New computer - how to transfer wallet?

[Nevina]

Hi
We have had our bitcoins on one computer for past 3 years and now want to move them to our new PC. We have a Bitcoin Core wallet which is taking FOREVER to synchronise with the network on the old PC. How do I transfer our bitcoin wallet to the new PC please?

Thanks in advance

[Lauda]

Hello.
If you are using Windows, then the default data directory for Bitcoin Core should be in either:
C:\Users\YourUserName\Appdata\Roaming\Bitcoin (Vista and 7 / 8 / 10)
C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application data\Bitcoin (XP)

If you are using Linux, then it should be located in:
~/.bitcoin/
The file that you need to copy is called 'wallet.dat'.

We have a Bitcoin Core wallet which is taking FOREVER to synchronise with the network on the old PC.

This is because Bitcoin Core is a full wallet, i.e. it requires you to download and verify the whole blockchain.

[Nevina]

Thanks Lauda.
I have put Bitcoin core onto the new PC and it is sync-ed up to date. Do I have to wait for the old/current one to sync before I can copy or will that not matter?

Cheers

[Lauda]

Thanks Lauda.
I have put Bitcoin core onto the new PC and it is sync-ed up to date. Do I have to wait for the old/current one to sync before I can copy or will that not matter?

Cheers

No. Just please make sure that the software is not running when you try to copy files and/or make changes to anything. Shut down Bitcoin Core on both the old and the new PC, copy the wallet.dat into the same directory on the new PC and start Bitcoin Core.
Don't forget to create a backup this wallet.dat in case that something goes wrong!

[Nevina]

Thanks Lauda - it worked!