<p>Depending on your OS you can start a 2nd bitcoin-qt acting on a non-mainnet with <code>./bitcoin-qt -testnet</code> or <code>./bitcoin-qt -regtest</code> (from a shell). You can also define a custom datadir and place a bitcoin.conf there (use <code>bitcoin-qt -datadir=&lt;path&gt;</code>).</p>

<p>On OSX/Mac you would need to use Terminal and run something like <code>/Applications/Bitcoin-Qt.app/Contents/MacOS/Bitcoin-Qt -regtest</code></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-11T01:21:05.463Z
Oh, I didn't know it was that easy! thank you! The `datadir` flag was just what I was looking for, too, although don't testnet/regtest have their own dedicated directories anyways? (At least regtest does, according to the [Bitcoin Developer Examples documentation](https://bitcoin.org/en/developer-examples#regtest-mode): "Regtest wallets and block chain state (chainstate) are saved in the regtest subdirectory of the Bitcoin Core configuration directory.")
Geremia
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-11T01:30:03.763Z
I just ran `bitcoin-qt -regtest`, and it launched with a green icon, distinguishing it from my already-running red one! Nice!
Geremia
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-11T05:16:44.610Z
Right. Testnet and regtest has their own subdirectories. But not for the bitcoin.conf. So if you'd like to set `-regtest` (or similar) within the config and only set `-datadir` while executing the binary, this would require different data directories (which is always a good idea if you run multiple nodes).
Jonas Schnelli
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-10T20:10:20.167Z
2015-06-11T13:40:20.517Z
2015-06-11T13:40:20.517Z
Jonas Schnelli
<p>Is it possible to run another instance of <code>bitcoin-qt</code> dedicated to testnet/regtest? If so, how do i do this?</p>

<p>My question is similar to "<a href="https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/2052/running-two-bitcoind-instances-for-different-nets%22">Running two bitcoind instances for different nets</a>," but I want to associate <code>bitcoin-qt</code>, not just <code>bitcoind</code>, with the testnet/regtest.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-06-11T13:41:02.723Z
+1 for researching and clarifying how your question is different than a similar question.
morsecoder
<bitcoin-core><testnet><regtest><bitcoin-qt-setup>
Running another instance of bitcoin-qt dedicated to testnet/regtest?
Geremia
# Running another instance of bitcoin-qt dedicated to testnet/regtest?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-06-10)

Is it possible to run another instance of `bitcoin-qt` dedicated to testnet/regtest? If so, how do i do this?

My question is similar to "[Running two bitcoind instances for different nets](https://bitcoin.stackexchange.com/questions/2052/running-two-bitcoind-instances-for-different-nets%22)," but I want to associate `bitcoin-qt`, not just `bitcoind`, with the testnet/regtest.

**Tags:** bitcoin-core, testnet, regtest, bitcoin-qt-setup

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: +1 for researching and clarifying how your question is different than a similar question.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-06-10. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

Depending on your OS you can start a 2nd bitcoin-qt acting on a non-mainnet with `./bitcoin-qt -testnet` or `./bitcoin-qt -regtest` (from a shell). You can also define a custom datadir and place a bitcoin.conf there (use `bitcoin-qt -datadir=<path>`).

On OSX/Mac you would need to use Terminal and run something like `/Applications/Bitcoin-Qt.app/Contents/MacOS/Bitcoin-Qt -regtest`

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Oh, I didn't know it was that easy! thank you! The `datadir` flag was just what I was looking for, too, although don't testnet/regtest have their own dedicated directories anyways? (At least regtest does, according to the [Bitcoin Developer Examples documentation](https://bitcoin.org/en/developer-examples#regtest-mode): "Regtest wallets and block chain state (chainstate) are saved in the regtest subdirectory of the Bitcoin Core configuration directory.")  
> **username_0**: I just ran `bitcoin-qt -regtest`, and it launched with a green icon, distinguishing it from my already-running red one! Nice!  
> **username_2**: Right. Testnet and regtest has their own subdirectories. But not for the bitcoin.conf. So if you'd like to set `-regtest` (or similar) within the config and only set `-datadir` while executing the binary, this would require different data directories (which is always a good idea if you run multiple nodes).  

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