Sometimes, people get in touch with me because they have bought Bitcoins a long time ago – like in the early 2010s –, when the price was much lower than it is today. Now that their coins are worth a lot more, they would like to sell them, but here’s the issue: they are not sure where the coins are stored. They still own the computer or the laptop on which they made their purchase, but they can’t even tell what wallet software they used back in the day to store their Bitcoins. It just has been so long!
In such a case, they ask, is there a way to search their computer or laptop for Bitcoins? The answer is yes!
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>\AppDataorC:\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 files with names 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
Common issues when checking old PCs and laptops for Bitcoins
While the manual approach works, it has many drawbacks.
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It’s tedious as you need to scour your computer for obscure files and folders. It gets worse if you can’t remember any information about your Bitcoins, such as which wallet software you have used to store them.
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It’s error-prone. Bitcoin wallet files may very well be stored on your computer, but it doesn’t mean that you will be able to find each and every one of them. Many users cannot even access their operating system’s application data folder, since it’s often hidden!
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It fails if you took measures to hide your wallet to protect your Bitcoins. For instance, you may have moved or renamed your wallet files. If that’s the case, good luck finding them the manual way!
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You cannot easily verify many computers at once. In other words, it doesn’t scale.
Meet Treasure Hunter, my software to find old Bitcoins
This is why I created the software Treasure Hunter, which allows people to scan their computer for the presence of Bitcoin wallets. It can detect many types of wallets even if they were renamed or moved elsewhere in an attempt to hide them.
Instead of manually sifting through tons of files and folders on your computer, you simply select a drive or a folder to scan and then click on a button. Treasure Hunter will do the heavy work for you. It can even scan removable storage devices such as USB keys or external hard drives!
If you want to scan your computer for lost Bitcoin wallets, I highly suggest you give Treasure Hunter a go! It is available on Windows, Mac and Linux. It is also free to use.
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 a 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.
