<p><strong>Before you do anything, you probably want to make a couple backups of the <code>wallet.dat</code>. Check that the backups are in order before continuing.</strong></p>

<p><code>zapwallettxes</code> only works on the start up of Bitcoin Core. First shut down your bitcoin-qt, then open a terminal.</p>

<p>Write:<br>
 <code>bitcoin-qt -zapwallettxes=2</code></p>

<p>If this doesn't start bitcoin-qt, you might need to go to the applications folder. You switch to the installation directory:</p>

<p><code>cd Applications/Bitcoin-Qt.app/Contents/MacOS/</code></p>

<p>And then run the application from that folder:</p>

<p><code>./Bitcoin-Qt -zapwallettxes=2</code></p>

<p>This should start Bitcoin-Qt, but delete unconfirmed transactions from your wallet. After it loaded completely, check whether the transaction is still listed. The transaction should no longer be listed and your balance should show the full amount. After this you should be able to normally start Bitcoin Core.</p>

<p>If the transaction is still shown, and you're running a very new version of Bitcoin Core, it might have been in your Bitcoin Core's own memory pool i.e. the set of unconfirmed transactions as well.</p>

<p>In that case, you'll need to delete the persisted memory pool.</p>

<p>By default the data directory on Mac is:</p>

<p><code>~/Library/Application Support/Bitcoin/</code></p>

<p>In that folder, you should find a <code>mempool.dat</code>. After you shut down and before you restart with <code>zapwallettxes=2</code>, delete the <code>mempool.dat</code> (and no other files).</p>

<p>Bitcoin Core will probably prohibit you from creating new transactions until it is synchronized with the network.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T07:19:37.227Z
Murch, thank you for this info brother. To confirm, do this upon the full 150GB being downloaded correct?
merger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T07:29:02.403Z
@merger: I think it should work before you are synchronized. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. If you actually end up with a load of money, I would suggest that you read this post on reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/7dlqtk/200_btc_telling_my_wife/dpza7b6/
Murch
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T10:22:43.420Z
why wouldn't he go just take the addresses from this pending tx (bitcoin-cli getreceivedbyaddress $ADDRESS and bitcoin-cli dumpprivkey $ADDRESS ), use this priv key in e.g. Electrum, and create new tx? Wouldn't this be much easier?
pebwindkraft
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T15:07:53.010Z
@pebwindkraft: Feel free to post another answer...
Nate Eldredge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T06:48:24.637Z
2018-01-22T07:30:42.310Z
2018-01-22T07:30:42.310Z
Murch
<p>I first thought, it is bitcoin wallet (I'm still unclear), then one could take the addresses from this pending tx</p>

<pre><code>bitcoin-cli getreceivedbyaddress $ADDRESS
bitcoin-cli dumpprivkey $ADDRESS
</code></pre>

<p>and use this priv key in e.g. Electrum, and create new tx. After re-reading all the comments, it turns out that it might be a multibit HD wallet. </p>

<p>As multibit is now discontinued, there was a video on their web page, how to convert into Electrum.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Multibit HD: <a href="https://youtu.be/E-KcY6KUVnY" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://youtu.be/E-KcY6KUVnY</a></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Also on their website:
If you are having problems logging into Multibit, we created a utility to export the keys from your Multibit wallet file. Instructions for how install and use it are at <a href="https://github.com/Multibit-Legacy/read-multibit-wallet-file" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://github.com/Multibit-Legacy/read-multibit-wallet-file</a></p>

<p>IMHO, best approach is </p>

<pre><code>1.) try the method from the video
2.) do not oversee the comment from David Schwarz :-)
3.) try to export the priv keys from MultiBit HD Wallet 
    - see this thread as well: [How to extract Multibit HD Keys][1]
4.) read the instructions for how install and use their tool ...
</code></pre>

<p>Hope this helps to get to the keys or funds. Champaign?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-23T00:17:35.733Z
naaa, no champaign - maybe it is an altcoin, same thread here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2804505.0
pebwindkraft
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T15:34:45.233Z
2018-01-22T23:01:01.800Z
2018-01-22T23:01:01.800Z
pebwindkraft
<p>Check this out
<a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/59699/opening-an-old-wallet-dat">opening an old wallet.dat</a></p>

<p>Otherwise - 
AFAIK all wallet data should be bitcoin forward version compatible. This would mean that if you use the latest bitcoin executable it should be able to find the transactions in your wallet. 
If not you might have to use the version of bitcoin client that you used when you made the purchase. This would involve downloading the source code and building it for your platform. Then copy the wallet.dat onto your data directory location check the GUI or some RPC calls to see balance.  </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T05:50:08.100Z
2018-01-22T05:50:08.100Z
Aoommen
<p>download the full blockchain and import your wallet.dat file. </p>

<p>Congrats btw. Hope you get it. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T06:15:53.140Z
I am going to download the full blockchain and cross my fingers. Are you familar with the -zapwallettxes?
merger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T05:49:11.567Z
2018-01-22T05:49:11.567Z
BitcoinsBest.com
<p>I have been having dreams for the past month about BTC and an old computer I had bought Bitcoin on a long, long time ago. I just found said computer in my grandmother's basement. Booted it up and lo and behold, found a wallet.dat file.</p>

<p>I abandoned Bitcoin a while ago as when I tried spending the Bitcoin, I couldn't for whatever reason.</p>

<p>Well folks, here is the reason:</p>

<p>Status: 0/unconfirmed, not in memory pool
Date: 4/9/2557 BE 03:53
To: (removed)
Debit: -200.00000000 BTC
Net amount: -200.00000000 BTC
Transaction ID: (removed)
Transaction total size: 192 bytes
Output index: 0</p>

<p>I have two transactions like this. I need to know how to retrieve these coins. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T04:57:00.423Z
This isn't a site to look for people to hire. You can ask about how to solve it yourself, but you'll need to give more information.
Nate Eldredge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T05:02:21.760Z
I'm not hiring anyone, it is a good gesture for someone's time and help. I have a potential $3M windfall here so trying to get assistance. Do you blame me? What info do i need to add?
merger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T05:12:35.060Z
Nothing to do with blame, it's just that Stack Exchange doesn't think that posts offering money are a good idea.  See https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/25615/offering-actual-money-as-a-bounty.  I have edited this out for you.
Nate Eldredge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T05:13:21.873Z
You've posted something about a transaction but it's unclear what it's about.  Is this an incoming transaction that you want to get confirmed, or an outgoing transaction that you want to cancel?  It would really help a lot if you were willing to post the transaction ID.
Nate Eldredge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T05:13:57.097Z
You can't offer money for help.
Tailer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T05:29:38.017Z
This is from a transaction that was sent in 2014 with no transaction fee. It just shows as unconfirmed. When I check the generated txid on Blockchain.info, there is none which means the transaction never happened. The coins are presumably in limbo. I found this out by just downloading Bitcoin Core (qT) and switching the generated empty wallet.dat with the recovered wallet.dat file from 2014. The transactions displayed upon booting up Bitcoin Core.
merger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T05:30:17.963Z
I have been reading online for hours that it is possible to retrieve the coins but I am unclear as to how. Do I fully install Bitcoin Core (150GB), then try to cancel the transaction that way so the BTC returns to my wallet balance or where do I go from here? I'm clueless.
merger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T05:32:55.387Z
As far as the rest of the world is concerned, that transaction never happened.  Your client just doesn't know that.  You can use `-zapwallettxes` to make your client forget about it.  However, you'll have to download the whole blockchain (that's the 150GB) to see your correct balance and be able to spend it.  You might also be able to import your wallet into "thin client" software that would let you do this without the full download, but I can't tell you the details as I've never tried this.
Nate Eldredge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T05:46:45.177Z
Do you know the private key???
Crypto
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T05:48:37.753Z
I have the wallet.dat raw file. I used multibit. No passphrase, etc is associated. At this juncture, I am still lost. I need to download the entire blockchain. Upon doing so, my wallet.dat file (from 2014) is associated with it already. I then need to -zapwallettxes (how do I do this via my Macbook?), then the 200 BTC + 41.20 BTC transactions will drop off and the funds will be present in my balance. I am now a millionaire? Is this what is going to come to fruition?
merger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T06:05:19.660Z
Just extract every address from your wallet and see if any have a non-zero balance. Then, for those, extract the private keys. Look for the `pywallet.py` program that will extract addresses and keys from a wallet.dat file.
David Schwartz
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T06:14:53.763Z
David, they are going to show a 0 balance as when I sent the transactions back ages ago, I did not include a tx fee through Multibit. I remember I was trying to buy something and told the guy the funds were sent but they really didn't send as I didn't include a fee. Now the funds are in limbo so I have to -zapwallettxes I guess (not sure how) upon downloading the entire blockchain and then the tx will drop and the BTC will appear in my wallet. (I think?) Someone please help.
merger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-22T23:41:47.490Z
If all your addresses have a zero balance, then you don't have any bitcoins. If the send didn't go through, then the bitcoins should still be there.
David Schwartz
<transactions><blockchain><unconfirmed-transactions><transaction-id>
I think I found 241 Bitcoin
merger
# I think I found 241 Bitcoin

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-22)

I have been having dreams for the past month about BTC and an old computer I had bought Bitcoin on a long, long time ago. I just found said computer in my grandmother's basement. Booted it up and lo and behold, found a wallet.dat file.

I abandoned Bitcoin a while ago as when I tried spending the Bitcoin, I couldn't for whatever reason.

Well folks, here is the reason:

Status: 0/unconfirmed, not in memory pool
Date: 4/9/2557 BE 03:53
To: (removed)
Debit: -200.00000000 BTC
Net amount: -200.00000000 BTC
Transaction ID: (removed)
Transaction total size: 192 bytes
Output index: 0

I have two transactions like this. I need to know how to retrieve these coins.

**Tags:** transactions, blockchain, unconfirmed-transactions, transaction-id

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This isn't a site to look for people to hire. You can ask about how to solve it yourself, but you'll need to give more information.  
> **username_0**: I'm not hiring anyone, it is a good gesture for someone's time and help. I have a potential $3M windfall here so trying to get assistance. Do you blame me? What info do i need to add?  
> **username_1**: Nothing to do with blame, it's just that Stack Exchange doesn't think that posts offering money are a good idea.  See https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/25615/offering-actual-money-as-a-bounty.  I have edited this out for you.  
> **username_1**: You've posted something about a transaction but it's unclear what it's about.  Is this an incoming transaction that you want to get confirmed, or an outgoing transaction that you want to cancel?  It would really help a lot if you were willing to post the transaction ID.  
> **username_2**: You can't offer money for help.  
> **username_0**: This is from a transaction that was sent in 2014 with no transaction fee. It just shows as unconfirmed. When I check the generated txid on Blockchain.info, there is none which means the transaction never happened. The coins are presumably in limbo. I found this out by just downloading Bitcoin Core (qT) and switching the generated empty wallet.dat with the recovered wallet.dat file from 2014. The transactions displayed upon booting up Bitcoin Core.  
> **username_0**: I have been reading online for hours that it is possible to retrieve the coins but I am unclear as to how. Do I fully install Bitcoin Core (150GB), then try to cancel the transaction that way so the BTC returns to my wallet balance or where do I go from here? I'm clueless.  
> **username_1**: As far as the rest of the world is concerned, that transaction never happened.  Your client just doesn't know that.  You can use `-zapwallettxes` to make your client forget about it.  However, you'll have to download the whole blockchain (that's the 150GB) to see your correct balance and be able to spend it.  You might also be able to import your wallet into "thin client" software that would let you do this without the full download, but I can't tell you the details as I've never tried this.  
> **username_3**: Do you know the private key???  
> **username_0**: I have the wallet.dat raw file. I used multibit. No passphrase, etc is associated. At this juncture, I am still lost. I need to download the entire blockchain. Upon doing so, my wallet.dat file (from 2014) is associated with it already. I then need to -zapwallettxes (how do I do this via my Macbook?), then the 200 BTC + 41.20 BTC transactions will drop off and the funds will be present in my balance. I am now a millionaire? Is this what is going to come to fruition?  
> **username_4**: Just extract every address from your wallet and see if any have a non-zero balance. Then, for those, extract the private keys. Look for the `pywallet.py` program that will extract addresses and keys from a wallet.dat file.  
> **username_0**: username_4, they are going to show a 0 balance as when I sent the transactions back ages ago, I did not include a tx fee through Multibit. I remember I was trying to buy something and told the guy the funds were sent but they really didn't send as I didn't include a fee. Now the funds are in limbo so I have to -zapwallettxes I guess (not sure how) upon downloading the entire blockchain and then the tx will drop and the BTC will appear in my wallet. (I think?) Someone please help.  
> **username_4**: If all your addresses have a zero balance, then you don't have any bitcoins. If the send didn't go through, then the bitcoins should still be there.  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2018-01-22. Score: 2

**Before you do anything, you probably want to make a couple backups of the `wallet.dat`. Check that the backups are in order before continuing.**

`zapwallettxes` only works on the start up of Bitcoin Core. First shut down your bitcoin-qt, then open a terminal.

Write:  
`bitcoin-qt -zapwallettxes=2`

If this doesn't start bitcoin-qt, you might need to go to the applications folder. You switch to the installation directory:

`cd Applications/Bitcoin-Qt.app/Contents/MacOS/`

And then run the application from that folder:

`./Bitcoin-Qt -zapwallettxes=2`

This should start Bitcoin-Qt, but delete unconfirmed transactions from your wallet. After it loaded completely, check whether the transaction is still listed. The transaction should no longer be listed and your balance should show the full amount. After this you should be able to normally start Bitcoin Core.

If the transaction is still shown, and you're running a very new version of Bitcoin Core, it might have been in your Bitcoin Core's own memory pool i.e. the set of unconfirmed transactions as well.

In that case, you'll need to delete the persisted memory pool.

By default the data directory on Mac is:

`~/Library/Application Support/Bitcoin/`

In that folder, you should find a `mempool.dat`. After you shut down and before you restart with `zapwallettxes=2`, delete the `mempool.dat` (and no other files).

Bitcoin Core will probably prohibit you from creating new transactions until it is synchronized with the network.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: username_5, thank you for this info brother. To confirm, do this upon the full 150GB being downloaded correct?  
> **username_5**: @username_0: I think it should work before you are synchronized. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. If you actually end up with a load of money, I would suggest that you read this post on reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/7dlqtk/200_btc_telling_my_wife/dpza7b6/  
> **username_6**: why wouldn't he go just take the addresses from this pending tx (bitcoin-cli getreceivedbyaddress $ADDRESS and bitcoin-cli dumpprivkey $ADDRESS ), use this priv key in e.g. Electrum, and create new tx? Wouldn't this be much easier?  
> **username_1**: @username_6: Feel free to post another answer...  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2018-01-22. Score: 1

I first thought, it is bitcoin wallet (I'm still unclear), then one could take the addresses from this pending tx

```
bitcoin-cli getreceivedbyaddress $ADDRESS
bitcoin-cli dumpprivkey $ADDRESS

```

and use this priv key in e.g. Electrum, and create new tx. After re-reading all the comments, it turns out that it might be a multibit HD wallet.

As multibit is now discontinued, there was a video on their web page, how to convert into Electrum.

> Multibit HD: <https://youtu.be/E-KcY6KUVnY>

Also on their website:
If you are having problems logging into Multibit, we created a utility to export the keys from your Multibit wallet file. Instructions for how install and use it are at <https://github.com/Multibit-Legacy/read-multibit-wallet-file>

IMHO, best approach is

```
1.) try the method from the video
2.) do not oversee the comment from username_4 Schwarz :-)
3.) try to export the priv keys from MultiBit HD Wallet 
    - see this thread as well: [How to extract Multibit HD Keys][1]
4.) read the instructions for how install and use their tool ...

```

Hope this helps to get to the keys or funds. Champaign?

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: naaa, no champaign - maybe it is an altcoin, same thread here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2804505.0  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2018-01-22. Score: 0

Check this out
[opening an old wallet.dat](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/59699/opening-an-old-wallet-dat)

Otherwise -
AFAIK all wallet data should be bitcoin forward version compatible. This would mean that if you use the latest bitcoin executable it should be able to find the transactions in your wallet.
If not you might have to use the version of bitcoin client that you used when you made the purchase. This would involve downloading the source code and building it for your platform. Then copy the wallet.dat onto your data directory location check the GUI or some RPC calls to see balance.


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2018-01-22. Score: 0

download the full blockchain and import your wallet.dat file.

Congrats btw. Hope you get it.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I am going to download the full blockchain and cross my fingers. Are you familar with the -zapwallettxes?  

---

