<p>First close your client down and then copy the .bitcoin folder that was created in your home directory to the new location where you wish to store the data.  Second create a symbolic link using the new path:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>ln -s /new/path/to/.bitcoin .bitcoin </p>
</blockquote>

<p>Finally restart the bitcoin client and it will use the blockchain stored at /new/path/to/.bitcoin (or wherever you put it)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-29T05:39:07.727Z
That dident work bitcoin qt just made a new .bitcoin folder in the home directory
Qwertie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-29T05:41:27.603Z
you need to make sure you execute the command in the home directory and if you run ls -alF you should see the file as a link with an arrow pointing to the new location.... also be sure you use mv -r .bitcoin /new/path/to/.bitcoin to ensure all the files get moved appropriately
Mark S.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-29T05:42:54.080Z
or once you move the .bitcoin folder launch bitcoin-qt with -datadir=/new/path/to/.bitcoin
Mark S.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-29T05:45:06.473Z
I did this with the file explore GUI and it works fine now
Qwertie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-29T05:33:27.893Z
2013-12-29T05:33:27.893Z
Mark S.
<p>I am using the <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin-Qt" rel="nofollow">Bitcoin-Qt</a> application on Ubuntu, but the blockchain is very large and is wasting space on my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_drive" rel="nofollow">SSD</a> drive. Is there a way that I can move it to a hard disk drive?</p>

<p>There doesn't seem to be a setting for this. Is it possible?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T11:15:46.073Z
possible duplicate of [Bitcoin-qt setup: Change block-chain file location, settings? documentation?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/9259/bitcoin-qt-setup-change-block-chain-file-location-settings-documentation)
Murch
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T23:33:38.317Z
@Murch The answer there wont work with Ubuntu
Qwertie
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-08-01T12:19:31.050Z
Asking about how to change the default storage location has been posted many, many times. The future canonical question is probably *[Bitcoin-Qt setup: Change block-chain file location, settings? documentation?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/9259)*. Possible duplicate of *[Bitcoin-Qt setup: Change block-chain file location, settings? documentation?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/9259)*.
Peter Mortensen
<wallet><blockchain><linux>
Move the blockchain to a different location
Qwertie
# Move the blockchain to a different location

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-28)

I am using the [Bitcoin-Qt](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin-Qt) application on Ubuntu, but the blockchain is very large and is wasting space on my [SSD](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_drive) drive. Is there a way that I can move it to a hard disk drive?

There doesn't seem to be a setting for this. Is it possible?

**Tags:** wallet, blockchain, linux

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: possible duplicate of [Bitcoin-qt setup: Change block-chain file location, settings? documentation?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/9259/bitcoin-qt-setup-change-block-chain-file-location-settings-documentation)  
> **username_0**: @username_1 The answer there wont work with Ubuntu  
> **username_2**: Asking about how to change the default storage location has been posted many, many times. The future canonical question is probably *[Bitcoin-Qt setup: Change block-chain file location, settings? documentation?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/9259)*. Possible duplicate of *[Bitcoin-Qt setup: Change block-chain file location, settings? documentation?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/9259)*.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-12-29. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

First close your client down and then copy the .bitcoin folder that was created in your home directory to the new location where you wish to store the data. Second create a symbolic link using the new path:

> ln -s /new/path/to/.bitcoin .bitcoin

Finally restart the bitcoin client and it will use the blockchain stored at /new/path/to/.bitcoin (or wherever you put it)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: That dident work bitcoin qt just made a new .bitcoin folder in the home directory  
> **username_3**: you need to make sure you execute the command in the home directory and if you run ls -alF you should see the file as a link with an arrow pointing to the new location.... also be sure you use mv -r .bitcoin /new/path/to/.bitcoin to ensure all the files get moved appropriately  
> **username_3**: or once you move the .bitcoin folder launch bitcoin-qt with -datadir=/new/path/to/.bitcoin  
> **username_0**: I did this with the file explore GUI and it works fine now  

---

