<p>A private key in WIF format has a checksum of 4 bytes, and with that checksum you can check every possible key for a valid checksum.</p>
<p>I made a program do recover missing characters in a private key. Please note it is not fast because it is written in js, but it works and should be sufficient for 5 missing character.</p>
<p><a href="https://github.com/antonilol/btc_stuff/blob/master/priv_key_recovery.js" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://github.com/antonilol/btc_stuff/blob/master/priv_key_recovery.js</a></p>
<p>with 6 or more chracters there can be multiple possible private keys. If that's the case you can remove <code>process.exit(0);</code> on line 22 (it exits the program after finding a key)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-04T18:57:09.017Z
2022-02-04T18:57:09.017Z
Antoni
<p>if you really have the rest of the Private key, yes it is possible to recover it, there are many software out there that can help you.</p>
<p>Google something like &quot;recover missing characters in Private key&quot;, then look for a result on Github links, read the instructions of that software, turn your internet off when using it, and be really really careful.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-31T19:14:12.593Z
2022-01-31T19:14:12.593Z
Luca Blight
<p>I lost my private key front 5 character can i gain back my private key my address is 1PfNh5fRcE9JKDmicD2Rh3pexGwce1LqyU  i didn't have any backup. If any one help me to get my private key back i will give you good Reward.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-07-03T15:10:19.673Z
Check out my repo https://github.com/salian/btc-incomplete-key
Recovering 5 characters is doable.
Pranab
<address><private-key><private-key-import><recover-private-key>
Bitcoin Base 58 wif format Private Key recovery Front 5 character are missing
Chetan tiwari
# Bitcoin Base 58 wif format Private Key recovery Front 5 character are missing

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-01-29)

I lost my private key front 5 character can i gain back my private key my address is 1PfNh5fRcE9JKDmicD2Rh3pexGwce1LqyU i didn't have any backup. If any one help me to get my private key back i will give you good Reward.

**Tags:** address, private-key, private-key-import, recover-private-key

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Check out my repo https://github.com/salian/btc-incomplete-key Recovering 5 characters is doable.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2022-02-04. Score: 2

A private key in WIF format has a checksum of 4 bytes, and with that checksum you can check every possible key for a valid checksum.

I made a program do recover missing characters in a private key. Please note it is not fast because it is written in js, but it works and should be sufficient for 5 missing character.

<https://github.com/antonilol/btc_stuff/blob/master/priv_key_recovery.js>

with 6 or more chracters there can be multiple possible private keys. If that's the case you can remove `process.exit(0);` on line 22 (it exits the program after finding a key)


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### Answer by username_3 on 2022-01-31. Score: 0

if you really have the rest of the Private key, yes it is possible to recover it, there are many software out there that can help you.

Google something like "recover missing characters in Private key", then look for a result on Github links, read the instructions of that software, turn your internet off when using it, and be really really careful.


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