Is it normal that the wallet wants your pass to create a new recieving address?

[thejaytiesto]

I don't remember this behavior happening before, I used to create new receiving addresses and the wallet didn't ask for my password to get unlocked. But yesterday, it prompt for my password and I became paranoid.. im using 0.11.2 and I haven't done anything strange with the computer that would change this behavior. Now im paranoid to enter my password to do something that usually didn't need it.

Please clarify this situation to me.

[shorena]

I don't remember this behavior happening before, I used to create new receiving addresses and the wallet didn't ask for my password to get unlocked. But yesterday, it prompt for my password and I became paranoid.. im using 0.11.2 and I haven't done anything strange with the computer that would change this behavior. Now im paranoid to enter my password to do something that usually didn't need it.

Please clarify this situation to me.

Depends. Can you open the console (Help -> Debug Window -> Console) and enter getwalletinfo please?

It should show a "keypoolsize" if that is 0 the wallet needs to be unlocked to create and encrypt a new private key and address for you.

[calkob]

Defiantly sounds abit strange,  i've never came across this myself.  i would mybe scan for malware just incase.   

[thejaytiesto]

I don't remember this behavior happening before, I used to create new receiving addresses and the wallet didn't ask for my password to get unlocked. But yesterday, it prompt for my password and I became paranoid.. im using 0.11.2 and I haven't done anything strange with the computer that would change this behavior. Now im paranoid to enter my password to do something that usually didn't need it.

Please clarify this situation to me.

Depends. Can you open the console (Help -> Debug Window -> Console) and enter getwalletinfo please?

It should show a "keypoolsize" if that is 0 the wallet needs to be unlocked to create and encrypt a new private key and address for you.

I closed it and I tried to open it again and now it's stuck at "activating best chain" which looks like it's going to take a long time for some reason, the debug.log shows movement so it's at least not stuck, I will do what you said and report back later.

[thejaytiesto]

I have tried what you suggested, and the command returned me a keypoolsize value of "0". What does this mean? Can you explain why is it exactly requesting my password just to create a public account? I would like to not put my password everytime I want to create a public account, the less you need to put your pass the safer you are.

[shorena]

I have tried what you suggested, and the command returned me a keypoolsize value of "0". What does this mean? Can you explain why is it exactly requesting my password just to create a public account? I would like to not put my password everytime I want to create a public account, the less you need to put your pass the safer you are.

Bitcoin core keeps 100 addresses by default pregenerated for you. You can change this with -keypool[1]. If it would not do that it would require a password every time you clicked the "new" button in the receiving addresses window. This is because you cant have a new address without a private key. Well you can, but you would not be able to spend the bitcoin, so its not what anyone wants. Since bitcoin is not a HD wallet it needs to randomly generate and store every private key it manages for you. To store them safely they are encrypted with your password. Whenever the wallet is unlocked the keypool is refilled with new random private keys and addresses for them. This e.g. happens when you spend bitcoin or sign a message. Since you have used the hidden pool of available private keys (hidden key pool has 0 keys left) and addresses it asks you for the password to generate new addresses and keys.

[1] https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Running_Bitcoin

[thejaytiesto]

I have tried what you suggested, and the command returned me a keypoolsize value of "0". What does this mean? Can you explain why is it exactly requesting my password just to create a public account? I would like to not put my password everytime I want to create a public account, the less you need to put your pass the safer you are.

Bitcoin core keeps 100 addresses by default pregenerated for you. You can change this with -keypool[1]. If it would not do that it would require a password every time you clicked the "new" button in the receiving addresses window. This is because you cant have a new address without a private key. Well you can, but you would not be able to spend the bitcoin, so its not what anyone wants. Since bitcoin is not a HD wallet it needs to randomly generate and store every private key it manages for you. To store them safely they are encrypted with your password. Whenever the wallet is unlocked the keypool is refilled with new random private keys and addresses for them. This e.g. happens when you spend bitcoin or sign a message. Since you have used the hidden pool of available private keys (hidden key pool has 0 keys left) and addresses it asks you for the password to generate new addresses and keys.

[1] https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Running_Bitcoin

Ok so let me see if I understood this. It's asking for my password because it just means I already created 100 keys, so I need to put my password, then I will be able to create 100 more keys, and after I create those 100 more keys, I will be asked to enter password again (because keeypolsize is set to 100). Something like that?

Anyway, so Im assuming its normal behavior and there's nothing to worry. Thanks.

[shorena]

I have tried what you suggested, and the command returned me a keypoolsize value of "0". What does this mean? Can you explain why is it exactly requesting my password just to create a public account? I would like to not put my password everytime I want to create a public account, the less you need to put your pass the safer you are.

Bitcoin core keeps 100 addresses by default pregenerated for you. You can change this with -keypool[1]. If it would not do that it would require a password every time you clicked the "new" button in the receiving addresses window. This is because you cant have a new address without a private key. Well you can, but you would not be able to spend the bitcoin, so its not what anyone wants. Since bitcoin is not a HD wallet it needs to randomly generate and store every private key it manages for you. To store them safely they are encrypted with your password. Whenever the wallet is unlocked the keypool is refilled with new random private keys and addresses for them. This e.g. happens when you spend bitcoin or sign a message. Since you have used the hidden pool of available private keys (hidden key pool has 0 keys left) and addresses it asks you for the password to generate new addresses and keys.

[1] https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Running_Bitcoin

Ok so let me see if I understood this. It's asking for my password because it just means I already created 100 keys, so I need to put my password, then I will be able to create 100 more keys, and after I create those 100 more keys, I will be asked to enter password again (because keeypolsize is set to 100). Something like that?

Anyway, so Im assuming its normal behavior and there's nothing to worry. Thanks.

Correct.