bitcoin sweeping question

[jammaster613]

I purchaed bitcoin to an old public address of last transaction to a paper wallet. I dont have the private key saved for that transaction. I had used the private key once, sweeping it into Electrum wallet. Does electrum save it anywhere?

[1714944989]

1714944989

[1714944989]

1714944989

[1714944989]

1714944989

[LoyceV]

Does electrum save it anywhere?

Do you still have Electrum installed? If so, start it, see what happens.
If you don't have it anymore: did you write down 12 words (don't post them here!) as a backup?

[hosseinimr93]

If you swept the private key to electrum, your fund is now in a new address and even if you had the private key of the paper wallet address, it couldn't help you.

How did you create the wallet?
How did you exactly move the fund to electrum?
Do you have the seed phrase (a series of 12 words)?

In the case you are using windows, go to following location and check if there's any wallet file.

Code:

%APPDATA%\Electrum\wallets

[DireWolfM14]

I had used the private key once, sweeping it into Electrum wallet. Does electrum save it anywhere?

If you swept the key, then no, Electrum won't save it.  But that doesn't matter so much, sweeping the key moves the bitcoin to a new address.
If you imported the key into Electrum, then yes, Electrum will save they key in that wallet file.  Keep in mind however, if you used a Bip39 seed phrase to create an Electrum wallet, then imported the key, the key will not be backed up by the seed phrase.

[BitMaxz]

DireWolfM14 is right.

Do you remember if where did you generate a paper wallet? and do you still have the PC where did you sweep the private key?

Maybe the private key still on the old device/PC and maybe you just forgot that you have a backup copy of your private key anywhere on your PC?


Try your luck by search on your PC and use terms like "paper", "wallet", or "private key".

[o_e_l_e_o]

If you sweeped the private key to electrum, your fund is now in a new address and even if you had the private key of the paper wallet address, it couldn't help you.

It's difficult to know, but reading OP's post it sounds like he has sent bitcoin to the address of an old paper wallet which he has previously swept funds from in the past, and no longer has the private key to.

Keep in mind however, if you used a Bip39 seed phrase to create an Electrum wallet, then imported the key, the key will not be backed up by the seed phrase.

You cannot import a private key in to an Electrum wallet created from a seed phrase, be it an Electrum seed phrase or a BIP39 seed phrase. If you want to import private keys to Electrum, you have to create a new wallet which is only comprised of imported private keys.

[DireWolfM14]

Keep in mind however, if you used a Bip39 seed phrase to create an Electrum wallet, then imported the key, the key will not be backed up by the seed phrase.

You cannot import a private key in to an Electrum wallet created from a seed phrase, be it an Electrum seed phrase or a BIP39 seed phrase. If you want to import private keys to Electrum, you have to create a new wallet which is only comprised of imported private keys.

I know that is the case with Electrum seeds, but I wasn't sure about Bip39 HD wallets.  Has this always been the case?  I seem to recall a time when Electrum did allow importing keys into HD wallets.  Nevertheless, I doubt that is the OP's situation.

[hosseinimr93]

It's difficult to know, but reading OP's post it sounds like he has sent bitcoin to the address of an old paper wallet which he has previously swept funds from in the past, and no longer has the private key to.

I read the OP again. You seem to be right.

Has this always been the case?  I seem to recall a time when Electrum did allow importing keys into HD wallets.

The change was made in the upgrade from version 1.9.8 to version 2.0.

In Electrum 2.0, you cannot import private keys in a wallet that has a seed. You should sweep them instead.

[DireWolfM14]

Has this always been the case?  I seem to recall a time when Electrum did allow importing keys into HD wallets.

The change was made in the upgrade from version 1.9.8 to version 2.0.

In Electrum 2.0, you cannot import private keys in a wallet that has a seed. You should sweep them instead.

Lol, well that's before my dalliance with bitcoin began, so I'll correct myself by saying "I seem to recall reading about a time when Electrum did allow importing keys into HD wallets."