Best practice when testing seed rebuild.

[Mumbis]

I have a wallet with 2FA that holds a lot of BTC, but I have never tried rebuilding it from the 12 word seed. Should I try it just to make sure it works or can I trust that it will work if I ever have the need?

If I should try it what it the best (safest) practice? Boot on some live CD with no internet connection and then export the public master key?

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[Abdussamad]

The master public key has nothing to do with it. You would just run electrum and follow the on-screen prompts to restore from seed. When it asks for the wallet type you select 2fa wallet. If you ever need to start the process over again you go to file menu > new/restore.

[Coin-Keeper]

Mumbis,

You may not be able to accomplish what you want with "no internet connection" as you posted.  You may though, depending upon just what you want to accomplish.  You can use Electrum and an offline computer restoring from seed just to verify that all the address lists fill in correctly (assuming you haven't generated enough activity to extend the original addresses used beyond the starting gap limit).  Seeing all the addresses being correct and the wallet generates correctly may be all you need.  However; if you want to see all the activity fill in, which it will easily, you'll have to go online to do so.  Assuming you are taking your Electrum wallet online with all SEED intact (even if encrypted), you may want to read around here about how to consider mitigating those risks (cold wallets, hardware device, etc..).  2FA is a nice step in the right direction!

[Mumbis]

Hmmm, but can't I rebuild on an off-line computer and then export some parts for a watch-only wallet on an online computer?

[adaseb]

Hmmm, but can't I rebuild on an off-line computer and then export some parts for a watch-only wallet on an online computer?

Just build your wallet offline and when its done. Look at the addresses and make sure its the same addresses that you've sent the funds too. They will all be 0 BTC since there is no internet connection but that doesn't matter.

[Coin-Keeper]

Hmmm, but can't I rebuild on an off-line computer and then export some parts for a watch-only wallet on an online computer?

Of course you can.  You rebuild from SEED on your offline computer.  Now you can see all the addresses and confirm they are correct.  If you want to rebuild the activity using a watching only wallet that is super easy.  On the "offline computer" with the full SEED wallet you can copy and paste the MASTER PUBLIC KEY for the wallet.  Just paste it on a usb stick and then go to your online computer and create a watching only wallet on Electrum.  Nobody can steal any coins with only a MPK because it doesn't contain the private keys needed to move coins.  With this method you NEVER place any private keys online.  See, easy and safe.

[Mumbis]

Hmmm, but can't I rebuild on an off-line computer and then export some parts for a watch-only wallet on an online computer?

Of course you can.  You rebuild from SEED on your offline computer.  Now you can see all the addresses and confirm they are correct.  If you want to rebuild the activity using a watching only wallet that is super easy.  On the "offline computer" with the full SEED wallet you can copy and paste the MASTER PUBLIC KEY for the wallet.  Just paste it on a usb stick and then go to your online computer and create a watching only wallet on Electrum.  Nobody can steal any coins with only a MPK because it doesn't contain the private keys needed to move coins.  With this method you NEVER place any private keys online.  See, easy and safe.

Thank you! I will try that.

[Coin-Keeper]

You are welcome.  If you have any issues come back and let us know.