Multibit HD Wallet

Extracting Private Keys from MultiBit HD

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multibit hd private keys importing

 

Extracting Private Keys from MultiBit HD: How to Rescue Your Bitcoin

If you’ve got an old MultiBit HD wallet but can’t use the software anymore, your Bitcoin isn’t lost yet. You just need to extract your private keys, convert them into a usable format, and import them into a modern wallet. Here’s how to do it step by step.

1. Manually Export Private Keys from the Wallet File

multibit hd private keys importing

First, you need to decrypt your MultiBit HD wallet file to access the private keys.

Where to find the wallet files:

  • Windows: C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\MultiBitHD\mbhd-datastore\
  • Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/MultiBitHD/mbhd-datastore/
  • Linux: ~/.multibithd/mbhd-datastore/

Look for files like:

  • wallet.aes.json (encrypted JSON backup)
  • wallet.zip.aes (encrypted ZIP archive)

Since these files are AES-encrypted, you’ll need your wallet password to decrypt them. If you don’t have the password, you may need to attempt password recovery using brute-force tools like Hashcat.

To decrypt, use OpenSSL:

openssl enc -d -aes-256-cbc -in wallet.aes.json -out decrypted-wallet.json

Now, you should have a readable JSON file containing private keys.

2. Convert Private Keys to WIF Format

Once you extract the private keys, they will likely be in raw hexadecimal format, which most modern wallets don’t support. You need to convert them into Wallet Import Format (WIF).

Use a tool like Bitcoin Core’s bitcoin-cli, an offline converter, or a simple Python script:

from bitcoin import encode_privkey
hex_key = "your_hex_private_key_here"
wif_key = encode_privkey(hex_key, 'wif')
print(wif_key)

Now, you have a WIF private key that can be imported into wallets like Electrum

3. Sweep Private Keys into a New Wallet

To regain access to your Bitcoin, import the WIF private key into a new wallet.

Using Electrum:

  1. Open Electrum and create a new wallet.
  2. Select “Import Bitcoin Addresses or Private Keys.”
  3. Paste your WIF-formatted private key.
  4. Your balance should appear—now move your Bitcoin to a new, safer wallet.

Why sweep instead of import?
Sweeping sends your funds to a new address, ensuring that even if your old private key was compromised, your BTC stays safe.

Get Your Bitcoins Out Now

MultiBit HD is no longer maintained and has known security issues. If you still have BTC in an old MultiBit HD wallet, extract your private keys, move your funds.

Need more help? Check our articles or knowledge center

 

Multibit HD Bitcoin Wallet FAQ

 

How do I recover my MultiBit wallet if I don’t have the seed phrase?

No seed phrase? Things just got trickier, but there’s still hope. If you have your wallet file (wallet.aes.json or wallet.zip.aes), you can try decrypting it using your password. If you forgot the password too, you’ll need to brute-force it with tools like BTCRecover, hashcat or others. For entire tutorial check Multibit HD Wallet Password Recovery

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