<p>You only need to copy the <code>wallet.dat</code> to backup your private-keys. Do this while Bitcoin-Qt is <em>not running</em>. All other information will be deduced from the blockchain once you re-import the <code>wallet.dat</code> except any custom labels you have given to addresses.</p>

<p>Of course, if you encrypted the <code>wallet.dat</code> you will also have to remember the passphrase.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T02:34:05.450Z
So does the "Backup wallet..." menu item simply copy wallet.dat?
obelia
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T02:43:25.257Z
Oh, I was unaware that such a menu item had been introduced to Bitcoin-Qt. Now, from what I read it should be safe to use even while Bitcoin-Qt is running. (The manual copying of the wallet.dat should only be performed when Bitcoin-Qt is **not running**.) I would assume that it also just copies the `wallet.dat`, but I didn't find anything that specifically explained which files it stores. Will check it out later, going to be now though.
Murch
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T03:10:06.397Z
It's a litecoin-qt wallet - I just assumed it was the same as the bitcoin one.
obelia
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T03:17:28.450Z
The bitcoin-qt wallet also has "Backup Wallet..." menu option.
obelia
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T02:16:18.627Z
2013-12-29T11:22:42.970Z
2013-12-29T11:22:42.970Z
Murch
<p>Does my <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin-Qt" rel="nofollow">Bitcoin-Qt</a> wallet backup file have "everything" I need (private key)?</p>

<p>I mean, is that the file I would copy and store offsite in case my house burns down? Does it have my private key encoded in there?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T02:11:33.293Z
It is not clear to me which file you deem to be the "bitcoin-qt wallet backup file".
Murch
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-28T02:13:55.537Z
Potential duplicate of [How should you backup your wallet?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/746/how-should-you-backup-your-wallet?lq=1)
Murch
<wallet>
Does my Bitcoin-Qt wallet backup file have "everything" I need (private key)?
obelia
# Does my Bitcoin-Qt wallet backup file have "everything" I need (private key)?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-28)

Does my [Bitcoin-Qt](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Bitcoin-Qt) wallet backup file have "everything" I need (private key)?

I mean, is that the file I would copy and store offsite in case my house burns down? Does it have my private key encoded in there?

**Tags:** wallet

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It is not clear to me which file you deem to be the "bitcoin-qt wallet backup file".  
> **username_1**: Potential duplicate of [How should you backup your wallet?](http://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/746/how-should-you-backup-your-wallet?lq=1)  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-12-28. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

You only need to copy the `wallet.dat` to backup your private-keys. Do this while Bitcoin-Qt is *not running*. All other information will be deduced from the blockchain once you re-import the `wallet.dat` except any custom labels you have given to addresses.

Of course, if you encrypted the `wallet.dat` you will also have to remember the passphrase.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: So does the "Backup wallet..." menu item simply copy wallet.dat?  
> **username_1**: Oh, I was unaware that such a menu item had been introduced to Bitcoin-Qt. Now, from what I read it should be safe to use even while Bitcoin-Qt is running. (The manual copying of the wallet.dat should only be performed when Bitcoin-Qt is **not running**.) I would assume that it also just copies the `wallet.dat`, but I didn't find anything that specifically explained which files it stores. Will check it out later, going to be now though.  
> **username_0**: It's a litecoin-qt wallet - I just assumed it was the same as the bitcoin one.  
> **username_0**: The bitcoin-qt wallet also has "Backup Wallet..." menu option.  

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