Is there a way to downgrade Electrum android wallet

[Eternad]

I accidentally upgraded my electrum android wallet  app to the latest version but the new version sucks because it doesn’t support copy of wallet address that I made transaction before. Also there’s no way to copy the seed phrase of the wallet aside from writing it down manually.

The new version just improved the UI but it removes some feature that is important like copy button. Is there a way to downgrade my electrum wallet without losing all the wallet imported on it. My seed phrase is stored in my computer which is out of reach right now while I have multiple imported wallet on electrum that I don’t want to write down the seed phrase manually. Is this possible?

[OmegaStarScream]

I don't really use the android version so I couldn't tell you whether that's possible to achieve or not but you should be able to downgrade if you want.

Here you have a list of all previous versions (see the APKs): https://download.electrum.org/

[Charles-Tim]

I have no problem with the recent update. It can not copy seed phrase, I prefer to manually do that with pen.

The new version just improved the UI but it removes some feature that is important like copy button. Is there a way to downgrade my electrum wallet without losing all the wallet imported on it. My seed phrase is stored in my computer which is out of reach right now while I have multiple imported wallet on electrum that I don’t want to write down the seed phrase manually. Is this possible?

You have no option than to delete the presently installed version. If you do not delete it, the lower version can not be installed. I mean the wallet can not be downgraded, you have to do delete the wallet and install the lower version. Only the new version can be upgraded.

It is better to use the updated version.

[ABCbits]

The new version just improved the UI but it removes some feature that is important like copy button. Is there a way to downgrade my electrum wallet without losing all the wallet imported on it.

IMO downgrade should be used as last resort, especially considering Electrum developer probably doesn't consider Electrum user would perform downgrade. Have you tried common things to fix application problem such as clearing cache, allow specific permission or restart your smartphone?

The new version just improved the UI but it removes some feature that is important like copy button. Is there a way to downgrade my electrum wallet without losing all the wallet imported on it. My seed phrase is stored in my computer which is out of reach right now while I have multiple imported wallet on electrum that I don’t want to write down the seed phrase manually. Is this possible?

You have no option than to delete the presently installed version. If you do not delete it, the lower version can not be installed.

Actually it's possible with adb (no root needed)[1] or specific application (root needed)[2]. But it take some time and obviously it's not recommended since it could cause corruption or other unexpected behavior.

[1] https://www.xda-developers.com/downgrade-an-app-android-no-root/
[2] https://www.xda-developers.com/downgrade-applications-with-appdowner/

[hugeblack]

My seed phrase is stored in my computer which is out of reach right now while I have multiple imported wallet on electrum that I don’t want to write down the seed phrase manually. Is this possible?

It is possible, but I do not advise you to do so because wallet files are among the hidden files and you need to access them for root to reach this file /data/data/org.ectrum.ectrum/files/data/wallets
So writing it is the easiest solution. Try whether Mater public key can be copied, if it is all that you need is to make the new wallets only watch.

[1] https://www.xda-developers.com/downgrade-an-app-android-no-root/
[2] https://www.xda-developers.com/downgrade-applications-with-appdowner/

I noticed that the article from the year 2017, is it still working with new Android OSs?

[nc50lc]

-snip- but the new version sucks because it doesn’t support copy of wallet address that I made transaction before. Also there’s no way to copy the seed phrase of the wallet aside from writing it down manually.

You can post the missing "copy to clipboard" feature as a new issue in Electrum's GitHub page: https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/issues
I've checked and v4.3.4 indeed can copy the previous transaction's outputs just by tapping one of them.

For the seed phrase, it's a security feature since it's stated that you should "write the seed phrase on paper", not keep in your device (e.g. via screenshot/clipboard)
I doubt that it'll be reintroduced to the new version.

Is there a way to downgrade my electrum wallet without losing all the wallet imported on it. My seed phrase is stored in my computer which is out of reach right now while I have multiple imported wallet on electrum that I don’t want to write down the seed phrase manually. Is this possible?

I'm afraid only by uninstalling v4.4.1 and reinstalling the lower version, then restore your wallet's seed phrase.
Even if you managed to overwrite 4.4.1 with a lower version, the wallet file itself will still be incompatible with the lower version of Electrum.

[Charles-Tim]

Try whether Mater public key can be copied, if it is all that you need is to make the new wallets only watch.

You can copy the master public key on Android Electrum.

@Eternad
For your wallet addresses. If to copy the address is the problem. At the upper left corner, click on your wallet name -> addresses. The receiving and change addresses are listed there, including the number of transactions made using each addresses. You will see the address you are looking for there, click on the address and you will be able to copy the address.

For incoming addresses or both, you can use blockchain explorer for it or import the master private key into another wallet.

I hope Electrum developers will correct this. Including seeing the transaction input which can not be seen on Android Electrum directly.

[logfiles]

Or you could wait for the new update of the wallet which is most likely to be released soon (planned release of 4.4.2 is sometime this week according to one of the developers).

The issue of not being able to paste affects even the password field because of the virtual keyboard, especially users who copy passwords from let say password managers.
But it has been identified and will be fixed in the next update - https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/issues/8352


You can actually copy any address, even in the current version (4.4.1).

Tap on the addresses tab and tap on the address you want to copy, you will see a share symbol. Tap on it, and you will see an option to copy the address.

[Eternad]

You can copy the master public key on Android Electrum.

@Eternad
For your wallet addresses. If to copy the address is the problem. At the upper left corner, click on your wallet name -> addresses. The receiving and change addresses are listed there, including the number of transactions made using each addresses. You will see the address you are looking for there, click on the address and you will be able to copy the address.

For incoming addresses or both, you can use blockchain explorer for it or import the master private key into another wallet.

I hope Electrum developers will correct this. Including seeing the transaction input which can not be seen on Android Electrum directly.

Thanks charles and everyone, My main issue is copying the address that I have previous transaction either sent or received. I remember the address use for by browsing my transaction history and check the amount. The previous version is very helpful because I can just copy the address on the sent and receive transaction history without the use of blockchain explorer and manually pasting the txid. This is not a big a deal but the previous version have this feature which is why I’m not use to using the blockchain explorer just to copy address that I made transaction before.

You can post the missing "copy to clipboard" feature as a new issue in Electrum's GitHub page: https://github.com/spesmilo/electrum/issues
I've checked and v4.3.4 indeed can copy the previous transaction's outputs just by tapping one of them.

Thanks on this. I will report the missing feature and probably improvement.


Last question: What’s the purposed in security of manually writing down the seed phrase? I’m copying my seed phrase most of the time. I want to know the real danger of it to stop doing that habit.

[nc50lc]

Last question: What’s the purposed in security of manually writing down the seed phrase? I’m copying my seed phrase most of the time. I want to know the real danger of it to stop doing that habit.

Your device's clipboard can keep the copied text even after pasting it.
Aside from that, there's a possibility that it can be access by a third-party which is less likely to happen if you've manually written it on a paper.
Of course, it's not safe even with those features removed if the device is compromised to begin with, but at least there are less attack vectors.

You can actually copy any address, even in the current version (4.4.1).

You may be talking about the addresses in his address list.
Because in the previous transactions (history) the option to copy a recipient address is now removed/missing.

[Yamane_Keto]

Or you could wait for the new update of the wallet which is most likely to be released soon (planned release of 4.4.2 is sometime this week according to one of the developers).

It's a feature to enhance privacy and it was a loophole in the old versions so they fixed it. They will not add it again.

Last question: What’s the purposed in security of manually writing down the seed phrase? I’m copying my seed phrase most of the time. I want to know the real danger of it to stop doing that habit.

your seed = your money

Copying your wallet seed or keeping any digital copy of it is like carrying your money in a transparent bag on a crowded street.

Clipboard was like a stack, with the last value you copied. Once the value is updated, the previous values are deleted. Now it is closer to cache memory, as the data is preserved even if you restart your device, and therefore it is better not to copy the seeds.

some third-party virus can access/read your old copies in clipboard.

[logfiles]

Last question: What’s the purposed in security of manually writing down the seed phrase? I’m copying my seed phrase most of the time. I want to know the real danger of it to stop doing that habit.

Not recommended. In fact, most serious wallets do not recommend copying and pasting or screen shooting images of your seeds. Your clipboard is one of the first places the malware looks into. If not, you might be using a third party keyboard which most mobile users do and some of these third party keyboards could be malicious and can leak your clipboard contents

Imagine you just copied your seed and now the malicious actor knows it.

This is why some people lose bitcoins without even know how the hacker hit them. I think you have seen such complaints before. Manually copying and writing avoids exposure of your seed to probably malware.

Or you could wait for the new update of the wallet which is most likely to be released soon (planned release of 4.4.2 is sometime this week according to one of the developers).

It's a feature to enhance privacy and it was a loophole in the old versions so they fixed it. They will not add it again.

I know, my focus was on the general problem due to the virtual keyboard where you couldn't paste anything even in the password area. It has now been fixed in the new update.

[khaled0111]

My seed phrase is stored in my computer which is out of reach right now while I have multiple imported wallet on electrum that I don’t want to write down the seed phrase manually. Is this possible?

This is not supposed to be a problem. If I'm getting this right then all you have done was upgrading your wallet without checking the new features?!
In this case, all you have to do is to retrieve the wallet seed then uninstall the current version, install an older one then import your wallet from seed.

To retrieve the wallet seed, click on the wallet name on the top left then choose "Wallet details" then tap on "Seed".
All you need right now is the pin code then you will get your wallet's seed.
Now, just uninstall Electrum and install an older version then restore your wallet from the seed you've recovered.