<p>An easy test is to sign a message using your private key and then verify the message using your public key (your receive address).  This can be done using Bitcoin-Qt by selecting File->Sign Message.  </p>

<ol>
<li>Sign a message by entering your receive address and some message text (anything you want).  Select Sign Message.  Copy the signature to the clipboard</li>
<li>Verify the message by entering your receive address and the message text (exactly as you entered it for signing).  Then paste the copied signature into the signature field.  Select Verify Message.</li>
<li>If everything is working correctly, you should get a message verified status.</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-09T17:08:37.277Z
2013-12-09T17:08:37.277Z
ScripterRon
<p>The receive address is based on the private key used to sign it's transactions. If you can see it at all, it means the private key must exist. Further, the address contains a hash so you can't make a typo using it. You can be perfectly confident that it works.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-09T15:56:55.400Z
2013-12-09T15:56:55.400Z
John Tate
<p>I downloaded the original software of Bitcoin at bitcoin.org.
I just created a receive-address. How do I know it will work? How can I test it?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-09T16:19:15.153Z
If you received the BTC 0.0001 that I just sent you, then it works! ;-)
Nate Eldredge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-09T16:39:00.817Z
It worked. Thx!
Sven
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-09T17:09:13.297Z
@NateEldredge nice one ;)
ktorn
<transactions>
How can I test my receive address?
Sven
# How can I test my receive address?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-09)

I downloaded the original software of Bitcoin at bitcoin.org.
I just created a receive-address. How do I know it will work? How can I test it?

**Tags:** transactions

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: If you received the BTC 0.0001 that I just sent you, then it works! ;-)  
> **username_0**: It worked. Thx!  
> **username_2**: @NateEldredge nice one ;)  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-12-09. Score: 2

An easy test is to sign a message using your private key and then verify the message using your public key (your receive address). This can be done using Bitcoin-Qt by selecting File->Sign Message.

1. Sign a message by entering your receive address and some message text (anything you want). Select Sign Message. Copy the signature to the clipboard
2. Verify the message by entering your receive address and the message text (exactly as you entered it for signing). Then paste the copied signature into the signature field. Select Verify Message.
3. If everything is working correctly, you should get a message verified status.


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### Answer by username_4 on 2013-12-09. Score: 0

The receive address is based on the private key used to sign it's transactions. If you can see it at all, it means the private key must exist. Further, the address contains a hash so you can't make a typo using it. You can be perfectly confident that it works.


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