<p>If you copy the <code>blocks/</code> and <code>chainstate/</code> directory, you're good to go. Rescanning the wallet will happen automatically. The <code>database/</code> directory only contains temporary data.</p>

<p>You should make sure to shut down the node on your desktop before copying though, or the copy may be inconsistent.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-04T05:08:22.377Z
what about the `/indexes` folder?
kittyminky
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-11T12:02:57.667Z
2014-05-11T12:02:57.667Z
Pieter Wuille
<p>Have you considered a bitcoin client that doesn't need to download the blockchain on your laptop?
<a href="https://electrum.org/" rel="nofollow">https://electrum.org/</a></p>

<p>If the two computers resides on the same private network, have you tryied to use the addnode option to point to your PC private address? You could specify it via command line or via the bitcoin.conf file.
You need to try, i am not really sure if this helps, in my imagination the PC passes the already downloaded block to the laptop without downloading from the internet.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-10T15:01:51.890Z
Yes, I have considered that and prefer to use bitcoin-qt.
user
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-10T14:32:42.930Z
2014-04-10T15:10:56.187Z
2014-04-10T15:10:56.187Z
Riccardo Casatta
<p>I have two computers with two different bitcoin-qt wallets:</p>

<ol>
<li>Very heavy-weight desktop with a great internet connection.</li>
<li>Less powerful laptop with relatively slow internet.</li>
</ol>

<p>I would like to download AND validate the blockchain only on the desktop. I can trust that blockchain to contain only valid data because it actually validates the input and it is a source under my control. So I figure I don't need to do the same for the laptop. How can I syncronize the blockchain on the laptop? Could I <code>rsync</code> the <code>chainstate</code>, <code>blocks</code>, and <code>database</code> directories for instance? And then I <a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/1249/how-exactly-does-rescan-work">rescan</a> on my laptop and we should be good to go! Would this work?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-10T13:56:01.533Z
I don't know, but it seems like it would be pretty easy to try. Back up your wallet.dat, of course.
Nate Eldredge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-10T16:47:50.417Z
You could probably have the laptop download the blockchain from the desktop (assuming you can have them on a LAN for a suitable period of time to do the transfer). I think `addnode=x` or `connect=x` are what you want, see https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Running_Bitcoin for commands to connect to an IP
Tim S.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-10T21:17:22.553Z
@tim s.: But in that case the laptop will still verify and index the whole chain, which I think the asker wants to avoid.
Nate Eldredge
<blockchain><bitcoin-core>
How can I download the blockchain from own, trusted source?
user
# How can I download the blockchain from own, trusted source?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-04-10)

I have two computers with two different bitcoin-qt wallets:

1. Very heavy-weight desktop with a great internet connection.
2. Less powerful laptop with relatively slow internet.

I would like to download AND validate the blockchain only on the desktop. I can trust that blockchain to contain only valid data because it actually validates the input and it is a source under my control. So I figure I don't need to do the same for the laptop. How can I syncronize the blockchain on the laptop? Could I `rsync` the `chainstate`, `blocks`, and `database` directories for instance? And then I [rescan](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/1249/how-exactly-does-rescan-work) on my laptop and we should be good to go! Would this work?

**Tags:** blockchain, bitcoin-core

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I don't know, but it seems like it would be pretty easy to try. Back up your wallet.dat, of course.  
> **username_2**: You could probably have the laptop download the blockchain from the desktop (assuming you can have them on a LAN for a suitable period of time to do the transfer). I think `addnode=x` or `connect=x` are what you want, see https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Running_Bitcoin for commands to connect to an IP  
> **username_1**: @tim s.: But in that case the laptop will still verify and index the whole chain, which I think the asker wants to avoid.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-05-11. Score: 3

If you copy the `blocks/` and `chainstate/` directory, you're good to go. Rescanning the wallet will happen automatically. The `database/` directory only contains temporary data.

You should make sure to shut down the node on your desktop before copying though, or the copy may be inconsistent.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: what about the `/indexes` folder?  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2014-04-10. Score: 0

Have you considered a bitcoin client that doesn't need to download the blockchain on your laptop?
<https://electrum.org/>

If the two computers resides on the same private network, have you tryied to use the addnode option to point to your PC private address? You could specify it via command line or via the bitcoin.conf file.
You need to try, i am not really sure if this helps, in my imagination the PC passes the already downloaded block to the laptop without downloading from the internet.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Yes, I have considered that and prefer to use bitcoin-qt.  

---

