How can I import a private key into the Bitcoin client?

Question

I have a private key and I want to add it to the keys in the Bitcoin client. Is there an easy way to do this?

Serith · Answer 1 · 2011-12-17 01:06:47Z

up vote 5 down vote

Importing could be done with Pywallet or hopefully soon-to-be-official wallet export/import bitcoin patch, but make sure to backup your wallet first.

answered Dec 17 '11 at 1:06

Serith
2,989311

	Pywallet doesn't work on Mac. When the patch is official, will it be a part of the normal version of the client? – shoeless joe Dec 17 '11 at 19:15
	@shoeless joe, that is wrong because "Pywallet is a python script that deals with wallets and keys" and "Confirmed to work on: Ubuntu 32bit(me), Windows 32bit(me) 64bit(ctoon6), OSX(defxor)" , as for the patch, I think you better ask Gavin – Serith Dec 17 '11 at 19:42
	What I mean is that it doesn't work on Mac unless you load a thousand non-native programs: bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=34028.msg437850#msg437850 – shoeless joe Dec 18 '11 at 8:46
	Quite disappointing: seems you have to import keys one by one? – Lohoris Apr 30 at 14:23
	The answer was written a while ago, a lot has changed since then, and I remember some buzz about the functionality on forum. Maybe someone made an improvement, my first guess would be to look at Armory client: bitcoinarmory.com – Serith May 4 at 1:09

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