How to transfer wallet from one computer to another without transaction?

Pmalek

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Quote from: Gorilla22 on September 23, 2022, 03:43:27 AM

Guys,

Tell me please,
Is it possible to transfer btc (and old adress) to new wallet (from Core to Electrum) just with "copy" and "paste" private key?
This is the simplest way. I understand this way!

Copying the private key from Bitcoin Core and pasting (importing) it into Electrum is possible and works. If we are talking about just one funded address, then you only need to copy-paste one private key.

It becomes a hassle if you have used 10, 20, 100 addresses in the past. Imagine copying all of them the way you want to do it? In that case, it's better to use the dumpwallet command that n0nce suggested. That will create a file where you can see each key on a separate line. It makes managing them easier.

LoyceV

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Quote from: Gorilla22 on September 23, 2022, 03:14:07 AM

No, I have no seed phrase on Core.
You mean, I can create one, and then use the same seed phrase on Electrum?

No, Bitcoin Core can't do that.

Quote from: Gorilla22 on September 23, 2022, 03:43:27 AM

Is it possible to transfer btc (and old adress) to new wallet (from Core to Electrum) just with "copy" and "paste" private key?

Copying the private key is enough to be able to spend from Electrum.

Quote

Exactly! I am going to use Electrum as temporarily solution! The btc from Electrum will be sent to hardware wallet later when I get hardware wallet.
And I am going even to pay btc from Electrum wallet when I'll be ordering hardware wallet. The very same day when btc arrive to Electrum!
So I'll use Electrum to hold btc just for few days!

Do you have more than one funded address in Bitcoin Core? If so, you can start with the smallest amount, and wait for your hardware wallet to arrive before you move the rest.

n0nce

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Quote from: Gorilla22 on September 23, 2022, 03:43:27 AM

Is it possible to transfer btc (and old adress) to new wallet (from Core to Electrum) just with "copy" and "paste" private key?
This is the simplest way. I understand this way!

No, it does not work just by copy pasting your Bitcoin Core wallet.dat.
What you can do; if you want to prevent an on-chain transaction from happening (for whatever reason) is this.

[1] Export private keys from Bitcoin Core. (dumpwallet)
[2] Import private keys into Electrum. (New wallet, no seed, import keys)

These actions do not mean just copying over a file; wallet.dat does contain a whole bunch of private keys, but it is not a key itself.

Quote from: Gorilla22 on September 23, 2022, 03:43:27 AM

If this is impossible or dangerous, then I'll use more comlicated way. Just let me know!

It's not really dangerous, just more complicated than doing a simple transaction.

SquirrelJulietGarden

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Quote from: Gorilla22 on September 23, 2022, 03:43:27 AM

Is it possible to transfer btc (and old adress) to new wallet (from Core to Electrum) just with "copy" and "paste" private key?
This is the simplest way. I understand this way!

You should use a correct term.

By doing this, you import your private key from old computer to a new computer. You did not transfer it by any means. No on-chain transaction is made by doing this.

Read these documents and you will understand the difference.

Import: https://bitcoinelectrum.com/importing-your-private-keys-into-electrum/
Sweep: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Transferring_coins_from_Bitcoin-Qt_to_Electrum

Quote

Import or Sweep

Before you import your private keys consider whether sweeping them might be better.

Importing your private keys requires you to create a new electrum wallet just for your private keys

Sweeping them means that all the funds in the private keys are sent to your existing deterministic Electrum wallet. This is a one-time on-chain operation.

Gorilla22

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Guys,

Tell me please,
Is it possible to transfer btc (and old adress) to new wallet (from Core to Electrum) just with "copy" and "paste" private key?
This is the simplest way. I understand this way!
If this is impossible or dangerous, then I'll use more comlicated way. Just let me know!
I am a total newbie, and the very things which are simple for you, are complicated for me.
I am learning of course! And I am learning from you!
I am grateful to you for your help!
But right now my knowledge level is low, and I prefer as simple solutions as possible!

To "copy" and to "paste" is a simple solution.

Please tell me, "yes, it's possible" or "no, it's impossible".

If it is impossible, then I'll probably try to find solution via seed phrase (it will be the next level of difficulty for me).

:-)

NeuroticFish,

Thank you!

Exactly! I am going to use Electrum as temporarily solution! The btc from Electrum will be sent to hardware wallet later when I get hardware wallet.
And I am going even to pay btc from Electrum wallet when I'll be ordering hardware wallet. The very same day when btc arrive to Electrum!
So I'll use Electrum to hold btc just for few days!

:-)

NeuroticFish

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Quote from: Gorilla22 on September 23, 2022, 03:28:04 AM

I cannot just make a transaction because I cannot go online with Core.

This is a problem. Then you will have to import them or sweep them, but .. please continue reading.

Quote from: Gorilla22 on September 23, 2022, 03:28:04 AM

I want to keep old address on new wallet.
I am going to buy hardware wallet in future!

As I said, if you import only private keys, you will not have a HD wallet in Electrum. So it won't be based on a seed, it won't make new addresses for you when you need them. And this is suboptimal at best.

If there are many addresses in Core and you don't mind consolidating your inputs, import all those in a new Electrum wallet so you can transact, then make a new proper Electrum wallet (HD) and send there.
If the addresses are few and you don't want to consolidate, then, as said, use sweep.
Or, if you don't plan to make transactions in the near future, you just import all the private keys into an Electrum wallet and wait for your HW where you'll create a new seed anyway; and then just send to HW.

As you can see, sooner or later you will have to go away for good from the old addresses. You can keep the wallet.dat file (it's advised to never remove old keys since you never know what you've missed), but you'll have to leave the past behind.

Gorilla22

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NeuroticFish,

I cannot just make a transaction because I cannot go online with Core.
I want to keep old address on new wallet.
I am going to buy hardware wallet in future!

:-)

NeuroticFish

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Quote from: Gorilla22 on September 23, 2022, 02:05:50 AM

1) There is an old computer with Windows 7 on it and Bitcoin Core. I didn't use it for several years.
And it's much too dangerous even to go online with it now.

2) There is a new computer with Windows 10 (or Windows 11, I am going to buy one today).
I want to use Electrum on it. Instead of Core.

The best procedure to go from one make of wallet software to another is to actually make a transaction (maybe in the week-ends, when 1 sat/vbyte is most probably processed fast enough) and send the coins from one wallet to another.
You can migrate by importing private keys, but then you will have no new change addresses, for example, hence too much hassle with weak results.

However, I recommend you make sure the Electrum is legit (downloaded from electrum.org and also verified).
I recommend you keep the seed backup safely offline.
I recommend you consider acquiring a hardware wallet if the money in the wallet is significant.

Gorilla22

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Upgrade00,
No, I have no seed phrase on Core.
You mean, I can create one, and then use the same seed phrase on Electrum?
And I'll not need to copy and paste private key then?
And the new wallet will have the same (old) address then?

OmegaStarScream

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Import: You're moving the same address/private key from one device to another (you're not making a transaction).
Sweep (recommended): You're basically sending the funds from the old address/private key to a new one.

Gorilla22

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Activity: 42

Merit: 66

OmegaStarScream,

Can you please tell,
What is the difference between "import" and "sweep"?
Will the new wallet have same address as the old one?
I thought I needed just copy and paste private key :-)
I want to do everything as simple way as possible! :-)
To copy private key and to paste private key is simple.
"To export" = "to copy"
"To import" = "to paste"
That's what I know! :-)

Upgrade00

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Do you have a back up seedphrase? Importing using backups is the easiest way to transfer wallet from one device to another. The wallet file stored on the other device can be deleted if you consider it unsafe. As an extra measure after importing, you can still move the funds to a new address.

If you do not have the backups, following the suggestion above is a good way to do it as well.

OmegaStarScream

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You can't just move the wallet file because Electrum and Bitcoin core don't have the same file format.

Since you're going to be using a new computer, don't you think it would be best to sweep the private key to a new wallet[1] (after exporting it from bitcoin core[2]) instead of importing the old private key?

You won't need to connect your old device to the internet.

[1] https://bitcoinelectrum.com/sweeping-your-private-keys-into-electrum/
[2] https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/a/5933

Gorilla22

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Hi guys!

The situation is following:

1) There is an old computer with Windows 7 on it and Bitcoin Core. I didn't use it for several years.
And it's much too dangerous even to go online with it now.

2) There is a new computer with Windows 10 (or Windows 11, I am going to buy one today).
I want to use Electrum on it. Instead of Core.

Just to make sure, do I understand things correct that I can just transfer ONE FILE from the old computer to the new one, using a flash memory (and that's why offline), and this very file is private key. And thus btc will be on the new wallet.

Like this:

1. Copy private key from the old computer, paste it to the flash memory.
2. Put flash memory to the new computer.
3. Copy private key from the flash memory and paste it into some folder belonging to the Electrum wallet.

Is that correct?

Topic: How to transfer wallet from one computer to another without transaction? (Read 257 times)