How do I unlock, decrypt, Bitcoin wallet?

Question

I'm new to Bitcoins and I downloaded the new beta version with the encrypted wallet. I encrypted my wallet but I have no idea on how to decrypt it. It is locked. How can I unlock/decrypt my wallet?

Moreover, I added a few new addresses for payments but I would like to delete some of them. It won't allow me to delete them, however. How can I delete addresses I never used and no longer need?

Answer 1

1. Close Bitcoin
2. Find your wallet.dat
3. Rename to wallet.old
4. Start Bitcoin
5. Copy the address from the new empty wallet
6. Close Bitcoin
7. Rename (new) wallet.dat to wallet.new
8. Rename wallet.old to wallet.dat
9. Start Bitcoin
10. Send all your Bitcoins to the copied address from new wallet
11. Enter your password
12. Close Bitcoin
13. Rename wallet.dat to wallet.old
14. Rename wallet.new to wallet.dat
15. Start Bitcoin
16. Your new wallet should now be unencrypted and all old addresses gone.

This solves both your problems.

Answer 2

You cannot delete addresses with the standard client, however:

• You can delete addresses with Pywallet.
• If you never received payment with those addresses and never posted them anywhere, you can simply use them the next time you need a new address, just change their label.

Answer 3

I don't think you can delete address in the official client. As for encryption, try restarting the client, and making a payment - you should be prompted to enter a password.

The wallet is only unlocked briefly, in memory, to make payments.