How to add a Bitcoin address to Electrum / difference sweep and import priv. key

[1miau]

How to add a Bitcoin address to Electrum / Difference between sweep and import private keys


This post is an additional post to this one, which explains how to create your own unique Bitcoin address (vanity address).

To use external bitcoin addresses (like a paperwallet) in Electrum, there are two functions: sweep and import. Both functions enable to access the balances of the Bitcoin addresses via Electrum. It is possible to import any wallets there, but you need to own the private key. This can be very helpful if you still have an old paperwallet and want to transfer the Bitcoins, an address that you are currently using in another client and would like to use in Electrum or to use your self-created vanity address.

Import

Import is useful to import a Bitcoin address as new wallet to Electrum. The Bitcoins will stay on this wallet and you can access this wallet after importing it to Electrum. It’s also important that this imported wallet will not have a seed and you can’t restore it from a seed because there is none. If you don’t lose the private key, you don’t need a seed either.


Sweep

In comparison, the sweep function transfers your bitcoins from your original wallet to a new one in Electrum. Since a Bitcoin transaction (from the old to the new wallet) will happen, sweep requires an internet connection and transaction costs.

In order to be able to use a previously created vanity address in Electrum, the function to be used is import.


It works like this:


1. Open Electrum

Open Electrum and go to File => New/Restore






2. Choose a name

Choose a name for your wallet which you want to import and click on Next






3. Choose Import Bitcoin addresses or private keys






4. Enter your private key to import the address

Now you can copy your private key from the .txt file and paste it into the window opening at Electrum. Theoretically, you could also import several private keys.






5. Select a password, write it down and click on Next





And finally, you have imported your 1test wallet successfully. You can now transfer BTC to your wallet or send BTC if you have sent BTC to it before.





Done


Update: if you want to import / sweep a SegWit address (prefix 3 / bc1q) you need to add the following lines in front of your private keys:


Nested SegWit adresses 3... (P2SH-P2WPKH)

Code:

p2wpkh-p2sh:Kpriv.key

or

Code:

p2wpkh-p2sh:Lpriv.key

Native SegWit bech32 addresses bc1q... (P2WPKH)

Code:

p2wpkh:Kpriv.key

or

Code:

p2wpkh:Lpriv.key

Source

Or just click "info" when you are importing Bitcoin addresses to see what exactly you have to add:

Done


Translations

Language	translated by	Title
___________________________	_____________________	_______________________________________________________________________
Română (Romanian)	GazetaBitcoin	Cum se adaugă o adresă Bitcoin în Electrum / diferența dintre sweep și import
Deutsch (German)	1miau	Wie füge ich eine bestehende Bitcoin-Adresse zu Electrum hinzu - sweep / import
Nigeria (Naija)	sokani	How 2 take add Bitcoin addrs. 4 Electrum/difference btw sweep & import pri. keys
Pakistan	Compromise me	الیکٹرم / فرق سویپ میں بٹ کوائن ایڈریس کیسے ش

Reserving new translations is currently not available.

[1714126034]

1714126034

[1714126034]

1714126034

[1714126034]

1714126034

[1miau]

Added the follwing update for SegWit addresses:


Update: if you want to import / sweep a SegWit address (prefix 3 /bc1q) you need to add the following lines in front of your private keys:


Nested SegWit adresses 3.... (P2SH-P2WPKH)

Code:

p2wpkh-p2sh:5priv.key

Native SegWit bech32 addresses bc1q... (P2WPKH)

Code:

p2wpkh:5priv.key

Done 

[pooya87]

you have to upgrade your Electrum bro! it now has a nice little button on top right side of the Import window that gives you the necessary information about what to add before the key to import the correct address. here is the screenshot (version 3.3.4):



for the sake of completeness:
if you had created a private key with Electrum versions 3.0.0, 3.0.1, 3.0.2, 3.0.3, 3.0.4, 3.0.5 and 3.0.6 and backed up the WIF, your only option is to enter it in Electrum without the script type string addition because these keys already contain the type in their first byte which makes them incompatible with any other wallet/tool you use to recover them.

[1miau]

Thanks @pooya87, I'll link your post in my update for importing SegWit addresses.

[1miau]

After all images are inaccessible on imgur right now, all pictures are available again for this topic.  


In addition, I've added all known translations in my OP:


Translations

Language	translated by	Title
___________________________	_____________________	_______________________________________________________________________
Română (Romanian)	GazetaBitcoin	Cum se adaugă o adresă Bitcoin în Electrum / diferența dintre sweep și import
Deutsch (German)	1miau	Wie füge ich eine bestehende Bitcoin-Adresse zu Electrum hinzu - sweep / import

If I've missed any of your translations, please let me know.  

[nc50lc]

Native SegWit bech32 addresses bc1q... (P2WPKH)

Code:

p2wpkh:5priv.key

Although those are only examples, it's better if you use compressed WIF private keys as examples for both Native and Nested SegWit prefixes.
Because it's non-standard to use uncompressed WIF for SegWit.

And since Electrum is following the standard, it wont let them press "next" if they pasted an uncompressed WIF PrvKey with any SegWit script prefix.

[1miau]

Native SegWit bech32 addresses bc1q... (P2WPKH)

Code:

p2wpkh:5priv.key

Although those are only examples, it's better if you use compressed WIF private keys as examples for both Native and Nested SegWit prefixes.
Because it's non-standard to use uncompressed WIF for SegWit.

Good point. For now, I was just going to copy Electrum's "Info" popup but I've noticed, it's already in the picture from pooya87:




OP is edited for better understanding: 


Nested SegWit adresses 3... (P2SH-P2WPKH)

Code:

p2wpkh-p2sh:Kpriv.key

or

Code:

p2wpkh-p2sh:Lpriv.key

Native SegWit bech32 addresses bc1q... (P2WPKH)

Code:

p2wpkh:Kpriv.key

or

Code:

p2wpkh:Lpriv.key

[Davidjame]

From your guide, we can import private key and get three address types: 1, 3 and bc1q.

I read that Electrum stopped its options to create new wallets with 1 and 3 address types. Could we do this in Console of Electrum?

Or if I want to have address types like 1 and 3, I have to create a wallet with Segwit addresses, then I import its private keys to have 1 and 3 address types?

[nc50lc]

I read that Electrum stopped its options to create new wallets with 1 and 3 address types. Could we do this in Console of Electrum?

Yes for standard Electrum seed, make_seed command takes seed type option like "standard": github.com/spesmilo/electrum/blob/master/electrum/commands.py#L338
But you can't create P2SH-SegWit seed with it since it's never been generated in Electrum natively.

If you want a SegWit "3" wallet, import a BIP39 seed you've generated elsewhere by ticking BIP39 seed in the option and select p2wpkh-p2sh option when prompted to select the script type.
Forcing your Electrum seed to be imported as BIP39 will work but the process isn't standard so it's not recommended.

Or if I want to have address types like 1 and 3, I have to create a wallet with Segwit addresses, then I import its private keys to have 1 and 3 address types?

That will also work.
There's no issue in importing a private key and deriving a different address type from it, it can spend from it without issue.
But creating a backup of this will be more troublesome than backing-up a seed phrase.

The issue is importing an uncompressed WIF private key as SegWit/Nested-SegWit but Electrum wont allow it.

[sokani]

Hello @1miau, I'd like to reserve this topic for translation in pidgin.

[Mia Chloe]

@1miau this thread was very useful to me so I made a translation in pigin in my local board here is the link.  How to add a Bitcoin address to Electrum / difference sweep and import priv. key
I am applying that you add it to the lists of translations

[1miau]

Hello @1miau, I'd like to reserve this topic for translation in pidgin.

Hello, having your translation would be very nice.
I've officially reserved your translation in my list:

Language	translated by	Title
___________________________	_____________________	_______________________________________________________________________
Nigeria (Naija)	sokani	reserved

Please announce it here, when it's realy, I'm looking forward to it. 

@1miau this thread was very useful to me so I made a translation in pigin in my local board here is the link.  How to add a Bitcoin address to Electrum / difference sweep and import priv. key
I am applying that you add it to the lists of translations

Please always ask for an offical permission to translate my topic first, by asking here in my topic and I'll add you to my list.
Also check previous replies if someone already requested a translation.
Doing so will avoid confusion. I'll still reward your effort 50% but please make sure first to have an official permission because sokani asked first to translate it to pidgin.


To avoid any confusion: if someone from somewhere else complains about a double translation, please tell them to complain to me.
It's a bit unfortunate but I'm sure we'll sort it out. 

[Mia Chloe]

Please always ask for an offical permission to translate my topic first, by asking here in my topic and I'll add you to my list.
Also check previous replies if someone already requested a translation.
Doing so will avoid confusion. I'll still reward your effort 50% but please make sure first to have an official permission because sokani asked first to translate it to pidgin

I am sorry as I was new to procedures in the translation systems so I wasn't aware I had to make an application first.

[1miau]

Please always ask for an offical permission to translate my topic first, by asking here in my topic and I'll add you to my list.
Also check previous replies if someone already requested a translation.
Doing so will avoid confusion. I'll still reward your effort 50% but please make sure first to have an official permission because sokani asked first to translate it to pidgin

I am sorry as I was new to procedures in the translation systems so I wasn't aware I had to make an application first.

No problem, since we will find a way to sort it out. 
Now you know and of course, I would be happy to have some requests from you, whenever you like one of my topics and want to translate it for your local board.

[sokani]

Hello 1miau, here's the translation to the topic in pidgin: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5473138.0

[1miau]

Hello 1miau, here's the translation to the topic in pidgin: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=5473138.0

Hey 

Good job, I've added your translation to my list now:

Language	translated by	Title
___________________________	_____________________	_______________________________________________________________________
Nigeria (Naija)	sokani	How 2 take add Bitcoin addrs. 4 Electrum/difference btw sweep & import pri. keys

[Compromise me]

snip

Hello @1miau

This topic is very useful and informative and I take a request to translate this topic in my local thread Pakistan (Urdu language).

[1miau]

snip

Hello @1miau

This topic is very useful and informative and I take a request to translate this topic in my local thread Pakistan (Urdu language).

Your translation is checked and approved now.
I've added it to my list as well:

Language	translated by	Title
___________________________	_____________________	_______________________________________________________________________
Pakistan	Compromise me	الیکٹرم / فرق سویپ میں بٹ کوائن ایڈریس کیسے ش

Many thanks for translating this important topic for our fellow members from Pakistan!