Copay wallet question

[drew345]

Sorry I can't find an actual bitcoin copay forum so I will try here.

I made a copay wallet with a chrome extension. The strange thing is, whenever I open that extension, it just shows my wallet, there is no username or password. Is that how it is supposed to work? No username or password.

But then, if I open a chrome extension on another computer, of course it does not show my wallet (separate computers). So I get it that my bitcoins are actually in a wallet on the first computer, not accessed by "logging in" but actually "on" or "in" that first computer.

So , if that first computer dies? Then my bitcoins disappear?  I have the pass phrase in a safe place. So I could recover the bitcoins on to another computer if I use that pass phrase ? But then it means the bitcoins weren't actually "on" or "in" the first computer after all, if they can be restored to another place.... So confused.

I'm actually pretty tech savvy, this is a bit frustrating. Still, any answers to these questions appreciated.

-Why is there no username and password for a bitcoin wallet (on copay anyway)
-Can I really only access my bitcoins from one computer?
-If that computer dies, can I recover lost bitcoins with that passphrase?

Thanks,

[Lauda]

I made a copay wallet with a chrome extension.

Do not use Bitcoin wallets that are Browser extensions.

So , if that first computer dies? Then my bitcoins disappear?

If you have no backup from which you can recover from, yes.

But then it means the bitcoins weren't actually "on" or "in" the first computer after all, if they can be restored to another place.... So confused.

Bitcoins are never on "your computer". They are *on* a key, and wallets are just a collection of keys.

-Why is there no username and password for a bitcoin wallet (on copay anyway)

A Bitcoin wallet creator can choose to add this functionality or not. You can even code up your own wallet if you wanted to.

-Can I really only access my bitcoins from one computer?

You can access your Bitcoin on any number of devices at the same time.

-If that computer dies, can I recover lost bitcoins with that passphrase?

No. You need the wallet file, the private keys or the recovery phrase.
I suggest that you download the desktop version of Copay to both of your computers: https://github.com/bitpay/copay/releases