Corrupted Wallet.dat Recovery: Pull Your Keys From a Damaged File
Corrupted wallet.dat recovery is about getting the private keys out of a file your wallet software refuses to open. Crashes, bad copies, failing disks and old software versions can all leave a wallet.dat unreadable, but the keys inside are often still intact. The most important step is the first one: stop using the drive and make a copy.
- We work on copies only
- No recovery, no fee
4 Safe Steps for Corrupted Wallet.dat Recovery
Do these in order. Skipping step one is the most common way a fixable file becomes unfixable.
Stop writing
Close the wallet software and stop using the drive. Every new file saved can overwrite the damaged data.
Copy everything
Copy the wallet.dat and the whole data folder to a separate USB drive. Keep the original untouched.
Note the details
Write down the software name, version, year and what happened just before the error.
Get an assessment
Send us the details. We tell you whether repair is likely before you share any file.
Why Wallet Files Break
Older Bitcoin Core wallets store keys in a Berkeley DB file, and newer ones use SQLite. Both are databases. If one is interrupted mid-write, by a crash, a power cut or a full disk, the structure can break even though most keys are still sitting inside.
- Power loss or crash while the wallet was syncing
- Copying the file while the software was running
- Opening an old file in a much newer version
- Bad sectors on an aging hard drive
- Antivirus software quarantining part of the file
How We Repair It
Corrupted wallet.dat recovery at Crypto Recovers starts with a forensic copy. We then rebuild the database structure where possible, and where it is not, we scan the raw data for key records directly. Encrypted keys still need the wallet password, so if you have also forgotten it, we combine this work with password recovery.
Bitcoin Core includes its own wallet tool with a salvage option, described in the Bitcoin Core documentation. Only ever run it on a copy.
Files We Work With
Drive Also Failing?
If the computer will not boot or the disk clicks, power it down. Corrupted wallet.dat recovery then starts with imaging the drive. See old hard drive recovery.
Corrupted Wallet.dat Recovery FAQ
My wallet opens but shows zero balance. Is it corrupted?
Not always. It may still be syncing, or you may be looking at a new empty wallet the software created. Check the file size and date before assuming damage.
Can a deleted wallet.dat be recovered?
Often, if the drive has not been heavily used since. Stop using it and ask us.
Is it safe to send you the file?
An encrypted wallet file cannot be spent without its password. We work under NDA and delete all copies afterwards.
Damaged Wallet File?
Copy it, stop using the drive, and let us take a free look.