<p>If you want to import a wallet, you should import a <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0032.mediawiki" rel="nofollow noreferrer">BIP32</a> extended private key. It is often derived from mnemonics.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>What is the difference if I import the BIP32 Root Key or if I import the BIP32 Extended Private Key ?</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The terminology is a bit confusing. The BIP32 derivation is done using a number, called the chaincode, over a private key (called the <em>master</em> private key). This private key has nothing special: it's just the starting point of the derivation.<br />
The concatenation of a private key and the chaincode is called an <em>extended</em> key.</p>
<p>To import your wallet you need to import the <em>master extended</em> private key.</p>
<p>Regarding your question about <a href="https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0044.mediawiki" rel="nofollow noreferrer">BIP44</a>, it is not a replacement to BIP32 just a set of recommendations of <em>how</em> to use it.</p>
<p>NB: you might be interested in <a href="https://developer.bitcoin.org/devguide/wallets.html#hierarchical-deterministic-key-creation" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the description of the key derivation process</a> by the bitcoin.org documentation.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-28T16:07:15.143Z
The BIP32 root extended key is derived from the mnemonic not represented by it.
Coding Enthusiast
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-29T07:41:15.290Z
The 'master private key' and the 'bip32 root key' is the same thing ?
Guillaume Paris
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-28T12:47:32.277Z
2020-07-28T16:12:17.713Z
2020-07-28T16:12:17.713Z
Antoine Poinsot
<p>In the bip39 mnemonic tool there is three sections :</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Mnemonic</strong> : we input our words or a <code>BIP39 seed</code> and the tool compute for us the <code>BIP32 Root Key</code></li>
<li><strong>Derivation Path</strong>: there is a <code>BIP32 Extended Private/Public Key</code></li>
<li><strong>Derived Addresses</strong></li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Questions :</strong></p>
<p>1- If i want to use Electrum wallet and I have already a wallet. Which key should I have to import ? What is the difference if I import the BIP32 Root Key or if I import the BIP32 Extended Private Key ?</p>
<p>2- Should I use BIP44 instead of BIP32 to import my wallet in an Electrum one ?</p>

<bip32-hd-wallets>
Bip39 tool - BIP32 Extended Private Key vs BIP32 Root Key
Guillaume Paris
# Bip39 tool - BIP32 Extended Private Key vs BIP32 Root Key

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-07-28)

In the bip39 mnemonic tool there is three sections :

1. **Mnemonic** : we input our words or a `BIP39 seed` and the tool compute for us the `BIP32 Root Key`
2. **Derivation Path**: there is a `BIP32 Extended Private/Public Key`
3. **Derived Addresses**

**Questions :**

1- If i want to use Electrum wallet and I have already a wallet. Which key should I have to import ? What is the difference if I import the BIP32 Root Key or if I import the BIP32 Extended Private Key ?

2- Should I use BIP44 instead of BIP32 to import my wallet in an Electrum one ?

**Tags:** bip32-hd-wallets


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-07-28. Score: 3

If you want to import a wallet, you should import a [BIP32](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0032.mediawiki) extended private key. It is often derived from mnemonics.

> What is the difference if I import the BIP32 Root Key or if I import the BIP32 Extended Private Key ?

The terminology is a bit confusing. The BIP32 derivation is done using a number, called the chaincode, over a private key (called the *master* private key). This private key has nothing special: it's just the starting point of the derivation.  
The concatenation of a private key and the chaincode is called an *extended* key.

To import your wallet you need to import the *master extended* private key.

Regarding your question about [BIP44](https://github.com/bitcoin/bips/blob/master/bip-0044.mediawiki), it is not a replacement to BIP32 just a set of recommendations of *how* to use it.

NB: you might be interested in [the description of the key derivation process](https://developer.bitcoin.org/devguide/wallets.html#hierarchical-deterministic-key-creation) by the bitcoin.org documentation.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: The BIP32 root extended key is derived from the mnemonic not represented by it.  
> **username_0**: The 'master private key' and the 'bip32 root key' is the same thing ?  

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