Recovering private keys from wallet.dat file

[crypto illiterate]

Hey guys,

I've miraculously found the password for a wallet.dat file that I've saved on a pendrive 10 years ago. I used to have Bitcoin Core installed, but it was outdated since 2015 and I also had to reboot my MacOS to Linux, as my computer is way too old (a MacBook Pro 2013). Chat GPT has been guiding me through the whole thing, but I'm afraid of using PyWallet to extract the keys, as I haven´t found much info online about that - is it safe? How does it work exactly?

I'd prefer to work with Bitcoin Core, as I have a vague familiarity with it from a decade ago, but I can't download it because the blockchain now is larger than what I have available in internal storage on my computer (500 GB), so I do need to get the key out of the wallet.dat file to only then insert them into Electrum (or should I use another wallet?).

Could anyone give me a hand on what's the safest way of extracting those keys out of the .dat file? I beg you to please explain as if I was your grandma - I'm not that old at all, but I have about that level of knowledge in IT! 

Thank you so much! 

[Kagaru]

Wow first of all that is so lucky to have been able to find out the password after 10 years not everyone has that sort of second chance. You have the wallet.dat file already so the safest option is to use Bitcoin-core assuming that you can but it now exceeds 500GB and because of that, it will be tough running it on your current machine.

I would advise that instead of PyWallet that is outdated and is not functioning in all times (on newer vessels in particular) you use Electrum. It is a slim wallet and a lot easier to handle it. Here's  breakdown of what you can do:

1. Download Electrum at its official site to be installed in your Linux computer. Always get whatever you are downloading by visiting the right site to curb scams.

2. Electrum does not make use of the wallet.dat directly though there is a technique that allows one to extract the private key out of their wallet.dat and then entered into Electrum.

3. The bitcoin-tool or btc-key-exporter is the tool that nowadays many people use to do it without any damages. It can decipher the wallet.dat and provide you with the private keys, however, you would need to do that offline to avoid risks.

4. After obtaining the private key you only need to import the same through Electrum by simply clicking on wallet and then the key option and import.

5. Make sure you are not connected to the internet while doing all this until you're ready and have a clean and safe environment.

And by the way please now back everything now including that wallet.dat and private key on an offline secure gadget.

If all of this sounds too techy and you’re nervous it's also fine to reach out to a local crypto expert or even a well-reviewed recovery service, but only if you're absolutely sure they are legit. Make only one error and you will lose it all.

[Charles-Tim]

I do not know if this will work but I think it should, but you can read the thread: Export list of private keys from BitcoinCore.

For the import, Electrum is good. Read this about it: https://bitcoinelectrum.com/importing-your-private-keys-into-electrum/. If the bitcoin address starts from 1, no prefix needed for it.

Worth knowing that if you bought the wallet.dat, it is just a scam.

[crypto illiterate]

Wow first of all that is so lucky to have been able to find out the password after 10 years not everyone has that sort of second chance. You have the wallet.dat file already so the safest option is to use Bitcoin-core assuming that you can but it now exceeds 500GB and because of that, it will be tough running it on your current machine. (...)

Thank you so much for your help, Kagaru.

Yes, I could hardly believe when I found the piece of paper with the lost password in an old photo equipment's bag! And it came in a moment of real economic hardship, so I'm both super grateful and quite anxious about it!

What you said about PyWallet is exactly what Chat GPT told me at first, but later it forgot about it and started insisting that PyWallet was the best option. Previously, it said I should use a wallet-key-tool - is that the same as the bitcoin-toll and/or btc-key-exporter you mentioned? If so, where is a safe site to get them? Chat GPT referred me to a GitHub page for the wallet-key-tool, but there were many links in there, I didn't know which one I should click on, and that's part of why I decided to come here and ask if there is there a reliable link for that? Chat GPT gave me this command to run, is it correct/safe? => java -jar wallet-key-tool-1.4.2.jar

On #4, you mention importing the key. How is that done? Sorry for the dumb question, but I just wonder where I'll be storing that key once I extract it from the wallet.dat file...

Also, how will I import it to Electrum? Should I be offline then too? Should I have Electrum already installed on my computer when I extract the coins? Is it safe to leave them stored on Electrum or should I keep the coins on cold storage as I'm doing now?... And how will I erase it from my computer before going online again?... I can only think of writing it down on a piece of paper and later typing it on Electrum (which BTW I've never worked with!).

I have that wallet.dat saved on a few pendrives, I had just lost the password!  

My main concern is because I'm new to using Linux and those commands on the terminal freak me out, as I don't really know what I'm doing there.

I'd totally run for a mate to help me out, but I don't know anyone that knows about Bitcoin, and most crypto folks these days aren't familiar with Bitcoin itself, they use other cryptos. And I wouldn't just trust any random person around... If they're too geeky, they can fool me, if they're not too geeky, they may loose my coins or put them at risk. So that's why I really appreciate the time you put to help me clarify this issue. Thank you so much!  

I do not know if this will work but I think it should, but you can read the thread: Export list of private keys from BitcoinCore.

For the import, Electrum is good. Read this about it: https://bitcoinelectrum.com/importing-your-private-keys-into-electrum/. If the bitcoin address starts from 1, no prefix needed for it.

Worth knowing that if you bought the wallet.dat, it is just a scam.

Thank you, Charles-Tim.

But sincerely, I couldn't find much help on the topic you suggested, I'd been there before writing this post. I'm a bit dumb in these matters and I need clear and direct guides, that's why I decided to ask for help for my specific case.

As for buying the file, no, I haven't. Thank you.

[khaled0111]

Not sure about this so I hope someone else will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don’t think bitcoin core needs to be fully synced and download the whole blockchain to be able to importyour wallet.dat into it and extract the private keys.
You just need to install bitcoin core and replace the default wallet.dat that core created when you run it for the first time with your old wallet file.
Then you will be able to open it (you will need its password) and extract your private keys. Then you can import them into any other lightweight wallet such as Electrum.

If you still want to sync bitcoin core and use it and your ownly concern is the storage space, then you can run it in pruned mode. You will still need to download the whole blockchain but only the most recent blocks will be saved on your hard drives.

[crypto illiterate]

Not sure about this so I hope someone else will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don’t think bitcoin core needs to be fully synced and download the whole blockchain to be able to importyour wallet.dat into it and extract the private keys.
You just need to install bitcoin core and replace the default wallet.dat that core created when you run it for the first time with your old wallet file.
Then you will be able to open it (you will need its password) and extract your private keys. Then you can import them into any other lightweight wallet such as Electrum.

If you still want to sync bitcoin core and use it and your ownly concern is the storage space, then you can run it in pruned mode. You will still need to download the whole blockchain but only the most recent blocks will be saved on your hard drives.

Thank you, khaled0111,

Well, that would be great news, but for what I researched, Bitcoin Core needs to be able to identify the transaction which generated my key, and for that it needs at least the first 28 GB of the blockchain, which was its size when I got my BTCs. Downloading 28 GB wouldn't be a problem for me, but apparently the download isn't done in a linear, chronological order. And if I use Bitcoin Core with the pruned version, it'll only see the last so many transactions on the blockchain, and mine was way back in 2015.

I honestly don't know if this info is correct, but it's was what Chat GPT reasoned with me, so that's why I gave up on using Bitcoin Core and went after a way to get the keys extracted from the wallet.dat file. But if what you're saying is true, I would much rather do that and use Bitcoin Core. Hopefully someone can verify that info for us.

Thanks again!

[BitMaxz]

Well, that would be great news, but for what I researched, Bitcoin Core needs to be able to identify the transaction which generated my key, and for that it needs at least the first 28 GB of the blockchain, which was its size when I got my BTCs. Downloading 28 GB wouldn't be a problem for me, but apparently the download isn't done in a linear, chronological order. And if I use Bitcoin Core with the pruned version, it'll only see the last so many transactions on the blockchain, and mine was way back in 2015.

I honestly don't know if this info is correct, but it's was what Chat GPT reasoned with me, so that's why I gave up on using Bitcoin Core and went after a way to get the keys extracted from the wallet.dat file. But if what you're saying is true, I would much rather do that and use Bitcoin Core. Hopefully someone can verify that info for us.

Thanks again!

Khaled should be right you don't need to download and sync the block you can simply import it to the latest bitcoin core. Since its legacy, the old method of exporting the private key via console should work without downloading the blockchain.

All keys are stored on wallet.dat you don't need to sync them just to take the private keys.

Are you taking the answer from chatgpt instead of trying it?

I suggest before importing your wallet.dat into Bitcoin Core, make sure to make a hard copy of your wallet.dat file and use the copied file to import it into Bitcoin Core.
The importing procedure just open the Bitcoin Core, then open File > Restore Wallet and look for the wallet.dat you copied.
Check the image below as a reference.

[khaled0111]

Bitcoin Core needs to be able to identify the transaction which generated my key, and for that it needs at least the first 28 GB of the blockchain, which was its size when I got my BTCs.

Your keys were randomly generated when bitcoin core created your wallet, not when you eceived your first/last transaction.
You need to sync bitcoin core up to the most recent block containing the last transaction you have sent/received, only if you need to check your actual balance or create a transaction. Technically, you don’t need that to decrypt the wallet file and extract your private keys.

And if I use Bitcoin Core with the pruned version, it'll only see the last so many transactions on the blockchain, and mine was way back in 2015.

No, you will be able to see all the transactions related to your wallet.

Thank you BitMaxz for the confirmation and explaining how he can import the wallet file.

[crypto illiterate]

Bitcoin Core needs to be able to identify the transaction which generated my key, and for that it needs at least the first 28 GB of the blockchain, which was its size when I got my BTCs.

Your keys were randomly generated when bitcoin core created your wallet, not when you eceived your first/last transaction.
You need to sync bitcoin core up to the most recent block containing the last transaction you have sent/received, only if you need to check your actual balance or create a transaction. Technically, you don’t need that to decrypt the wallet file and extract your private keys.

And if I use Bitcoin Core with the pruned version, it'll only see the last so many transactions on the blockchain, and mine was way back in 2015.

No, you will be able to see all the transactions related to your wallet.

Thank you BitMaxz for the confirmation and explaining how he can import the wallet file.

That sounds great, I'll download Bitcoin Core and try it then.

No, you will be able to see all the transactions related to your wallet.

So, you mean I don't need to have any of the blockchain downloaded to retrieve my keys - did I understand it correctly? I'll try it! (and, of course, I'm a She! hehe )

Thank you!

[nameavailable]

How do you know the password will work if you have not imported the wallet into BitcoinCore?

[BitMaxz]

No, you will be able to see all the transactions related to your wallet.

So, you mean I don't need to have any of the blockchain downloaded to retrieve my keys - did I understand it correctly? I'll try it! (and, of course, I'm a She! hehe )

Thank you!

A bit of correction to the quoted part: you can only see your transactions if the bitcoin core is synced and downloaded the blockchain because all transactions are recorded on the blockchain not on the wallet.dat file.
All keys are in your wallet.dat file you don't need to sync to retrieve your keys.

If you want to check the balances of your wallet, just copy the addresses from Bitcoin Core after you imported the wallet.dat and check them one by one on any block explorer like mempool.space.

As a reference, check this image below where you can see all addresses: