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If I want to transfer an address from the satoshi client into a different client, how can I find its private key to do so?
How can I export the private key for an address from the satoshi client?
Answers
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Note: Recent versions of the satoshi client offer a 'debug window' which can be used to export private keys. This is described in Miguel Moreno's answer to this question, and is easier than the steps I describe below.
To export a private key from your satoshi client:
run:
bitcoin-qt -serverand wait for it to load the blockchain and start upif your wallet is encrypted, run:
read -s x; bitcoin-cli walletpassphrase "$x" 600; unset xto unlock it for 600 seconds (type your passphrase after hitting return, then hit return again; this 'read; ...; unset' prevents the password being written to your shell's history file on disk, and the '-s' in read prevents your password being displayed as you type it, and improves protection from screen-loggers and the shell log)run this command using bitcoin-cli:
bitcoin-cli dumpprivkey 1my1bitcoin1addres11111(replace 1my... with the bitcoin address of which you want the private key)if your wallet is encrypted and you want to re-lock your wallet, run
bitcoin-cli walletlock
How to dump all private keys at once? – opengrid – 2013-12-12T18:36:43.187
What if I've encrypted my wallet? – Stephen Gornick – 2012-07-19T14:41:57.663
Good point. I updated my answer to mention that. – Chris Moore – 2012-07-19T18:02:07.243
I guess you do the "read x ..." shell stuff to prevent the shell writing your password to a history file. I think that's worth mentioning. – Jürgen Strobel – 2012-09-15T12:37:09.577
Yes, that's exactly why. I don't want my password being written to disk. – Chris Moore – 2012-09-16T03:26:25.193
@opengrid - I had same question because I'm worried about change address. How do I know all the addresses in a wallet? – Sun – 2017-12-12T17:41:12.363
@Sun You can use bitcoind listaddressgroupings to get all addresses. – user2428118 – 2018-01-22T23:40:14.103
1@user2428118 I noticed dumpwallet is a command now in newer versions – Sun – 2018-01-23T16:18:48.810
It is perhaps a bit safer to use read -i x instead. – user1747134 – 2018-07-03T20:16:58.267
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To export a private key from your Satoshi bitcoin-qt client:
- launch your bitcoin client as usual and wait for it to load the blockchain and start up
- click on 'help' in the menu bar (top right)
- click on 'debug window'
- select the 'console' tab
- type: walletpassphrase "your walletpassphrase here" 600
- type: dumpprivkey [your Bitcoin address here]
- this will return the private key, you can copy it now; ensure you clear your clipboard/history afterwards
- type: walletlock
1This answer would benefit from adding "How to get your public key"; as i don't know my public key. – Ian Boyd – 2013-04-08T01:48:16.553
The Bitcoin address is what is to be used there. I've edited it. – Stephen Gornick – 2015-10-11T03:19:45.300
FYI, if you didn't already encrypt the Bitcoin-QT wallet then skip the walletpassphrase part (line numbered 5. and 8.). – Stephen Gornick – 2015-10-11T03:21:43.347
>5 isnt clear :it tells you to type quote:"walletpassphrase "your walletpassphrase here" 600". unquote which gets you no where.. and number 6 is the same< – David Crawford – 2017-08-11T22:02:31.490
1@DavidCrawford: Did you try to replace the three words "your walletpassphrase here" with your wallet passphrase? – Murch – 2017-08-12T02:31:11.153
@IanBoyd Your addresses are your public keys. View them under the receive tab. – deed02392 – 2017-12-24T02:24:57.053
Related question, if you don't know the address, how to export all: http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/4632
– Stephen Gornick – 2012-09-30T01:06:12.623