<p>This is working now, with version 23 of the bitcoin-core:</p>
<h5>How to create the descriptors wallet?</h5>
<ol>
<li><code>createwallet(&quot;my_wallet&quot;, False, False, &quot;&quot;, False, True, False)</code></li>
<li><code>getnewaddress(&quot;my_label&quot;, &quot;bech32&quot;)</code></li>
</ol>
<h5>How to save the wallet?</h5>
<ol>
<li><code>backup = listdescriptors(True)['descriptors']</code></li>
<li>Dump <code>backup</code> into a json file</li>
</ol>
<p>This file can be printed or saved for later reuse.</p>
<h5>How to restore the wallet?</h5>
<ol>
<li><code>createwallet(&quot;my_wallet_2&quot;, False, True, &quot;&quot;, False, True, False)</code></li>
<li>Load the json file into <code>backup</code></li>
<li><code>importdescriptors(backup)</code></li>
<li><code>getnewaddress(&quot;my_label&quot;, &quot;bech32&quot;)</code></li>
</ol>
<p>This should give the same BTC address as before.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-24T23:40:40.733Z
2022-07-24T23:40:40.733Z
mountrix
<p>There is currently no way to make such a backup of a Bitcoin Core descriptor wallet. There are open PRs that will allow you to export the descriptors stored in the wallet, however these have not been merged yet.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-16T02:01:38.163Z
thanks. Am I right in thinking that backing up just the descriptors is not sufficient to recover a wallet? Or will the PRs you mentioned allow Core users to make paper backups?
jimmy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-16T07:20:19.987Z
Descriptors that contain private keys will be sufficient to recover the entire wallet.
Ava Chow
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-03T18:23:13.450Z
Where are these PRs? I searched but apparently I'm bad at finding them.
maletor
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-24T23:41:29.107Z
The PR is [here](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/21500) but now it is merged.
mountrix
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-14T19:03:12.880Z
2021-02-14T19:03:12.880Z
Ava Chow
<p>when you create the wallet, you will be shown the seed used. that is when you write the seed down.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-14T08:52:06.333Z
I downvoted. This answer is not correct for Bitcoin Core's wallet, but may be true for others.
Pieter Wuille
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-07T20:23:39.127Z
yeah im used to electrum and similar so I just assumed that btc core would work the same, my bad
Base64__
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-14T08:01:38.837Z
2021-02-14T08:01:38.837Z
Base64__
<p>As I understand it, using <code>dumpwallet</code> for a non-descriptor wallet in Core will give you the wallet seed in WIF format. This seed can then be used with <code>sethdseed</code> in a new wallet, thereby recovering the original wallet. So in effect, one can make a paper backup of a Core wallet.</p>
<p>But with descriptor wallets, <code>dumpwallet</code> does not work.</p>
<p>Is there a way to make a paper backup of a Bitcoin Core descriptor wallet?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-02-08T11:05:39.050Z
For normal (not "paper") backup and restore see https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/112176/13866
RedGrittyBrick
<bitcoin-core><backup>
Paper backup of Core descriptor wallet
jimmy
# Paper backup of Core descriptor wallet

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-02-14)

As I understand it, using `dumpwallet` for a non-descriptor wallet in Core will give you the wallet seed in WIF format. This seed can then be used with `sethdseed` in a new wallet, thereby recovering the original wallet. So in effect, one can make a paper backup of a Core wallet.

But with descriptor wallets, `dumpwallet` does not work.

Is there a way to make a paper backup of a Bitcoin Core descriptor wallet?

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, backup

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: For normal (not "paper") backup and restore see https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/112176/13866  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-07-24. Score: 4

This is working now, with version 23 of the bitcoin-core:

##### How to create the descriptors wallet?

1. `createwallet("my_wallet", False, False, "", False, True, False)`
2. `getnewaddress("my_label", "bech32")`

##### How to save the wallet?

1. `backup = listdescriptors(True)['descriptors']`
2. Dump `backup` into a json file

This file can be printed or saved for later reuse.

##### How to restore the wallet?

1. `createwallet("my_wallet_2", False, True, "", False, True, False)`
2. Load the json file into `backup`
3. `importdescriptors(backup)`
4. `getnewaddress("my_label", "bech32")`

This should give the same BTC address as before.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-02-14. Score: 2

There is currently no way to make such a backup of a Bitcoin Core descriptor wallet. There are open PRs that will allow you to export the descriptors stored in the wallet, however these have not been merged yet.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: thanks. Am I right in thinking that backing up just the descriptors is not sufficient to recover a wallet? Or will the PRs you mentioned allow Core users to make paper backups?  
> **username_3**: Descriptors that contain private keys will be sufficient to recover the entire wallet.  
> **username_4**: Where are these PRs? I searched but apparently I'm bad at finding them.  
> **username_2**: The PR is [here](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/21500) but now it is merged.  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2021-02-14. Score: -2

when you create the wallet, you will be shown the seed used. that is when you write the seed down.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: I downvoted. This answer is not correct for Bitcoin Core's wallet, but may be true for others.  
> **username_5**: yeah im used to electrum and similar so I just assumed that btc core would work the same, my bad  

---

