Electrum 4.4 Relased

[PawGo]

A new version of Electrum has been released on April 18th.
Release notes:

Code:

   - New onchain transaction creation flow, with configurable preview
   - Various options have been moved to toolbars, where their effect
     can be more directly observed.

Code:

- lightning: support for option scid_alias.
    - Qt GUI: UTXO privacy analysis: this dialog displays all the
      wallet transactions that are either parent of a UTXO, or can be
      related to it through address reuse (Note that in the case of
      address reuse, it does not display children transactions.)
    - Coins tab: New menu that lets users easily spend a selection
      of UTXOs into a new channel, or into a submarine swap (Qt GUI).

Code:

  - Lightning invoices are regenerated everytime routing hints are
      deprecated due to liquidity changes.
    - Script descriptors are used internally to sign transactions.

And for the corresponding Android application:

Code:

- Using Qt 5.15.7, PyQt 5.15.9
   - This release still on python3.8
   - Feature parity with Kivy
   - Android Back button used throughout, for cancel/close/back
   - Note: two topbar menus; tap wallet name for wallet menu, tap
     network orb for application menu
   - Note: long-press Receive/Send for list of payment requests/invoices

Source: https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/blob/master/RELEASE-NOTES

One and only download page: https://electrum.org/#download

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[satscraper]

What's the hell with this release? The  wallet's "Preferences"  have missed "Transactions" tab, so plenty of useful features like "Advanced preview ",  "Spend only confirmed coins" and so on are missing.

[nc50lc]

The  wallet's "Preferences"  have missed "Transactions" tab, so plenty of useful features like "Advanced preview ",  "Spend only confirmed coins" and so on are missing.

Those settings are moved to the settings icon in "New Transaction" window. (After clicking "Pay..." in the 'Send' tab)
For "Advanced Preview", just click 'Preview' instead of 'OK'.

Reference image:


Now, you can edit those settings without going though the 'Preferences' or 'Advanced transaction preview'.

[satscraper]

The  wallet's "Preferences"  have missed "Transactions" tab, so plenty of useful features like "Advanced preview ",  "Spend only confirmed coins" and so on are missing.

Those settings are moved to the settings icon in "New Transaction" window. (After clicking "Pay..." in the 'Send' tab)
For "Advanced Preview", just click 'Preview' instead of 'OK'.

Reference image:


Now, you can edit those settings without going though the 'Preferences' or 'Advanced transaction preview'.

Thanks.

Implementation  of those settings was more straightforward in previous versions. Such important settings must be the  first things for user to see when he/she opens the wallet  rather than   hidden  under "pay --> send" steps, the final steps which are very thrilling for user, IMHO.

[khaled0111]

The design of the new Android version looks much better indeed although it still lacks some important features compared to the desktop version.
Just two things I didn't like, though:
   - When you click on the Receive button, it only shows a qr code, it doesn't show the address in plain text which may be dangerous in case your device is infected with the clipboard malware.
   - When you click on the Send button, it immediately starts the camera to scan the address qr code. There is no option to enter the address manually. You need to have the address already copied on the clipboard then you can paste it. Besides, there is no option to edit the address after pasting it.

Also, on the Send tab, when tapping the Max button, the amount field will not display the max amount to send. You need to click on Pay to see it on the next screen. At first, I thought it doesn't work until I clicked Pay.

[sporthings]

The design of the new Android version looks much better indeed although it still lacks some important features compared to the desktop version.
Just two things I didn't like, though:
   - When you click on the Receive button, it only shows a qr code, it doesn't show the address in plain text which may be dangerous in case your device is infected with the clipboard malware.
   - When you click on the Send button, it immediately starts the camera to scan the address qr code. There is no option to enter the address manually. You need to have the address already copied on the clipboard then you can paste it. Besides, there is no option to edit the address after pasting it.

Also, on the Send tab, when tapping the Max button, the amount field will not display the max amount to send. You need to click on Pay to see it on the next screen. At first, I thought it doesn't work until I clicked Pay.

I registered here only to say thank you. When I saw camera pressing send button, I thought the wallet was hacked. These are excellent observations. Definitely not user-friendly wallet, you need to discover things on your own.

[PawGo]

What's the hell with this release? The  wallet's "Preferences"  have missed "Transactions" tab, so plenty of useful features like "Advanced preview ",  "Spend only confirmed coins" and so on are missing.

One change which caused my confusion was removal of 'Spend from' option, now we have 'Add to coin control'. I think such renaming is really weird, especially after years the previous names were used. I guess many guides must be rewritten now.

[Asuspawer09]

Do we actually need to download the application on the website every time there was an update? Is it safe to reinstall the application every time?

My Electrum wallet was active again for a long time so I just want to make sure that I wouldn't make a mistake thanks.

[pooya87]

Do we actually need to download the application on the website every time there was an update?

It depends but most of the times the answer is no, you don't need to upgrade to each release.

Generally speaking if the new release contains new features, some improvements and bug fixes that don't affect you (like fixing a bug related to hardware wallets and you don't own a hardware wallet) you don't need to upgrade.
But if the new release contains bug fixes that may affect you (like the fix in the communication protocol where the malicious server could show you a malicious HTML formatted message) then it is best to upgrade.

You can always check out the release notes here to see what was changed: https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/blob/master/RELEASE-NOTES

Is it safe to reinstall the application every time?

If you take all the necessary precautions, yes. That means having a backup of your wallet (eg. seed phrase written on paper) and verifying the signatures of the binaries you download.

[Asuspawer09]

Do we actually need to download the application on the website every time there was an update?

It depends but most of the times the answer is no, you don't need to upgrade to each release.

Generally speaking if the new release contains new features, some improvements and bug fixes that don't affect you (like fixing a bug related to hardware wallets and you don't own a hardware wallet) you don't need to upgrade.
But if the new release contains bug fixes that may affect you (like the fix in the communication protocol where the malicious server could show you a malicious HTML formatted message) then it is best to upgrade.

You can always check out the release notes here to see what was changed: https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/blob/master/RELEASE-NOTES

Thanks for answering my question.

If I'm not mistaken I heard some Electrum users get issues/hacks when they didn't update their Electrum wallet for a long time. It might be better to update most of the time right?

Not that I think about it, I don't really have problems or bugs with my Electrum wallet I'll probably update only if encounter some issues. Thank you.

[LoyceV]

The  wallet's "Preferences"  have missed "Transactions" tab, so plenty of useful features like "Advanced preview ",  "Spend only confirmed coins" and so on are missing.

Those settings are moved to the settings icon in "New Transaction" window. (After clicking "Pay..." in the 'Send' tab)
For "Advanced Preview", just click 'Preview' instead of 'OK'.

I was searching for this yesterday, and couldn't find it. So thanks I didn't try that icon because I instantly clicked Preview.

Implementation  of those settings was more straightforward in previous versions. Such important settings must be the  first things for user to see when he/she opens the wallet  rather than   hidden  under "pay --> send" steps, the final steps which are very thrilling for user, IMHO.

Agreed. It looks like they removed features to make it easier for n00bs, but it's unlogical. I don't want to click Pay before I'm done adjusting all settings.

[PawGo]

The  wallet's "Preferences"  have missed "Transactions" tab, so plenty of useful features like "Advanced preview ",  "Spend only confirmed coins" and so on are missing.

Those settings are moved to the settings icon in "New Transaction" window. (After clicking "Pay..." in the 'Send' tab)
For "Advanced Preview", just click 'Preview' instead of 'OK'.

I was searching for this yesterday, and couldn't find it. So thanks I didn't try that icon because I instantly clicked Preview.

One thing which is missing (or I cannot find it) is RBF switch. In the previous version I set switched off RBF, in config file (json) I see

Code:

"use_rbf": false

but when I prepare transaction RBF is enabled and I have no idea how to change it.

[pooya87]

If I'm not mistaken I heard some Electrum users get issues/hacks when they didn't update their Electrum wallet for a long time. It might be better to update most of the time right?

Exploitable vulnerabilities in Electrum has not been that common so the statement is not very accurate. But yes, it is best that you update to the latest version as often as you can because developers put a lot of effort into improving the wallet.

[LoyceV]

but when I prepare transaction RBF is enabled and I have no idea how to change it.

I guess that's part of the new Full RBF?

So, there are now 3 Settings-icons per transaction:
1.


2.


3.


That's not confusing at all

[PawGo]

but when I prepare transaction RBF is enabled and I have no idea how to change it.

I guess that's part of the new Full RBF?

Maybe. Now it is disabled "by design": https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/commit/e1dc7d1e6fb2fc5b88195b62cbe1613b252db388
They say "Note: RBF remains disabled for channel funding transactions." so it is not like RBF disappears completely, they just force you to use it.
Which is IMHO really a step back, decisions/simplifications like that make Electrum another dumb-wallet, while it has reputation of the great configurable tool which allows you to do both simple AND more complicated transactions if you need.

[Asuspawer09]

If I'm not mistaken I heard some Electrum users get issues/hacks when they didn't update their Electrum wallet for a long time. It might be better to update most of the time right?

Exploitable vulnerabilities in Electrum has not been that common so the statement is not very accurate. But yes, it is best that you update to the latest version as often as you can because developers put a lot of effort into improving the wallet.

Completely agree with that, I guess it's always better to update for the most part as the Wallet is improving even though there are potential bugs that might occur. I'm just a bit concerned about the update but thanks.

[dkbit98]

One change which caused my confusion was removal of 'Spend from' option, now we have 'Add to coin control'. I think such renaming is really weird, especially after years the previous names were used. I guess many guides must be rewritten now.

That is weird, I don't understand why they made so many structural changes in this release... most of us got used to using Spend from option.
Looks like we need to start reading full release notes before updating new Electrum version in future.

Do we actually need to download the application on the website every time there was an update? Is it safe to reinstall the application every time?

You can check for updates directly from wallet, or update from official github page.
If I remember correctly there was once issue with malicious updates, so it's recommended to verify new download each time before installing.
I personally wouldn't hurry updating Electrum wallet unless there was some critical bug fix, it's better to check comments and feedback from other people first and update few days/weeks later.

[NotATether]

3.

What in the world does "Download missing data" do?

[satscraper]

3.

What in the world does "Download missing data" do?

Can not guess things other than  downloading PSBT data.

I have no air-gapped   HW wallet with PSBT support to check my assumption.

[Asuspawer09]

Do we actually need to download the application on the website every time there was an update? Is it safe to reinstall the application every time?

You can check for updates directly from wallet, or update from official github page.
If I remember correctly there was once issue with malicious updates, so it's recommended to verify new download each time before installing.
I personally wouldn't hurry updating Electrum wallet unless there was some critical bug fix, it's better to check comments and feedback from other people first and update few days/weeks later.

Yes, I might consider updating my wallet most of the time, I guess because I'm just the kind of guy that is going to stop what I'm doing just to update applications, games, OS, etc.

But a newer version doesn't really mean your getting the best and bug-free application especially if the new version was just released some bugs might come out. So probably feedback from others or maybe delay the update for some time to avoid encountering problems.