<p>Transfer everything except wallet.dat and the database folder.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-11T06:45:29.327Z
To be more specific, you need to transfer the `blocks` and the `chainstate` directory. Don't transfer the `database` directory as it may contain remains from wallet.dat such as private keys.
laanwj
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-15T01:55:52.220Z
The first comment is technically a "clearer" answer because it provides instructions in the affirmative (i.e. "copy only X and Y") instead of via negation (i.e. "copy everything except "L" and "M") - since the second set of instructions the user only knows what to copy by inference. However both are technically correct! Just a note for future answers and interested readers.
GrayedFox
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-11T13:52:04.203Z
What about tx index on running wallet ? I suppose it will result in corrupted index, since the copying will run for hours anyway
Pavel Niedoba
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-05-11T00:20:38.090Z
2013-05-11T14:45:53.657Z
2013-05-11T14:45:53.657Z
lurf jurv
<p>After installing the bitcoin client (Qt) a friend got interested as well. He doesn't have as fast an internet connection, though, so I thought of burning some DVDs with the blockchains for him to have.</p>

<p>I saw <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/10364/transfer-blockchain-from-pc-to-mac" title="transfer blockchain from PC to Mac">this question on how to transfer blockchain from PC to Mac</a> and the solution was to copy the whole "Bitcoin" folder. However, that folder also contains MY wallet as well (which I definitely do not want my friend to have, even if encrypted).</p>

<p>So I'd like to know, which folder(s) and/or files do I need to copy, minimally, so he needs to get as few blocks over the network as possible?
If it's too much of a hassle, most probably I'll suggest him to use multibit or electrum instead :-)</p>

<blockchain><bitcoin-core><synchronization>
How to transfer only the blockchain to a friend's computer?
Joe Pineda
# How to transfer only the blockchain to a friend's computer?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-05-10)

After installing the bitcoin client (Qt) a friend got interested as well. He doesn't have as fast an internet connection, though, so I thought of burning some DVDs with the blockchains for him to have.

I saw [this question on how to transfer blockchain from PC to Mac](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/10364/transfer-blockchain-from-pc-to-mac "transfer blockchain from PC to Mac") and the solution was to copy the whole "Bitcoin" folder. However, that folder also contains MY wallet as well (which I definitely do not want my friend to have, even if encrypted).

So I'd like to know, which folder(s) and/or files do I need to copy, minimally, so he needs to get as few blocks over the network as possible?
If it's too much of a hassle, most probably I'll suggest him to use multibit or electrum instead :-)

**Tags:** blockchain, bitcoin-core, synchronization


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-05-11. Score: 14 | Accepted answer

Transfer everything except wallet.dat and the database folder.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: To be more specific, you need to transfer the `blocks` and the `chainstate` directory. Don't transfer the `database` directory as it may contain remains from wallet.dat such as private keys.  
> **username_3**: The first comment is technically a "clearer" answer because it provides instructions in the affirmative (i.e. "copy only X and Y") instead of via negation (i.e. "copy everything except "L" and "M") - since the second set of instructions the user only knows what to copy by inference. However both are technically correct! Just a note for future answers and interested readers.  
> **username_4**: What about tx index on running wallet ? I suppose it will result in corrupted index, since the copying will run for hours anyway  

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