<p>If you just want to check if your wallet/password is working, you can do so using the bigcoin-qt debug window. To open the window, select "Help" from the menu bar, and then "Debug Window". Once you open the debug window, you can type this:</p>

<pre><code>walletpassphrase "your walletpassphrase here" 600
</code></pre>

<p>to unlock your wallet. If the command completes without an error, you wallet has been decrypted successfully. If you get an error, your wallet couldn't be decrypted. From that same console, you can type this:</p>

<pre><code>listaddressgroupings
</code></pre>

<p>to see the addresses stored in the wallet. When you are finished, type this:</p>

<pre><code>walletlock
</code></pre>

<p>to lock the wallet. You do not need to be on the internet to do this, so you could do it from your live cd. I also believe you can do this without having downloaded the block chain, but I haven't tested it so I'm not 100% sure. Additionally, the commands available from the debug window are listed <a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Original_Bitcoin_client/API_calls_list" rel="nofollow">here</a> if there are other things you would like to check.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-04T07:42:08.170Z
Thanks. But then I type the "listaddressgroupings" I get nothing. Just []  and nothing more?
new_to_bitcoins
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-04T16:36:25.170Z
Try using this then `listreceivedbyaddress 0 true`
TwentyMiles
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-03T19:52:12.073Z
2013-12-03T19:52:12.073Z
TwentyMiles
<p>You can see your balance on blockchain.info without having access to the private key</p>

<p><strong>EDIT:</strong>
I think Armory has feature called a "watching address" that lets you have addresses in your wallet that cannot be spent</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-03T19:07:41.080Z
I know that. But I want to make sure that my wallet.dat working properly because I do not plan to use it in a few years.

I want to know (online) that I can import it (wallet.dat) and see my addresses and the correct number of bitcoins at these addresses.

I would then try to decrypt the same wallet.dat (offline).

That way, I am 100% sure that everything is as it should.
new_to_bitcoins
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-04T19:30:31.550Z
Look at just using a private key.  This way you only need to keep 256 bits of data safe rather than an entire wallet file
John
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-03T19:01:27.047Z
2013-12-03T19:11:03.190Z
2013-12-03T19:11:03.190Z
RentFree
<p>I think you're trying to over complicate the problem by using a bitcoin qt wallet file.</p>

<p>If the purpose of this is for long term cold storage and to ensure in the future you can still access your funds, you should look into storing just the private key.</p>

<p>A private key can be stored in just 64 hexadecimal characters, short enough to be engraved in stone, steel or some other (semi) permanent medium.</p>

<p>Once you have a 64 character hex private key, it's a simple process using the brainwallet code on an offline computer to convert the key to a public bitcoin address.  Brainwallet can also sign transactions offline if you provide it with the list of unspent transactions.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-12-03T21:22:54.370Z
2013-12-03T21:22:54.370Z
John
<p>Let's say I make an offline wallet from a live cd with bitcoins-qt.
I make some addresses (10 pcs.)
I encrypt the wallet. Save it on a usb (wallet.dat).
I then send over some bitcoins to one of my newly made ​​addresses.</p>

<p>Then I run my normal OS (online) and install bitcoins-qt, download the whole block chain.
Closes bitcoins-qt.
Replaces wallet.dat with my encrypted wallet.dat
Starts bitcoins-qt.</p>

<p>Can I see the balance of my addresses, without decrypting the wallet?
Is it once I'll send them as I have to decrypt it?</p>

<p>If this works ... Can I in any way try to decrypt the same wallet offline (without the block chain?) To ensure that I can access it, the day I'll send my bitcoins?</p>

<p>Is there a security risk with going online with my wallet.dat if I never decrypts it online?</p>

<p>Edit:
I know that I can see my balance online without the private key.
But I can't think of any other way to make 100% sure I can access my bitcoins in the future?
1.First I make sure that my wallet.dat is working and does have my adresses and the correct amount of bitcoins. (without decrypting it).
2.Then I go offline and make sure I can decrypt the exact same wallet.dat</p>

<p>Is this possible?</p>

<wallet><wallet.dat><offline>
Make sure my offline Wallet is ok?
new_to_bitcoins
# Make sure my offline Wallet is ok?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-12-03)

Let's say I make an offline wallet from a live cd with bitcoins-qt.
I make some addresses (10 pcs.)
I encrypt the wallet. Save it on a usb (wallet.dat).
I then send over some bitcoins to one of my newly made ​​addresses.

Then I run my normal OS (online) and install bitcoins-qt, download the whole block chain.
Closes bitcoins-qt.
Replaces wallet.dat with my encrypted wallet.dat
Starts bitcoins-qt.

Can I see the balance of my addresses, without decrypting the wallet?
Is it once I'll send them as I have to decrypt it?

If this works ... Can I in any way try to decrypt the same wallet offline (without the block chain?) To ensure that I can access it, the day I'll send my bitcoins?

Is there a security risk with going online with my wallet.dat if I never decrypts it online?

Edit:
I know that I can see my balance online without the private key.
But I can't think of any other way to make 100% sure I can access my bitcoins in the future?
1.First I make sure that my wallet.dat is working and does have my adresses and the correct amount of bitcoins. (without decrypting it).
2.Then I go offline and make sure I can decrypt the exact same wallet.dat

Is this possible?

**Tags:** wallet, wallet.dat, offline


---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-12-03. Score: 1

If you just want to check if your wallet/password is working, you can do so using the bigcoin-qt debug window. To open the window, select "Help" from the menu bar, and then "Debug Window". Once you open the debug window, you can type this:
walletpassphrase "your walletpassphrase here" 600

to unlock your wallet. If the command completes without an error, you wallet has been decrypted successfully. If you get an error, your wallet couldn't be decrypted. From that same console, you can type this:
listaddressgroupings

to see the addresses stored in the wallet. When you are finished, type this:
walletlock

to lock the wallet. You do not need to be on the internet to do this, so you could do it from your live cd. I also believe you can do this without having downloaded the block chain, but I haven't tested it so I'm not 100% sure. Additionally, the commands available from the debug window are listed here if there are other things you would like to check.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks. But then I type the "listaddressgroupings" I get nothing. Just []  and nothing more?  
> **username_1**: Try using this then `listreceivedbyaddress 0 true`  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2013-12-03. Score: 0

You can see your balance on blockchain.info without having access to the private key

**EDIT:**
I think Armory has feature called a "watching address" that lets you have addresses in your wallet that cannot be spent

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I know that. But I want to make sure that my wallet.dat working properly because I do not plan to use it in a few years.  I want to know (online) that I can import it (wallet.dat) and see my addresses and the correct number of bitcoins at these addresses.  I would then try to decrypt the same wallet.dat (offline).  That way, I am 100% sure that everything is as it should.  
> **username_3**: Look at just using a private key.  This way you only need to keep 256 bits of data safe rather than an entire wallet file  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2013-12-03. Score: 0

I think you're trying to over complicate the problem by using a bitcoin qt wallet file.

If the purpose of this is for long term cold storage and to ensure in the future you can still access your funds, you should look into storing just the private key.

A private key can be stored in just 64 hexadecimal characters, short enough to be engraved in stone, steel or some other (semi) permanent medium.

Once you have a 64 character hex private key, it's a simple process using the brainwallet code on an offline computer to convert the key to a public bitcoin address. Brainwallet can also sign transactions offline if you provide it with the list of unspent transactions.


---

