Can't move money out of electrum wallet

[mumbleman]

Hi, I've had a small amount of BTC in an electrum wallet for about 8 months now. I can't for the life of me manage to move it. I've tried to pay someone on line with it and it failed. I've tried to move it to another wallet and it's failed. It's not a lot but I'd like to get it back!


Most recently I set up another wallet on electrum. Created a request code, then wento the wallet with the BTC in it and pasted that code into the recipient address. Then the amount. The I pick a block option and the payment comes up in the list below.

Except it say pending, or waiting and after 24 hours it says expired. I've tried this lots of different ways but I always get the same issue.

Any suggestions appreciated!

[1715587952]

1715587952

[1715587952]

1715587952

[Rath_]

First of all, what version of Electrum do you have?

Most recently I set up another wallet on electrum. Created a request code, then wento the wallet with the BTC in it and pasted that code into the recipient address. Then the amount. The I pick a block option and the payment comes up in the list below.

What "block option" are you referring to? You should be able to right-click on that payment. You should see a list of options. You will find "Pay..." there.

[bob123]

Created a request code

No, you didn't. There are no "request codes".
I guess you mean address?

then wento the wallet with the BTC in it and pasted that code into the recipient address.

I guess you tried to send BTC using the new address from your new wallet? Correct?

The I pick a block option and the payment comes up in the list below.

There are no "block options". Do you talk about the fee?

Except it say pending, or waiting and after 24 hours it says expired.

Nothing ever expires. Be more precise.

I've tried this lots of different ways but I always get the same issue.
Any suggestions appreciated!

Here is a suggestion:
Actually describe what exactly the problem is. Use the correct terms. An address is an address and not a "payment code".
No one understands you this way.

If you don't know anything about bitcoin or electrum, make screenshots to illustrate what you are talking about.

We can't help you with the "information" you have provided.

[mumbleman]

Ok, I realise I took some short cuts on the detail there which isn't helpful.

So I'm going to try and move some coin again and detail the process, maybe someone can spot where I'm going wrong.

I'm using the Electrum app on Android v 4.0.5

1. Go to my new wallet that I'd like to transfer the btc to.
2. Go to 'addresses'
3. There are lots of addresses here, I picked the one at the top and copied the address.
4. Open my existing wallet with the btc in it.
5. paste the copied address into the "recipient" field at the top
6. Set the amount to send (maximum)
7. Set the payment schedule to 25 blocks (not in any hurry)
8. Click Pay
9. Select 'Yes' for a replaceable transaction.
10. Return to the wallet page

There is now a new payment at the top of the list with the address I pasted, the amount on the right and underneath it says 'Unpaid'.

I guess I just wait now? I've tried this in the past and it hasn't worked!

[NeuroticFish]

There is now a new payment at the top of the list with the address I pasted, the amount on the right and underneath it says 'Unpaid'.

The unpaid info is on the "Send" tab. Most probably on the "History" tab you don't have the transaction at all.
I think that between the steps you do you forgot something somewhere, but I am not sure what, because the (number of) windows showing up depend on your settings.

You may have forgotten to actually send, finalize, or broadcast.
If the transaction is not in the History tab, try to do the transaction again and look for these keywords (especially broadcast, maybe sign too) <- these you'll surely have if you have in the preferences "advanced preview".

Maybe you run Electrum on testnet and do some tests sending faucet coins from one address of yours to another.
This will allow you attempt things without spending money; this will allow you post links to actual images so we can see what you may be missing.

[Pmalek]

4. Open my existing wallet with the btc in it.

Where is this existing wallet? Is it another wallet on your 4.0.5 Electrum app for Android or is it another wallet? If so, which client and what version?
If you have done all the correct steps, and signed and broadcasted the transaction, it should be visible in your history tab. Is it there, can you make a screenshot of it? Is the status of your transaction signed or unsigned?

[mumbleman]

Both wallets are in the Electrum app and I'm using Android. I had issues trying to pay someone a few months back so I thought the easiest thing would be to set up another wallet to try and at least figure out how to move it myself.

I've never come across a request or option to sign or broadcast a payment so maybe this is the issue? I did the exact steps that I laid out above.

Currently there is unpaid information on the send tab (screenshot enclosed) but nothing on the history tab apart from the original btc amount that I bought into the wallet.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/kgunhcg21khtqml/screenshot_20201204-142547_electrum.jpg?dl=0

[khaled0111]

I've never come across a request or option to sign or broadcast a payment so maybe this is the issue? I did the exact steps that I laid out above.

You didn't finish the last step which is broadcasting the transaction.
After "step 9":

9. Select "Yes" for a replaceable transaction.

A "confirm action' pop up window will appear, tap "OK" to broadcast the transaction. it should appear in your history tab now.
If you don't choose "OK" and go back to the main window, it will be saved as an invoice in the "Send" tab (the invoice expires after 24 hours by default).
You can also broadcast the transaction by clicking on the invoice then tapping the 'Pay" button (only possible if the invoice is still active and didn't expire).

[mumbleman]

There was never a 'confirm action' pop up but I clicked on the 'Unpaid' invoice in Send and then clicked Pay.

It gave me a quote for the mining fee and looked like it had gone through.

Status: Unsigned
Amount sent: 0.007 etc
Transaction Fee: 0.00007


But it also said 'unsigned'. I did this yesterday and was charged the mining fee I think but the btc never left the wallet.

There is nothing in the history after doing this and the invoice still says 'unpaid'

[Abdussamad]

There was never a 'confirm action' pop up but I clicked on the 'Unpaid' invoice in Send and then clicked Pay.

It gave me a quote for the mining fee and looked like it had gone through.

Status: Unsigned
Amount sent: 0.007 etc
Transaction Fee: 0.00007


But it also said 'unsigned'. I did this yesterday and was charged the mining fee I think but the btc never left the wallet.

There is nothing in the history after doing this and the invoice still says 'unpaid'

click on finalize, then sign and broadcast. also to simplify this process in future disable advanced preview under tools > preferences > transactions tab.

[mumbleman]

God this is driving me nuts. I've literally spent weeks trying to figure this out! Is the electrum mobile app crap or something?

So, I can't click on finalize or sign or broadcast, because they don't exist in the app, I've scoured the menus. I also can't even find a 'tools' menu.

I've installed Electrum on my desktop and opened up the wallet with my seed. But at the bottom it says Balance 0 mBTC. So WTF?

I thought maybe the money had gone from my wallet and was going to give up on it all, but when I go back to the app and set up a send action I can do the following:

1: Set recipient address
2. Set amount to send

Then a number pad comes up and it has a button that says max and when I click it it comes up with 0.00804 BTC, which is about what I had originally in the account.

So have I got coin in my wallet or not? And if I have why doesn't it show on desktop and if I haven't why is it bringing up a figure on the mobile app??

Honestly I've been using computers professionally for 25 years and never struggled so much with anything like this!

[nc50lc]

So, I can't click on finalize or sign or broadcast, because they don't exist in the app, I've scoured the menus. I also can't even find a 'tools' menu.

Can you click the unpaid invoice and check the "Pay" button if it's clickable.
No? Are you perhaps using a watch-only wallet on your phone?
You can confirm it by clicking the wallet name above and try to find a text saying "This wallet is watching-only".

If not, can you link the google Playstore app/URL that you've been using?

I've installed Electrum on my desktop and opened up the wallet with my seed. But at the bottom it says Balance 0 mBTC. So WTF?

Then the seed phrase must be for another wallet.
Note that you can create more than one wallet files with Electrum, you might have created more than one.
There should be a list of wallets after you launched the app if it's the mobile version.

[Pmalek]

If you restored the wallet with the correct seed and derivation path on your desktop computer, you must see your correct balance, transaction history and the same addresses you had before. You are making a mistake somewhere in the process.

What kind of phone are you using btw? Is it a newer model with an up-to-date OS? OR maybe one with a custom firmware where Electrum can't run properly for some reason? Do you have another phone where you could try to restore you wallet on to see if it will display the sign and broadcast options? 

[bob123]

I've installed Electrum on my desktop and opened up the wallet with my seed. But at the bottom it says Balance 0 mBTC. So WTF?

Do the addresses start with the same character (1.., 3.. or bc1..)?
If this is the case and your wallet on your desktop is connected to the internet, then i'd assume that your mobile wallet is a watch-only wallet.

This would explain why you aren't able to spend any BTC. Did you import an address at any time? How did you receive the funds you are trying to spend now? Did you receive a transaction or were you told to import something into your wallet?

[Abdussamad]

God this is driving me nuts. I've literally spent weeks trying to figure this out! Is the electrum mobile app crap or something?

So, I can't click on finalize or sign or broadcast, because they don't exist in the app, I've scoured the menus. I also can't even find a 'tools' menu.

I've installed Electrum on my desktop and opened up the wallet with my seed. But at the bottom it says Balance 0 mBTC. So WTF?

I thought maybe the money had gone from my wallet and was going to give up on it all, but when I go back to the app and set up a send action I can do the following:

1: Set recipient address
2. Set amount to send

Then a number pad comes up and it has a button that says max and when I click it it comes up with 0.00804 BTC, which is about what I had originally in the account.

So have I got coin in my wallet or not? And if I have why doesn't it show on desktop and if I haven't why is it bringing up a figure on the mobile app??

Honestly I've been using computers professionally for 25 years and never struggled so much with anything like this!

see 2 here: https://bitcoinelectrum.com/frequently-asked-questions/#my-seed-is-not-restoring-my-wallet-what-can-i-do

[mumbleman]

Ok yes, I clicked on the wallet name and it says that it's a watch only wallet. But it also says I've got a balance of 0.008btc. So what does that mean?

I have the seed, but how can I spend or send the money somewhere else?

I originally purchased the btc through Coinbase and then sent it to Electrum. I guess I didn't set the wallet up properly to start with but the funds must be somewhere right?

[o_e_l_e_o]

Ok yes, I clicked on the wallet name and it says that it's a watch only wallet. But it also says I've got a balance of 0.008btc. So what does that mean?

It means the addresses in that wallet hold 0.008 BTC, but it also means that wallet does not hold any private keys - it just holds the addresses. All it is doing is monitoring them, and you can't actually spend those coins.

I have the seed, but how can I spend or send the money somewhere else?

You must have the seed phrase for that exact wallet. Are you sure you have the correct seed phrase? You said earlier you imported a seed phrase to the desktop version and it showed no funds, so either your desktop wallet did not sync up or you had the wrong seed phrase.

Either go back to the desktop wallet you restored, or use the seed phrase to restore to desktop again, and check if the addresses in your newly restored wallet match the addresses in your mobile wallet.

I guess I didn't set the wallet up properly to start with but the funds must be somewhere right?

They will be somewhere, yes, but whether or not they are somewhere you can access them and spend them is another matter. Do you remember how you initially set up the mobile wallet?

[nc50lc]

Ok yes, I clicked on the wallet name and it says that it's a watch only wallet. But it also says I've got a balance of 0.008btc. So what does that mean?
I have the seed, but how can I spend or send the money somewhere else?

I originally purchased the btc through Coinbase and then sent it to Electrum.

It's just what I thought, how did you created your mobile Electrum wallet?
Have you imported one of your Coinbase Bitcoin address using the option "Import bitcoin addresses or private keys" when you created that wallet instead of "Standard Wallet"?
Because importing an address is the only way you'll end up having an imported watch-only wallet.

Just like what I've pointed in my previous post, the seed you have must be for another Electrum wallet.

I guess I didn't set the wallet up properly to start with but the funds must be somewhere right?

If you did what I've described above, then there's a chance that it's in your Coinbase account.

[mumbleman]

Ok I solved it!

Or rather you generous folk have solved it.

It turns out to be true that the Electrum wallet has nothing in it. I set all this up months ago so it was hard to remember the exact process I followed. The fact that it said I had a balance in Electrum was a red herring that I don't think I would have ever figured out without some help!

I actually found the BTC in Exodus which is where I must have bought it. TBH I don't even remember using that app, but I put a bunch of crypto apps on my phone at the time (Coinbase being another red herring).

If I hadn't had the nudge about the watch-only wallet I wouldn't have even have though to look elsewhere.

Anyway I managed to make a successful payment from Exodus and all is well with the world.

Thanks everyone for your help!