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Saving the entire blockchain in my computer is taking mi a lot of space. I looked in this forum for a solution and I saw that there was an option to prune the node and save a lot of space. I followed the instructions, I went to the Bitcoin data directory, I created a file there and called it "bitcoin.conf" and I wrote "-prune=1100" in it. Nothing I expected happened, the space it took remained the same, it only started downloading a new blockchain called "testnet". Have I done something wrong? And how can I fix it in order to save space? My version of Bitcoin Core is v0.14..2

PS: Latter, I have discovered that, in fact, I have three Bitcoin data directories, and suddenly I have doubts about in which of them shall I place my "bitcoin.conf". Is having three directory data how it shall be? And in which of them shall I place my "bitcoin.conf".

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  • Can you post exactly the contents of your bitcoin.conf file? Can you also post the command that you are using to start Bitcoin Core with (if you are on windows, right click the shortcut you are using and copy the contents of the Target box).
    – Andrew Chow
    Aug 27, 2017 at 16:44
  • Can you post exactly the contents of your bitcoin.conf file? prune=1100 And I am using Windows 10. I am not a computer expert so I do not understand the rest of the question. Aug 27, 2017 at 16:54
  • In the config file you need to use "prune=1100", not "-prune=1100". Is that the problem? Aug 27, 2017 at 16:58
  • I have tried both ways and it hasn´t work in any of both. Just now I have "prune=1100" Aug 27, 2017 at 17:00
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    Possible duplicate of Can Bitcoin-Qt be configured to trim the blockchain?
    – MCCCS
    Aug 28, 2017 at 8:11

1 Answer 1

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From your description it sounds to me that you may have edited your configuration file while Bitcoin Core was already running.

prune=1100 is a startup parameter. It will take effect once you restart the program.

  1. If you add a parameter to the startup instructions, parameters start with a dash (-prune=1100), e.g.:

    "C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin\bitcoin-qt.exe" -prune=1100
    

    Please make sure you use the correct path for the actual directory you installed Bitcoin to.

  2. If you add it to the configuration, the parameter must be listed without a dash in the bitcoin.conf:

    prune=1100
    

    If you're unsure how to locate your Bitcoin data directory, please see: Where is the configuration file of Bitcoin-Qt kept?

There is no need to manually delete any files from your Bitcoin directory, or to start over the initial blockchain download to enable pruning. You merely need to restart Bitcoin Core after you've edited the bitcoin.conf. If you don't know how to restart a program, you may find it simpler to shut down and restart your computer.

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  • How do I access to the startup instructions? And, is restarting the program, only, to close and open the program again (becouse I have already tried that)? Or, do I have to do something more? Sep 5, 2017 at 17:20
  • Yes, go to the menu, quit the program, start it again. At this point the bitcoin.conf gets used to initialize the program. Note that the standard "close window" operation is probably just hiding the program. You have to quit it, not hide it.
    – Murch
    Sep 5, 2017 at 17:21
  • I have tried in different ways, I am sure I have restarted Bicoin Core, but it did not work. Now, I have discovered a new things that I will edit in the question. Sep 7, 2017 at 19:10
  • @AnderAristondo Use the folder from the first picture. Put the bitcoin.conf file there.
    – Nick ODell
    Sep 7, 2017 at 19:12

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