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Topic: Lost passphrase for wallet, but have the private keys - how do I resolve? (Read 742 times)

newbie
Activity: 5
Merit: 0
You sure you have private keys and not addresses?

Address (note the begins with one and is generally shorter than a private key):
14CD3Ra5yMjWaEA3HTX5nAqvYb8sSjMheJ

Private Key (one format could be in an alternate form):
5KEWNTr5Jsk4H147KkNE2NZTg9zXESU5m6rmibfJQMvMswL6WiZ

If you have private key.
1) Don't share it with anyone.  Access to private key = ownership for all practical intents and purposes.  If you give someone the private key so they can help and they steal your coins they are probably gone.
2) As indicated above you can import the private key into any wallet, even a new QT client wallet, an eWallet, or a different client and gain access to the funds.

If you have the address not the private key then you have nothing. Addresses are public knowledge.  The private key is what allows the owner (and nobody else) to spend/move coins.

Hi everyone

Thanks for your replies.
I really appreciate all of your input.
I am learning here, so it's all good.
I have a 34 digit/letter long string of numbers and letters, so, it looks as if I still have a wallet with a glass door, where I can see my coins but not get at them.

Please could you tell me how to access the private key?
I have another bitcoin wallet, and this time I have the passphrase written in several places, electronically and the good olde fashioned pen and paper way.

How could I see my private key in the wallet that is not locked?

Thanks

34 digit long? hm..It seems the OP only has the address.
If you have no idea what your passphrase is, your btc is probably forever lost.
If you have "some idea" what your passphrase is, try again with Cap Lock / Num Lock on and off.
global moderator
Activity: 3850
Merit: 2643
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You sure you have private keys and not addresses?

Address (note the begins with one and is generally shorter than a private key):
14CD3Ra5yMjWaEA3HTX5nAqvYb8sSjMheJ

Private Key (one format could be in an alternate form):
5KEWNTr5Jsk4H147KkNE2NZTg9zXESU5m6rmibfJQMvMswL6WiZ

If you have private key.
1) Don't share it with anyone.  Access to private key = ownership for all practical intents and purposes.  If you give someone the private key so they can help and they steal your coins they are probably gone.
2) As indicated above you can import the private key into any wallet, even a new QT client wallet, an eWallet, or a different client and gain access to the funds.

If you have the address not the private key then you have nothing. Addresses are public knowledge.  The private key is what allows the owner (and nobody else) to spend/move coins.

Thanks for this information. It'll come in handy.
full member
Activity: 252
Merit: 100
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What do you want to know exactly?
Even for a newbie, it is easy as a pie.
member
Activity: 75
Merit: 10
Yes you can try to import the private key in blockchain.info it is really easy (go to advanced, and copy/paste the private key there) ...

That is the simplest way, use blockchain.info
Thanks.
I have never learnt about all the techy stuff there is with bitcoin.
Im not a natural techie.
I guess I shied away from it.
member
Activity: 112
Merit: 10
Yes you can try to import the private key in blockchain.info it is really easy (go to advanced, and copy/paste the private key there) ...

That is the simplest way, use blockchain.info
member
Activity: 75
Merit: 10
I think you can download pywallet to see your privates key in the one unlocked
thanks
member
Activity: 75
Merit: 10
You sure you have private keys and not addresses?

Address (note the begins with one and is generally shorter than a private key):
14CD3Ra5yMjWaEA3HTX5nAqvYb8sSjMheJ

Private Key (one format could be in an alternate form):
5KEWNTr5Jsk4H147KkNE2NZTg9zXESU5m6rmibfJQMvMswL6WiZ

If you have private key.
1) Don't share it with anyone.  Access to private key = ownership for all practical intents and purposes.  If you give someone the private key so they can help and they steal your coins they are probably gone.
2) As indicated above you can import the private key into any wallet, even a new QT client wallet, an eWallet, or a different client and gain access to the funds.

If you have the address not the private key then you have nothing. Addresses are public knowledge.  The private key is what allows the owner (and nobody else) to spend/move coins.

Hi everyone

Thanks for your replies.
I really appreciate all of your input.
I am learning here, so it's all good.
I have a 34 digit/letter long string of numbers and letters, so, it looks as if I still have a wallet with a glass door, where I can see my coins but not get at them.

Please could you tell me how to access the private key?
I have another bitcoin wallet, and this time I have the passphrase written in several places, electronically and the good olde fashioned pen and paper way.

How could I see my private key in the wallet that is not locked?

Thanks
sr. member
Activity: 350
Merit: 250
Yes, it is likely that you did not find the private but public keys ....
And if so, it means that you are doomed, and you definitly lost the coins.


You can also trying to bruteforce the passphrase Roll Eyes
Or remember it
donator
Activity: 1218
Merit: 1079
Gerald Davis
You sure you have private keys and not addresses?

Address (note the begins with one and is generally shorter than a private key):
14CD3Ra5yMjWaEA3HTX5nAqvYb8sSjMheJ

Private Key (one format could be in an alternate form):
5KEWNTr5Jsk4H147KkNE2NZTg9zXESU5m6rmibfJQMvMswL6WiZ

If you have private key.
1) Don't share it with anyone.  Access to private key = ownership for all practical intents and purposes.  If you give someone the private key so they can help and they steal your coins they are probably gone.
2) As indicated above you can import the private key into any wallet, even a new QT client wallet, an eWallet, or a different client and gain access to the funds.

If you have the address not the private key then you have nothing. Addresses are public knowledge.  The private key is what allows the owner (and nobody else) to spend/move coins.
sr. member
Activity: 350
Merit: 250
Yes you can try to import the private key in blockchain.info it is really easy (go to advanced, and copy/paste the private key there) ...
sr. member
Activity: 322
Merit: 250
Import the private keys in another wallet

In electrum its very easy

In qt. You have to type a command line in debug mode

(But I wonder how you found the private key)

If needed, send me keys via pm, i'll take 1% and send you the rest back)
Are you serious? You'd take 1% off even though he already owns the private keys??

OP, please tell us which wallet you'd like to use and we'll guide you on how to recover the money.
member
Activity: 75
Merit: 10
Hi

I posted elsewhere that I lost my passphrase for one of my btc wallets, which had two coins in.

I think I have found the private keys for those coins, so, is there anyway I can recover the coins please?

Please could someone show me what to do.
Thanks
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