<p>You can't spend bitcoin from a watch only address unless you have the corresponding private key which generated that address.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-02T18:02:52.220Z
Yes, I believe I have it... I mean, I have two accounts, one of them has the private key and the other one doesn't... Could be that it's the same private key? Thanks
MrMima
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-02T18:14:16.563Z
What dates were the addresses generated on?
Matthew Stannard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-02T18:25:11.790Z
Sorry, I am not sure how can I find out the date of generation? I'm pretty new in this. Thank you for your time
MrMima
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-02T18:32:08.927Z
When you start Mycelium, is there a 'Cold Storage' option?
Matthew Stannard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-02T19:17:01.160Z
Yes, there is. But, I can't find any date there
MrMima
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-02T19:21:14.063Z
I asked for dates because of the possibility of your private key being encode in an older WIF. You should be able to import your private key in the Cold Storage section of Mycelium.
Matthew Stannard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-02T17:32:34.280Z
2018-01-02T17:32:34.280Z
Matthew Stannard
<p>To receive the bitcoins originally you should have had a “key pair” meaning a public and private key pair. Online wallets automatically generate the private key with your public address. <em>Imported</em> public addresses to your wallet will be a “watch” address that won’t allow you to spend your bitcoin if you don’t import your private key. If you import your private key to your wallet it will no longer be a watch address and you can spend your bitcoin. Just import your private key for your public address and you should have full control to transact.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-03T00:56:32.250Z
2018-01-03T00:56:32.250Z
Dr.Plastics
<p>I'm having this message:
"Your wallet does not have private key for this address. You cannot spend coins received unless you have the private key elsewhere."</p>

<p>How can I move my coins from watch only account to account with the private key?
P.S. I am using Mycelium Wallet App.</p>

<p>Thank you in advance,
Milan</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-02T18:34:44.653Z
definition of a watch only wallet: An address or pubkey script stored in the wallet without the corresponding private key, allowing the wallet to watch for outputs but not spend them.
hardfork
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-10T23:34:09.803Z
Possible duplicate of [I need to recover private key?,](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/84215/i-need-to-recover-private-key)
chytrik
<private-key><watch-only>
Watch only wallet
MrMima
# Watch only wallet

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-02)

I'm having this message:
"Your wallet does not have private key for this address. You cannot spend coins received unless you have the private key elsewhere."

How can I move my coins from watch only account to account with the private key?
P.S. I am using Mycelium Wallet App.

Thank you in advance,
Milan

**Tags:** private-key, watch-only

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: definition of a watch only wallet: An address or pubkey script stored in the wallet without the corresponding private key, allowing the wallet to watch for outputs but not spend them.  
> **username_2**: Possible duplicate of [I need to recover private key?,](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/84215/i-need-to-recover-private-key)  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-01-02. Score: 1

You can't spend bitcoin from a watch only address unless you have the corresponding private key which generated that address.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yes, I believe I have it... I mean, I have two accounts, one of them has the private key and the other one doesn't... Could be that it's the same private key? Thanks  
> **username_3**: What dates were the addresses generated on?  
> **username_0**: Sorry, I am not sure how can I find out the date of generation? I'm pretty new in this. Thank you for your time  
> **username_3**: When you start Mycelium, is there a 'Cold Storage' option?  
> **username_0**: Yes, there is. But, I can't find any date there  
> **username_3**: I asked for dates because of the possibility of your private key being encode in an older WIF. You should be able to import your private key in the Cold Storage section of Mycelium.  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2018-01-03. Score: 0

To receive the bitcoins originally you should have had a “key pair” meaning a public and private key pair. Online wallets automatically generate the private key with your public address. *Imported* public addresses to your wallet will be a “watch” address that won’t allow you to spend your bitcoin if you don’t import your private key. If you import your private key to your wallet it will no longer be a watch address and you can spend your bitcoin. Just import your private key for your public address and you should have full control to transact.


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