is a text entry box in here enter:

importprivkey yourPrivateKeyInWalletImportFormat TheLabelThatIWant

Import1.PNG

You now have to be patient. On a fast PC it takes 2 minutes to import, and during this time it looks like you application has hung. After waiting a few minutes you will see:

Import2.PNG

You are now done. But always best to check it worked.

Check Key Imported OK

Once Imported you can check that you have the address by closing the Debug window and going back to your address book.

You should see the address here:

InAddressBook.PNG

And you can even send a transaction to check e.g.

ReceivedTrans.PNG

Backup Wallet

Your backup of you wallet will not have this key in obviously. So before you do anything else close the client (to ensure that it is locked again) and backup the wallet.dat file as normal.