<p>The sweep function will send all coins related to the imported private key(s) to a new address (from the deterministic wallet). After sweeping, the private key is no longer capable of spending coins.</p>

<p>There is no need to "import" the private key in advance.</p>

<p>Mind that you need to pay a fee for the sweeping transaction (which is very little).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-11T09:54:46.350Z
OK, I have a private key from a paper wallet, click on "sweep", enter it, select one of my receiving address, press "OK" and nothing happens. There is no any confirmation or an error messages. Nothing.
SimWhite
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-11T11:56:13.623Z
Sweeping and importing private keys are different mechanisms for topping off your wallet. Sweeps require an extra transaction on a Blockchain.  Miners also practice having pools sweep their earnings into a addresses associated with cold wallets.
skaht
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-11T09:12:52.950Z
2015-06-11T09:12:52.950Z
Jonas Schnelli
<p>Could some explain how Electrum sweep feature works?</p>

<p>As I understand "sweep" can be used only after importing private key into wallet. But private key can't be imported into <em>deterministic</em> Electrum 2.x wallet.</p>

<p>So why it shows me sweep option?</p>

<p>It there any ways to sweep paper wallet into <em>deterministic</em> Electrum wallet?</p>

<electrum><private-key-import>
Electrum 2.x sweep feature
SimWhite
# Electrum 2.x sweep feature

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-06-11)

Could some explain how Electrum sweep feature works?

As I understand "sweep" can be used only after importing private key into wallet. But private key can't be imported into *deterministic* Electrum 2.x wallet.

So why it shows me sweep option?

It there any ways to sweep paper wallet into *deterministic* Electrum wallet?

**Tags:** electrum, private-key-import


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-06-11. Score: 2

The sweep function will send all coins related to the imported private key(s) to a new address (from the deterministic wallet). After sweeping, the private key is no longer capable of spending coins.

There is no need to "import" the private key in advance.

Mind that you need to pay a fee for the sweeping transaction (which is very little).

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: OK, I have a private key from a paper wallet, click on "sweep", enter it, select one of my receiving address, press "OK" and nothing happens. There is no any confirmation or an error messages. Nothing.  
> **username_2**: Sweeping and importing private keys are different mechanisms for topping off your wallet. Sweeps require an extra transaction on a Blockchain.  Miners also practice having pools sweep their earnings into a addresses associated with cold wallets.  

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