<p>Bitcoin-Qt has a feature called "keypool." It pre-generates 100 keys and includes them in all of your backups. This way, if you make a backup, it will also include the keys you're going to use in the future.</p>

<p>In general, sending a payment consumes an address, and receiving a payment consumes an address.</p>

<p>If you make 1 transaction a month, 100 keys will last 8 years.</p>

<p>However, if you change your wallet password, you must make a new backup.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-26T17:48:13.763Z
2015-01-26T17:48:13.763Z
Nick ODell
<p>My backup private keys were made in Jan and my computer crashed in May. If I upload the keys on a new wallet, will it show my bitcoin balance from May or January?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-26T16:59:00.087Z
How many transactions do you make per month?
Nick ODell
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-26T17:31:00.970Z
One or two every couple of months. The Jan balance and the May balance were definitely different.
Kris
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-26T17:31:57.083Z
If you didn't créate any new private key during this time, then I would say it's safe to use.
Arturo Torres Sánchez
<backup>
What are the limitations to an outdated backup?
Kris
# What are the limitations to an outdated backup?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-26)

My backup private keys were made in Jan and my computer crashed in May. If I upload the keys on a new wallet, will it show my bitcoin balance from May or January?

**Tags:** backup

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: How many transactions do you make per month?  
> **username_0**: One or two every couple of months. The Jan balance and the May balance were definitely different.  
> **username_2**: If you didn't créate any new private key during this time, then I would say it's safe to use.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-01-26. Score: 1

Bitcoin-Qt has a feature called "keypool." It pre-generates 100 keys and includes them in all of your backups. This way, if you make a backup, it will also include the keys you're going to use in the future.

In general, sending a payment consumes an address, and receiving a payment consumes an address.

If you make 1 transaction a month, 100 keys will last 8 years.

However, if you change your wallet password, you must make a new backup.


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