Bitcoin Forum

It's been a while since I used my Electrum desktop wallet, I can't recall if I set or didn't set a password, last time I opened Electrum wallet it didn't ask for a password, and ages ago it did. Can someone explain what this might be about? Is there a way to check to see if I set a password for it?

Try reading this first.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5228226.0
Then, ask here if the issue is still unsolved.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?board=98.0

I also cannot find an answer since there is no (forget password) key in the application.
I didn't have this kind of experience yet.

Next time, jot this down in a piece of paper just to be secured.

Are you using the the updated version of Electrum? At the time of writing this, the Latest release is Electrum-3.3.8. Maybe you should try to update (https://electrum.org/#download) the Electrum wallet first to verify that you are not having any wallet issues. Verify  (http://=https://bitzuma.com/posts/how-to-verify-an-electrum-download-on-windows/)to ensure that you are safe from downloading malicious application.

As per my experience, I think that you are mistakenly created a new bitcoin wallet in Electrum which results to the loss of having a password. I can't be sure though since the details you have provided is kinda vague. Try restoring you bitcoin wallet from the seed phrase to make sure that you are using the same wallet as before.

Have you restored the wallet from the seed? If so, you probably didn't set a new password when asked to.


If the wallet is encrypted, electrum should ask you for a password when you launch it:

https://i.imgur.com/7DATwCL.png

Not true if the wallet is created with older version of Electrum which doesn't encrypt whole wallet by default, but you still can check whether you set a password by sign a message on any of Bitcoin address on your wallet.

It happens to me every time I restore my seed, which I do when I create a new account with a new version, and then I encrypt and delete old folders anyway. The password is just encryption on your local file as Omega says.

You balances all ok?

The password set in electrum are to access your local wallet file. The wallet files inside the electrum folder are encrypted with this password. Electrum would not ask for password if you access your wallet by mnemonic phrase or private keys as they can't be password protected. Your wallet also would be accessible on any supported device and wallets with just your mnemonic phrase or private keys.

The thread is perfect for Electrum (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?board=98.0) section.

I assume that there's no problem with his balance, as there is no sign of being hacked. @OP plenty of answers you've got here and as long as you have kept the seeds of your wallet, you're good.

there's two types of encryption in electrum wallet files:

1. full wallet file encryption where you are asked for the password when opening the wallet file and again if and when you attempt to send coins or view wallet secrets like the private keys/seed

2. secret only encryption where you are only asked for the password when sending coins or trying to view wallet private keys or seed. you can view transactions, history, balance etc. without providing the password.

if you are not being asked for a password at startup then you likely have the second type of encryption. you can tell by  attempting to view the seed via wallet > seed. you can modify how your wallet is encrypted via wallet > password. checking encrypt wallet file there should convert it to full wallet file encryption.

It is recommended that you verify that you know the password (for example by attempting to view the seed via wallet > seed) before you receive more money to this wallet. Otherwise you might find that you can't spend it! Note that encryption type 1 was created for exactly this reason - you can't view receive addresses without verifying that you know the password.

Just want to clarify though.

I am using Electrum as an interface for Ledger Nano, does it mean the wallet file is totally encypted because it does not ask for a password? I tried to view the seed but it shows a grey colored "seed" when I connected the HW wallet.

I am not exactly sure how it works with the seed but you will not be able to view your private keys in Electrum because they are safely stored on the secure element and therefore Electrum has no access to them. You need to tick the BIP39 seed option when importing a seed from Ledger, but you don't need to do that and you shouldn't as it compromises the whole point of owning hardware wallets.
How are you trying to enter your Ledger seed in Electrum?

It doesn't require a password because you will need to connect your Nano S to be able to send and sign transactions. Your Nano S is your password.  ;D

Thanks for the clarification.

I just thought of exploring the encryption out of curiousity if it involves the use of hardware wallet. So, I guess I don't need to bother with the encryption of the wallet anymore because it is encrypted with Ledger. This method only works if you just created the wallet and written down the seed.  :o

The seed is on your HW. That's the point of using an HW - it retains exclusive knowledge of the seed and derived private keys and does transaction signing on your behalf. If electrum had access to the seed there would be no point in using an HW.

AFAIK HW wallets are encrypted using the master public key provided by the HW. So as long as you have the HW you can view the wallet. Spending requires confirming the transaction on the HW which may involve entering a PIN.

There are two ways to use the Ledger Nano and Electrum...

1. Operate with an "encrypted" wallet file, which will require that you connect and unlock your Ledger Nano device before you can view the wallet in Electrum. Effectively, the HW wallet device itself is the "password" to open your wallet file.
or
2. Operate with an "unencrypted" wallet file, which you can open and view all your addresses/balances etc, but cannot SEND any transactions without the hardware device connected and unlocked.

You are given the choice when creating the wallet in Electrum, and it defaults to Option 1.:
https://talkimg.com/images/2023/11/15/zVGua.png


Correct, the seed is not stored in Electrum, so there is nothing to view. The seed is safely and securely stored ONLY within the HW wallet itself... and by design is NEVER shown/displayed anywhere after the initial setup.