<p>As Pieter Wuille explained:</p>
<p>An address starting <code>bc1</code> is a BIP173 address (using Bech32 encoding). Support was added in Bitcoin Core 0.16 (released in 2018).</p>
<p>You can just update to the latest version immediately (currently 0.21.1). Make a backup of your wallet.dat file in case something goes wrong, but that's unlikely.</p>
<p><sup>(community wiki answer to remove this question from list of unanswered questions)</sup></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-22T19:58:36.690Z
2021-08-22T19:58:36.690Z
RedGrittyBrick
<p>I have some problem with sending Bitcoin from Bitcoin Core v.0.14. When entering the address in recipient field it becomes red. And I noticed that the address to which the translation needs to be made does not correspond to my. My address contains digits, small and bit letters and address that i need to send contains digits and small letters only and it it has a more length. First 4 characters are &quot;bc1q&quot;.  Can you help me in resolving this problem. Thanks!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-22T14:23:35.663Z
What are the first 4 characters of the address you're trying to send to?
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-22T14:30:56.280Z
First 4 characters are "bc1q"
Problemwithsending
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-22T14:36:19.627Z
In that case you're just using a way too old version of Bitcoin Core. This is a BIP173 address (using Bech32 encoding). Support was added in Bitcoin Core 0.16 (released in 2018). I would encourage you to update to the latest version (0.21.1 currently), and see if the problem persists.
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-22T14:43:32.387Z
Thank you for such fast response. Can I immediately set the latest version or is better alternately, starting from 0.16, and then 0.21.1
Problemwithsending
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-22T14:46:13.060Z
You can just update to the last version immediately. Make a backup of your wallet.dat file in case something goes wrong, but that's unlikely. There are several questions about details on this site.
Pieter Wuille
<bitcoin-core><transactions><wallet><address>
Bitcoin Core v.0.14. doesn't recognise recipient address starting bc1
Problemwithsending
# Bitcoin Core v.0.14. doesn't recognise recipient address starting bc1

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-08-22)

I have some problem with sending Bitcoin from Bitcoin Core v.0.14. When entering the address in recipient field it becomes red. And I noticed that the address to which the translation needs to be made does not correspond to my. My address contains digits, small and bit letters and address that i need to send contains digits and small letters only and it it has a more length. First 4 characters are "bc1q". Can you help me in resolving this problem. Thanks!

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, transactions, wallet, address

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What are the first 4 characters of the address you're trying to send to?  
> **username_0**: First 4 characters are "bc1q"  
> **username_1**: In that case you're just using a way too old version of Bitcoin Core. This is a BIP173 address (using Bech32 encoding). Support was added in Bitcoin Core 0.16 (released in 2018). I would encourage you to update to the latest version (0.21.1 currently), and see if the problem persists.  
> **username_0**: Thank you for such fast response. Can I immediately set the latest version or is better alternately, starting from 0.16, and then 0.21.1  
> **username_1**: You can just update to the last version immediately. Make a backup of your wallet.dat file in case something goes wrong, but that's unlikely. There are several questions about details on this site.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-08-22. Score: 3

As username_1 explained:

An address starting `bc1` is a BIP173 address (using Bech32 encoding). Support was added in Bitcoin Core 0.16 (released in 2018).

You can just update to the latest version immediately (currently 0.21.1). Make a backup of your wallet.dat file in case something goes wrong, but that's unlikely.

(community wiki answer to remove this question from list of unanswered questions)


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