<p>bitaddress.org already provides your private key in <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Wallet_import_format" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wallet Import Format</a>, which is encoded in <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Base58Check_encoding" rel="nofollow noreferrer">base58check</a> format.</p>
<p>In the example screenshot below, the base58check-encoded WIF private key is <code>KzNKqwBPaVehsA2F94n9UJ5mrkM9NazBjqBBwsb2U9pAGLdc4md3</code></p>
<p>To address your &quot;rule 1&quot;, the most secure way to handle this data is load Electrum onto an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_gap_%28networking%29" rel="nofollow noreferrer">airgapped</a> machine, enter the private key into that secure computer, and then use it to sign a transaction you build with an &quot;online&quot; machine that has access to the UTXO set and your wallet address.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/6tpJr.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/6tpJr.png" alt="bitaddress.org example" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Warning: Do not use the key or address in this example for any reason at all besides looking at it and learning! Pasting private keys on websites is always a terrible idea.</strong></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-23T17:38:53.143Z
Hmm, OK, I wasn't exact enough. What I did on the website, after moving my mouse randomly etc., I clicked "paper wallet" and then chose "BIP38 encrypt" and put a password. And then I received a "Encrypted Private Key (Password required)" and it's not what Electrum is asking for... What should I do in order to have this key in WIF format?
EmmmSorryIDidntUnderstand
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-23T17:43:45.967Z
OK, I've found it! Here: https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/92864/priv-key-with-58-characters-to-wif Thank you!
EmmmSorryIDidntUnderstand
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-11-23T13:27:31.847Z
2020-11-23T13:27:31.847Z
pinhead
<p>Rule number 1 says: don't put your private key into any website or programme, unless you're performing a transfer. This way you won't be robbed.</p>
<p>Then, I want to &quot;sweep&quot; my money off a paper wallet from bitaddress.org, but Electrum wants me to put the private key in WIF format ( <a href="https://bitcoinelectrum.com/sweeping-your-private-keys-into-electrum/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://bitcoinelectrum.com/sweeping-your-private-keys-into-electrum/</a> ). How can I convert my key to WIF without breaking the rule number 1?</p>
<p>By the way, what's the name of the format bitaddress.org returns private keys in? It is base58?</p>

<electrum><paper-wallet><wallet-import-format>
How can I convert my private key from bitaddress.org to WIF without putting the key into a website or a programme?
EmmmSorryIDidntUnderstand
# How can I convert my private key from bitaddress.org to WIF without putting the key into a website or a programme?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-11-22)

Rule number 1 says: don't put your private key into any website or programme, unless you're performing a transfer. This way you won't be robbed.

Then, I want to "sweep" my money off a paper wallet from bitaddress.org, but Electrum wants me to put the private key in WIF format ( <https://bitcoinelectrum.com/sweeping-your-private-keys-into-electrum/> ). How can I convert my key to WIF without breaking the rule number 1?

By the way, what's the name of the format bitaddress.org returns private keys in? It is base58?

**Tags:** electrum, paper-wallet, wallet-import-format


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-11-23. Score: 1

bitaddress.org already provides your private key in [Wallet Import Format](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Wallet_import_format), which is encoded in [base58check](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Base58Check_encoding) format.

In the example screenshot below, the base58check-encoded WIF private key is `KzNKqwBPaVehsA2F94n9UJ5mrkM9NazBjqBBwsb2U9pAGLdc4md3`

To address your "rule 1", the most secure way to handle this data is load Electrum onto an [airgapped](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_gap_%28networking%29) machine, enter the private key into that secure computer, and then use it to sign a transaction you build with an "online" machine that has access to the UTXO set and your wallet address.

[![bitaddress.org example](https://i.sstatic.net/6tpJr.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/6tpJr.png)

**Warning: Do not use the key or address in this example for any reason at all besides looking at it and learning! Pasting private keys on websites is always a terrible idea.**

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Hmm, OK, I wasn't exact enough. What I did on the website, after moving my mouse randomly etc., I clicked "paper wallet" and then chose "BIP38 encrypt" and put a password. And then I received a "Encrypted Private Key (Password required)" and it's not what Electrum is asking for... What should I do in order to have this key in WIF format?  
> **username_0**: OK, I've found it! Here: https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/92864/priv-key-with-58-characters-to-wif Thank you!  

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