<p>The main purpose of Bitcoin wallets is to securely store a secret number we know as a private key. Therefore you need to transfer the private key from your paper wallet into a downloaded software wallet application.</p>
<p>Most wallet applications have a way to <strong>import</strong> a key.</p>
<p>Many wallet applications have a way to <strong>&quot;sweep&quot;</strong> a key.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/82062LKT.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/82062LKT.jpg" alt="Electrum menu for import or sweep" /></a></p>
<p>When you import a key, the wallet application may expect the key to be provided in a form known as &quot;Wallet Import Format&quot; (WIF). You might have to convert your key into this representation.</p>
<p>When you sweep a key, the same considerations apply but what the wallet application does is create a transaction that sends the money to a new address created by the wallet application based on a different private key the wallet application created. This is considered safer.</p>
<p>So you could download a wallet application onto your PC or mobile device. Then import or sweep the key from your paper wallet into the downloaded wallet application. Then spend or send money normally.</p>
<hr />
<p>Related</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/98469/13866">Private key to WIF process</a></li>
<li><a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/search?q=WIF">More questions about WIF</a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-28T09:44:04.413Z
2024-05-28T09:49:48.847Z
2024-05-28T09:49:48.847Z
RedGrittyBrick
<p>I have an old paper wallet and private key.</p>
<p>I want to transfer bitcoin from this wallet to another wallet? How can I accomplish this?</p>
<p>I tried this on coinbase for example by going to:</p>
<ol>
<li>I click “Receive”</li>
<li>A QR pops up with my coinbase wallet address</li>
</ol>
<p>The problem is there is no place to input or transact where I want to receive bitcoin from.</p>
<p>What is the easiest way to transfer BTC from wallet to another? (I’m also a developer so API, code, etc work for me as well).</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-19T06:44:23.180Z
Does this answer your question? [Import private key to coinbase?](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/21553/import-private-key-to-coinbase)
m1xolyd1an
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-20T18:51:37.180Z
@m1xolyd1an I’m just wondering why this seems to not have more clarity, wouldn’t this be the most rudimentary task when it comes to moving around BTC?
Atma
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-21T01:35:35.453Z
It is, which is why there are many other posts on this site with the same question. It's quite simple. You sweep the funds to a wallet you control, and then you can send the funds from that wallet you swept to then to coinbase or whichever exchange you want.
m1xolyd1an
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-12-22T03:16:24.043Z
@m1xolyd1an I know how it theoretically works, but it isn’t that easy.  For example, you can’t move a paper wallet to coinbase.  You can’t from most other exchanges as well.
Atma
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-05-27T22:03:42.757Z
That's a non-answer, or at least an answer that requires yet more explaining. "You sweep the funds..." WTF specifically is "sweep"? Is there software involved, and if so what software?
HHT
<wallet><paper-wallet>
How to move paper wallet funds to another wallet
Atma
# How to move paper wallet funds to another wallet

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-12-19)

I have an old paper wallet and private key.

I want to transfer bitcoin from this wallet to another wallet? How can I accomplish this?

I tried this on coinbase for example by going to:

1. I click “Receive”
2. A QR pops up with my coinbase wallet address

The problem is there is no place to input or transact where I want to receive bitcoin from.

What is the easiest way to transfer BTC from wallet to another? (I’m also a developer so API, code, etc work for me as well).

**Tags:** wallet, paper-wallet

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Does this answer your question? [Import private key to coinbase?](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/21553/import-private-key-to-coinbase)  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I’m just wondering why this seems to not have more clarity, wouldn’t this be the most rudimentary task when it comes to moving around BTC?  
> **username_1**: It is, which is why there are many other posts on this site with the same question. It's quite simple. You sweep the funds to a wallet you control, and then you can send the funds from that wallet you swept to then to coinbase or whichever exchange you want.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I know how it theoretically works, but it isn’t that easy.  For example, you can’t move a paper wallet to coinbase.  You can’t from most other exchanges as well.  
> **username_2**: That's a non-answer, or at least an answer that requires yet more explaining. "You sweep the funds..." WTF specifically is "sweep"? Is there software involved, and if so what software?  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2024-05-28. Score: 1

The main purpose of Bitcoin wallets is to securely store a secret number we know as a private key. Therefore you need to transfer the private key from your paper wallet into a downloaded software wallet application.

Most wallet applications have a way to **import** a key.

Many wallet applications have a way to **"sweep"** a key.

[![Electrum menu for import or sweep](https://i.sstatic.net/82062LKT.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/82062LKT.jpg)

When you import a key, the wallet application may expect the key to be provided in a form known as "Wallet Import Format" (WIF). You might have to convert your key into this representation.

When you sweep a key, the same considerations apply but what the wallet application does is create a transaction that sends the money to a new address created by the wallet application based on a different private key the wallet application created. This is considered safer.

So you could download a wallet application onto your PC or mobile device. Then import or sweep the key from your paper wallet into the downloaded wallet application. Then spend or send money normally.

---

Related

* [Private key to WIF process](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/q/98469/13866)
* [More questions about WIF](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/search?q=WIF)


---

