As a cryptocurrency expert, I sometimes have people get in touch with me because they own old hard drives or computers and want to know if they contain any Bitcoin wallets. Because these devices can easily hold millions of files, combing through them can be a daunting task. In fact, you may wonder if it’s even possible to efficiently search an old hard drive for Bitcoins. The short answer is, yes! Read the article below for more information.
How are Bitcoins stored?
Technically speaking, the Bitcoins themselves are not stored on your hard drive. Instead, what your computer actually holds
is a secret, or a piece of data that authorizes you to move the associated funds by proving you are their rightful owner.
This secret typically takes the form of a private key (such as L5H5zfYPno3QEB9Ng5jhiAUpKyLRG11nxST4s8hjQkLqKPZPgfiZ)
or a seed phrase (such as gesture salt involve release begin churn mesh claw correct false capable right), and
it is stored within a file on your hard drive.
To find Bitcoins, you need to search your computer for a file that contains one of these secrets. Throughout this guide, I will refer to these files as wallet files, and there are two ways you can search for them: through manual methods or automated scan tools.
How to manually search an old hard drive for Bitcoins
One popular approach to track down lost Bitcoins is to search your hard drive for the presence of certain files or folders related to the wallet software you have used. A Google search will let you know which files or folders you should be on the lookout for.
If you don’t know which wallet software you have used, you will have to search for files and folders from popular wallet software during the time that you bought your Bitcoins.
Common Bitcoin wallet files and folders to search for
While it’s impossible to list every file or folder, several wallet applications were particularly popular in the early 2010s.
First, open your operating system’s application data folder:
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On Windows, it can be found at
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\RoamingorC:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data. Alternatively, you may copy-paste%Appdata%into your File Explorer address bar. -
On Mac, it can be found at
/Users/<username>/Library/Application Support. Alternatively, you may pressShift + Command + Gin Finder and copy-paste~/Library/Application Supportinto the box.
Next, locate the folders below and, if they exist, search for the corresponding files or subfolders.
| Software | Folder to search | What to search inside the folder |
|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin Core (2009) | Bitcoin |
A wallet.dat file or a wallets folder. |
| Electrum (2011) | Electrum |
A wallets folder or an electrum.dat file. |
| Multibit Classic (2011) | MultiBit |
A .key, .wallet, or .wallet.cipher file. |
| Armory (2011) | Armory |
A .wallet file. |
| Multibit HD (2013) | MultiBitHD |
A .wallet.aes or .zip.aes file. |
| Bither (2014) | Bither |
An address.db file. |
| Coin Space (2015) | Coin Wallet |
.ldb or .log files. |
Alternatively, you can search your hard drive for filenames matching any of the following keywords:
wallet.datwallet.aes.json.wallet.wallet.cipherelectrum.datelectrum-private-keyswallet_keylist_
Finally, you can also search your hard drive for cryptocurrency-related keywords such as:
bitcoinbtcwalletprivate keyseed phrasemnemonic phrasebackup phraserecovery phrasesecret phrase
How to automatically search an old hard drive for Bitcoins
While the manual method described above is the standard way of searching for old or lost Bitcoins, it comes with many drawbacks. For instance, it’s very easy to miss a wallet file, especially if it has been hidden to keep it away from prying eyes. Moreover, the manual method does not scale: should you deal with dozens of hard drives, each containing millions of files, you are practically looking for a needle in a haystack.
Thankfully, there is a better way, and that is to comb your hard drive using an automated scan tool like Treasure Hunter. You can download it by clicking on the link below:
Once you have downloaded the software, open it. You will see the following window:
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Click Select search path.
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Select the drive you would like to scan.
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Select your scan depth.
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The smart scan is best for standard, healthy drives. It is faster and handles most scenarios perfectly.
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The deep scan is best for complex cases. Use this option when:
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You suspect wallet files were intentionally hidden.
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You are scanning a reformatted, wiped, or damaged drive that was restored with data recovery software (like Disk Drill, DMDE, or R-Studio).
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Click Launch search to begin the analysis.
Treasure Hunter will scan the selected path for Bitcoin wallets. This may take several hours to complete. Please be patient and allow the software to finish its work. Once it is done, it will let you know if any Bitcoin wallets have been detected.
I have found a Bitcoin wallet file; what do I do?
Congratulations! This is a major step forward.
Now that you have located a wallet file, the next step is to access the funds inside it. This is a broad topic with many pitfalls that deserves its own guide. As a rule of thumb, you should identify which wallet software generated the file. If you use Treasure Hunter, this should be indicated in the scan results. Then, you should try opening the wallet file with the appropriate software.
In the best-case scenario, the wallet software will grant you direct access to your funds or ask for a password you already know. If you aren’t so lucky, you might run into hurdles, like the software failing to recognize the wallet file or demanding an unknown password.
If you find yourself stuck at this stage, I offer professional crypto-recovery services. I typically charge a success fee of 5% to 15% of the recovered assets, depending on the complexity of your case. I do not charge hourly rates, upfront costs, or flat fees. If I am unable to recover your coins, you don’t pay anything.
Frequently asked questions
Can Bitcoins be recovered from a reformatted, wiped, or damaged hard drive?
Yes, but your mileage may vary since the original data is likely to be corrupted. You will need to use data recovery software to reconstruct the drive’s filesystem, then search it manually or with an automated tool such as Treasure Hunter. To prevent further damage, avoid repeatedly recreating the drive’s filesystem. Instead, create a byte-to-byte backup – also called a disk image or clone –, which can be safely converted into a filesystem multiple times if necessary. Follow this in-depth tutorial for more details.
If I find Bitcoins on someone else’s computer, do they belong to me?
No. Simply finding Bitcoins does not grant ownership. Legal implications vary depending on how and where you discovered them, so it’s best to consult a lawyer.
