<p>There is no expiration date for when an output can be spent. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-02T02:16:12.550Z
2017-01-02T02:16:12.550Z
m1xolyd1an
<p>After reading several good (and a couple of useless) pages, I understand what the issue is. Yes, if I back up a wallet and never do anything with it, I will be fine. </p>

<p>However, if I back up a wallet and CONTINUE TO USE IT, after a while the backup wallet will be useless if a hard drive crashes and I lose my active wallet. The old backed up wallet would have zero balance. </p>

<p>That was the concern that I was recalling. It does not apply to a wallet that is saved and not used.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-02T16:09:23.543Z
I believe that what you are saying about bitcoin-core wallets is no longer true from version `v0.13.0` which implements hd wallets. Specifically, if you create a new wallet (with version `v0.13.0` or above) then encrypt it (you want to), then backup the wallet file, you can keep using the wallet as much as you want (without creating new backup) and the backed up file will still allow you to recover all your past transactions and private keys (it will not have a balance of zero).
Sven Williamson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-02T16:26:40.910Z
Thanks. I appreciate that and it is good news. What if the wallet was created before 13.0, but used all along and now is used with v0.13.1.0-g03422e5?
Igor Chudov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-02T17:29:01.120Z
Your current wallet is not an hd wallet so you are exposed to your back up file not having all keys in it after a while. The best thing to do is create a new wallet under `v0.13.1` (simply restart `bitcoin-qt` having removed the `wallet.dat` file), then encrypt this new wallet, and make a back up of it. Then write down a bitcoin address for this new wallet. Then close down `bitcoin-qt` and restart it with the old `wallet.dat` file and transfer all bitcoins to the new address.
Sven Williamson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-02T20:27:16.340Z
Thanks a lot. I did exactly what you suggested, created a new wallet, transferred the money, and and backed up the new wallet. (encrypted of course). I appreciate your thoughtful advice.
Igor Chudov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-02T03:10:34.710Z
2017-01-02T03:10:34.710Z
Igor Chudov
<p>I have a bitcoin wallet. There is not much money in it, and I do not want to run bitcoin-qt all the time.</p>

<p>I have a question. If I save it securely, so I can recover it at any time, but do not run it actively with bitcoin-qt, does the wallet go stale?</p>

<p>In other words, if, hypothetically, I have my wallet.dat safely in a file but without any software actively running it, will I be able to reinstall bitcoin-qt after an arbitrarily long period of time, read wallet.dat, and use the money stored in it?</p>

<p>Or will it somehow be completely out of sync?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<wallet>
Do dormant bitcoin wallets go stale?
Igor Chudov
# Do dormant bitcoin wallets go stale?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-01-02)

I have a bitcoin wallet. There is not much money in it, and I do not want to run bitcoin-qt all the time.

I have a question. If I save it securely, so I can recover it at any time, but do not run it actively with bitcoin-qt, does the wallet go stale?

In other words, if, hypothetically, I have my wallet.dat safely in a file but without any software actively running it, will I be able to reinstall bitcoin-qt after an arbitrarily long period of time, read wallet.dat, and use the money stored in it?

Or will it somehow be completely out of sync?

Thanks

**Tags:** wallet


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-01-02. Score: 2

There is no expiration date for when an output can be spent.


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### Answer by username_0 on 2017-01-02. Score: 0

After reading several good (and a couple of useless) pages, I understand what the issue is. Yes, if I back up a wallet and never do anything with it, I will be fine.

However, if I back up a wallet and CONTINUE TO USE IT, after a while the backup wallet will be useless if a hard drive crashes and I lose my active wallet. The old backed up wallet would have zero balance.

That was the concern that I was recalling. It does not apply to a wallet that is saved and not used.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: I believe that what you are saying about bitcoin-core wallets is no longer true from version `v0.13.0` which implements hd wallets. Specifically, if you create a new wallet (with version `v0.13.0` or above) then encrypt it (you want to), then backup the wallet file, you can keep using the wallet as much as you want (without creating new backup) and the backed up file will still allow you to recover all your past transactions and private keys (it will not have a balance of zero).  
> **username_0**: Thanks. I appreciate that and it is good news. What if the wallet was created before 13.0, but used all along and now is used with v0.13.1.0-g03422e5?  
> **username_2**: Your current wallet is not an hd wallet so you are exposed to your back up file not having all keys in it after a while. The best thing to do is create a new wallet under `v0.13.1` (simply restart `bitcoin-qt` having removed the `wallet.dat` file), then encrypt this new wallet, and make a back up of it. Then write down a bitcoin address for this new wallet. Then close down `bitcoin-qt` and restart it with the old `wallet.dat` file and transfer all bitcoins to the new address.  
> **username_0**: Thanks a lot. I did exactly what you suggested, created a new wallet, transferred the money, and and backed up the new wallet. (encrypted of course). I appreciate your thoughtful advice.  

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