If i send my bitcoins to a wrong address, what happens?

[Hamstead]

Hi!
As the title says, what happens if i get an address wrong? Do the coins get lost?
If that's what happens, why not change the code in Bitcoin, so that if the bitcoin network cant detect that address, returns the bitcoins to you?

From the wiki:

"Bitcoin addresses contain a built-in check code, so it's generally not possible to send Bitcoins to a mistyped address. However, if the address is well-formed but no one owns it (or the owner lost their wallet.dat), any coins sent to that address will be lost forever."

That's right, because in using bockchain technology there is no recovery of all transactions made unless you have type the invalid btc address and that's the time your sending transanction will be cancelled. As a piece of advise or tips to avoid from mistype address, it is better to copy and paste address, double check and lastly don't be rush in sending. 

[JJack@]

From what I have heard they are lost for ever into the bitcoin void. Or you could have sent them to someone and if hes really honest he can send them back. But the probability of that happening is pretty slim.

[valisa]

I have never experienced anything like that, because I always be careful and do bitcoin delivery, I always check the bitcoin address several times to make sure the address is correct, if it is wrong to send to the wrong address maybe your bitcoin will be lost, or if your lucky bitcoin will return to your wallet

[danggoron]

Hi!
As the title says, what happens if i get an address wrong? Do the coins get lost?
If that's what happens, why not change the code in Bitcoin, so that if the bitcoin network cant detect that address, returns the bitcoins to you?

From the wiki:

"Bitcoin addresses contain a built-in check code, so it's generally not possible to send Bitcoins to a mistyped address. However, if the address is well-formed but no one owns it (or the owner lost their wallet.dat), any coins sent to that address will be lost forever."

That's right, because in using bockchain technology there is no recovery of all transactions made unless you have type the invalid btc address and that's the time your sending transanction will be cancelled. As a piece of advise or tips to avoid from mistype address, it is better to copy and paste address, double check and lastly don't be rush in sending. 

yes, so I always check several times to make sure the address I paste is correct. well, if the wrong address is written and registered, then there will be a warning, is not it? then, if that address has one, can we ask to be sent back?

[yonjitsu]

You have to be very careful in doing so but if that really happens, then you can hope that that address is not existing yet because that's a checksum error. But if the address is wrong and it is existing, then your bitcoin will be deducted for sure.
Worst is, if you don't know who's bitcoin address you've mistakenly sending, then you can never contact that person.

[KingOfWinterfell01]

Hi!
As the title says, what happens if i get an address wrong? Do the coins get lost?
If that's what happens, why not change the code in Bitcoin, so that if the bitcoin network cant detect that address, returns the bitcoins to you?

Other people might get it. But I doubt some people will get it because of how random or how complex the address system is. Just because you made a 1 letter mistake that doesn't another person would actually get it. It's pretty much lost. You can't have it return to you.

[Heartseed]

If it is send to wrong address accidentaly. Of course, you will lose your bitcoin balance. So its better to double or even triple check your own address in order to send your money and have it. Well a random address isnt applicable but there is a chance that mistyping the address will lead to loss of money

[batang_bitcoin]

From what I have heard they are lost for ever into the bitcoin void.

Yes they are totally lost forever, there's no way to recover it and how on this world you will be able to send into a wrong address? Each address are very unique and I find it odd if you'll be sending to a wrong address at all. This rarely happens but it has 0.01% chance of happening especially if that person is just keep on copy pasting address and if he's affected with a malware that changes the wallet address after copying.

Or you could have sent them to someone and if hes really honest he can send them back. But the probability of that happening is pretty slim.

This is the only way, only few people remain to be honest but still there is still humanity.

[salihno71]

Hi!
As the title says, what happens if i get an address wrong? Do the coins get lost?
If that's what happens, why not change the code in Bitcoin, so that if the bitcoin network cant detect that address, returns the bitcoins to you?

It depends. One thing is sure, you don't have those coins anymore. If the address you have sent is owned by someone (he has private key), he will receive the funds and he can use them as he seems fit. And the changes you are proposing are not good for the following reason: what would stop someone from buying something, and after receiving the goods proclaiming the transaction as erroneous and receiving the funds back?

[cryptobengal]

please make shure you send them to me i can always use a few more satoshi.........
adress  36Q1SuhGE7DiszmxWjRDviVDa748Q4GEVd  donations are always welcome , merry hoho

[DroidR17A]

Yeah you might want to take that comment with a grain of salt. Your particle analogy seems a bit exaggerated though.

There are somewhere between 10^72 an 10^87 particles in the universe. The keyspace is 2^160, or around 10^48. So yeah, it is exaggerated.

I'm not sure what's more amusing...The original question, or the geeky sidebar  

[ihaveaquestion]

Are you all going to answer to this guy? it is obviously that there is no way to recover that money once that you send the funds.

It works by the same way as if you send money to a different bank account on your bank.. It is exactly the same, there is no way to recover those funds.

Well, if the receiver decides to give you your money back, you are probably one of the 1%.

[roy12875]

That's mean you lost the bitcoins already. If the person is a good guys. he will send it back to the same address. I think no one will do it. Be careful next time. Check the address twice.

[Kez1817]

     If you send your bitcoin to a wrong address then this address is valid no doubt that you cannot get it back unless the owner of the wrong address you have sent has a kind heart and he/ she will give it back to you. So,be carefull to send,check the wallet several times before you send.

[Choyor]

It is not possible to mistype a particular wallet address, and if we send it to an unauthorized address, every transaction will fail. Unless we store the Bitcoin address with another file and you mistakenly copied the address you are addressing and the address is valid, the transaction will be successful automatically. Unfortunately you will lose Bitcoin for mis-delivery, so be more careful and more careful before sending your Bitcoin.

[shindymlk]

Hi!
As the title says, what happens if i get an address wrong? Do the coins get lost?
If that's what happens, why not change the code in Bitcoin, so that if the bitcoin network cant detect that address, returns the bitcoins to you?

yes, your coin get lost and happy day for someone get your coins. so i just wanna say beware before you input your address, if you get an address wrong, you can lost your coin, and cant get back..

[jaggijagjit]

If you send bitcoins to a wrong address then you lost your coins forever and never get back. So becareful in future and check recever address twice before send btc to any other account.

[heureca]

It is not possible to mistype a particular wallet address, and if we send it to an unauthorized address, every transaction will fail. Unless we store the Bitcoin address with another file and you mistakenly copied the address you are addressing and the address is valid, the transaction will be successful automatically. Unfortunately you will lose Bitcoin for mis-delivery, so be more careful and more careful before sending your Bitcoin.

Yeah, it is necessary to use copy-paste technique for BTC addresses. At the same time it is necessary to check the first and last letters of your address.

[pwchan001]

You probably lose all your coins sent if you enter a wrong address, that's why it is so important to double check the address entered before you clicking the 'send' button even though you copy and paste it. (P.S. I am going to create few more addresses just in case some careless users enter the wrong address )

[josephpogi]

Hi!
As the title says, what happens if i get an address wrong? Do the coins get lost?
If that's what happens, why not change the code in Bitcoin, so that if the bitcoin network cant detect that address, returns the bitcoins to you?

Always remember in your self this  "slowly but surely" so you need to check 3-5 times before you send and i think if you have a trust wallet like coin base you can contact their team to refund or to get your money or bitcoin again .