Bitcoin Forum

I currently have Electrum version 3.3.6 installed and want to update to the newest 3.3.8 version. Of course I will download from the official https://electrum.org/#download website and verify the corresponding signatures.

I dont remember If I downloaded the Standalone Executable or the Windows Installer when I installed the 3.3.6 version. Does it matter and can I download either one to perform the update?

The difference between these two is that the standalone excecutable does not create any files inside Program Files, but it loads and saves wallet data to Electrum folder located in %appdata% just like the installed version. Take a closer look at the Electrum icon. Is it a shortcut to Electrum folder in Program Files? If so, download the installer.

It does not matter. If you are downloading then it's already an undated one.

All you need to do is, uninstall the previous one (Make sure you have the wallet.dat files files in the wallet folder "C:\Users\YOURPCUSERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Electrum\wallets" are saved in a different drive or you have the seeds saved somewhere else so that you can restore the wallets) and install (Windows Installer) the updated one. If you are planning to download Standalone Executable one then just move it to a drive instead of keeping it on the download folder and create a shortcut in your desktop then run it from there every time.

Additionally to what others have said.
It doesn't matter which one you download (I prefer standalone because it is cleaner).
And you don't have to enter your seed again. Be careful and always double check everything because entering your seed (most of phishing asks your seed)

Not the first time people have to tell you this: Electrum does NOT (NOT NOT NOT) use wallet.dat files! Stop telling this to people... Electrum uses default_wallet without extention for the default wallet file.

Thank you. I fixed that. And I remember some days/weeks ago I used have a conversation about it with someone. I guess it was you?

Note: Seems like now I will have it in mind. In fact I feel like it has engraved in my mind now after reading this:
:-)

It does not matter.  If you have wallet files stored on your hard drive both the stand-alone or the installed version will be able to open them, no need to re-enter your seeds with either choice.  The new install (or stand-alone) will look for the wallet files in "C:\Users\<current_user>\AppData\Roaming\Electrum\wallets."  If you stored your wallet files elsewhere you'll have to browse to that directory.

I prefer the installed version for convenience and OS integration, but it really just comes down to personal preference.

At the beginning, he mentioned a mistake made in this post (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5170404.msg52003796#msg52003796). There is no need to convert your mnemonic phrase into a master private key. Don't save those words on your computer, don't input them on any website. It's true that right now you can't use a different wallet to recover your coins, but it's very unlikely that something will happen to Electrum. It's one of the most popular software wallets and you always will be able to export your private keys using old versions.

Yes he did.

There's a lot of red flag:
The website doesn't use any of the linked libraries below, not open-source, claimed that Ian Coleman was the author but Iancoleman's site (https://iancoleman.io/) doesn't have an Electrum BIP tool
and the page have a total of 28 long javascript codes.
Based from a quick look (could be inaccurate), some look like designed to check for private keys including Bitcoin fork coins.

Not to mention, it's not necessary to use online tools to get your "root key" (master private key), a term we didn't even use in Electrum.
If you really need to, you can just use the console.

It is definitely a scam...

Typing a dummy Electrum seed into that website... you can see the network traffic:
https://talkimg.com/images/2023/11/15/z7LMa.png (https://imgur.com/ivpt1Od)

It is executing a POST and sending your seed info to the server. It also does this on the main domain for BIP39 seeds.

DO NOT USE: bip39tools.org <-- SCAM

Thanks HCP for confirming that it is a scam site! Seems my previous post that contained the PM got deleted by the mods.
I will report his PM to admins, anything else I can do from my end?

You could potentially create a scam accusation here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?board=83.0 and/or open a Type1 flag against the user (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?action=trust;addflag=128222)...

If you decide to start an accusation, then use the format here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=260073.0 and provide as much evidence as you can.

I just saw about the electrum update.   I have a macbook.  Can I just install the new one over the old?  I think that's what I did before, then removed the old files.  I'm not technical so can't hunt for files.

Also, can someone explain installed vs freestanding?

Thanks.

The installer should automatically overwrite the old files. Don't forget to verify the signature of the installation file despite downloading it from the official website.


Freestanding (or standalone to be more precise) means that Electrum does not extract it files anywhere. It can be easily copied or updated. Note that the standalone version still creates wallet files in the default data directory ('%appdata%/Electrum' on Windows) while the portable version does it in the same directory as the executable. I don't think that both of these versions are available for macOS.

Thanks for the install.   One thing I've never done or even heard of is to verify the signature.   I know i've done that if I've sent money but never on install.

Can you dumb it down for me on where and when to do it?

I'm fine with what I have.  No clue which one but it works so that's all I need.

Thanks.

You should always verify the installation file which you download from the Electrum website. This ensures that the file hasn't been modified by anyone. This guide (https://bitzuma.com/posts/how-to-verify-an-electrum-download-on-mac/) should help you. Old versions of Electrum are vulnerable to phishing which tricks users into downloading a modified version of Electrum which steals their coins.


Only the installer seems to be available for macOS. You don't have to think about it. Most of the Electrum users use the installer anyway.

Hi,  I appreciate your help but you might as well be speaking Martian.   I have no idea where the files are.   I'm the only one who uses this computer so unless you mean someone on the developer side no one can modify a file.  I'm the only one who uses or even sees my computer.    

Thanks

Yes... he means that someone could hack the Electrum website and put a fake copy there (hasn't happened as yet as far as I'm aware)... OR, more likely, you as a user, could download from a fake Electrum website (this is the most common reason people lose coins)

There is a step by step guide (with screenshots) on how to download and verify the Electrum installer for MacOS here: https://bitzuma.com/posts/how-to-verify-an-electrum-download-on-mac/

It is important to ALWAYS check that you're actually connected to https://electrum.org/ when trying to download the installer... AND then to verify the installer it legit by following the steps in that guide. Doing this will ensure that you have a 100% legit "official" version of Electrum and not a fake version.

 :)  Thanks so much.   Copied it for when I'm ready to update.  Right now I'm in apple hell with my devices so that comes first.