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The complete independent guide — updated 2026

Everything about the MultiBit Bitcoin wallet

MultiBit was one of the first easy-to-use Bitcoin wallets — recommended on bitcoin.org for years before it was discontinued in 2017. This site explains what it was, how Classic and HD work, where your wallet files are, and how to get your bitcoin into a modern wallet. Free guides, no account required.

What is MultiBit?Browse the guides
Launched by Jim Burton
2011
Bitcoin addresses by 2013
1.5M+
Acquired by KeepKey
2016
Discontinued in July
2017

Which MultiBit do you have? Start here.

Work through the list from top to bottom. Never type wallet words, private keys or passwords into a website.

  1. 1. Do you have wallet words?

    MultiBit HD records include 12-, 18- and 24-word sets. Do not identify the exact version from length alone. Continue to the version-aware HD recovery guide.

    HD seed recovery guide

  2. 2. Do you have an mbhd.wallet.aes file or a verified HD backup?

    That is the MultiBit HD file route — the encrypted wallet file plus its backups.

    MultiBit HD guide

  3. 3. Do you have .wallet, .key or .info files?

    Those are MultiBit Classic files — private keys stored per address, no wallet words.

    MultiBit Classic guide

  4. 4. Can the original application still open?

    Preserve the data first. Verify the wallet, then use a verified export or migration method before changing anything.

    Export and migrate safely

  5. 5. Is the password forgotten?

    Determine whether wallet words, an unencrypted export or another backup can avoid password recovery altogether.

    Forgot-password guide

  6. 6. Do you only have a public Bitcoin address?

    A public address can verify historical activity, but it cannot authorize spending.

    Check the FAQ

  7. 7. No words, private keys, wallet files, backups or original device?

    There may be no technical recovery basis. Do not pay anyone who guarantees recovery.

    See the contact options

The short answer

What is the MultiBit wallet?

MultiBit is a discontinued lightweight Bitcoin wallet released in September 2011 by developer Jim Burton (with early contributions from Gary Rowe). It ran on Windows, macOS and Linux using Java and the bitcoinj library, and relied on SPV so it never needed the full blockchain. At its peak it managed over a million Bitcoin addresses and was a default recommendation on bitcoin.org.

MultiBit came in two distinct versions — Classic (individual private keys in .wallet files) and HD (a single 12-, 18- or 24-word seed phrase). Both were discontinued in July 2017.

Read the full explainerSee the timeline
What MultiBit was

• One of the first friendly desktop wallets for everyday Bitcoin users

• Recommended on bitcoin.org for several years

• Cross-platform: Windows, macOS, Linux

• SPV — no full blockchain download required

What MultiBit is today

• Discontinued — no updates or support since July 2017

• Sync with the Bitcoin network is unreliable

• Useful only for accessing existing funds

• Keys remain valid — your bitcoin is still reachable

Start here

The everything-about-MultiBit hub

Six sections cover the whole story — background, both versions, downloads, guides and answers.

MultiBit wallet recovery
Recover old bitcoin from Classic or HD — with or without the password.
Learn more
What is MultiBit?
The lightweight Bitcoin wallet from 2011–2017, explained simply.
Learn more
MultiBit Classic
.wallet and .key files, private keys, and where everything lives.
Learn more
MultiBit HD
12-, 18- and 24-word seed phrases, mbhd.wallet.aes files, and backups.
Learn more
Download MultiBit
Get Classic and HD safely — including a security warning.
Learn more
Guides & Tutorials
Step-by-step guides for keys, seeds, and moving to Electrum.
Learn more
FAQ
Fast answers to the most common MultiBit questions.
Learn more

Two wallets, one name

MultiBit Classic vs MultiBit HD

People mix these up constantly — but they store keys in completely different ways, so the steps to access your bitcoin are different too.

MultiBit Classic
2011 – 2017
The original wallet. A bag of individual private keys with no seed phrase.

Key storage: individual private keys inside a .wallet file, plus optional .key exports.

No seed phrase. You recover by exporting or decrypting the keys.

MultiBit Classic guide
MultiBit HD
2014 – 2017
The hierarchical deterministic wallet backed by one recovery seed.

Key storage: 12-, 18- or 24-word seed phrase, encrypted wallet in mbhd.wallet.aes.

Recovery: restore the seed in a modern wallet (Electrum) with the right derivation path.

MultiBit HD guide
Full Classic vs HD comparison

Why it still matters

Why do people still look for MultiBit in 2026?

Old backups found
People rediscover .wallet, .key or .aes files on old computers and external drives.
Forgotten passwords
Users remember holding bitcoin but no longer remember the wallet password.
Inherited wallets
Family members need to access bitcoin stored by relatives years ago.
Keys are still valid
A discontinued wallet does not mean lost funds — the private keys still work.

Step-by-step

Popular guides

All guides
MultiBit wallet recovery
The complete starting point — recover Classic or HD, with or without the password.
Learn more
Forgot your MultiBit password?
Recover access — HD seeds restore without the password, .key exports import directly.
Learn more
MultiBit won't open?
Fix stuck sync and Java errors — a launch failure alone doesn't mean the bitcoin is lost.
Learn more
How to export MultiBit private keys
Get your keys out of Classic or HD so you can use them in a working wallet.
Learn more
Move your bitcoin to Electrum
The safest way to bring old MultiBit funds into a modern, maintained wallet.
Learn more
Restore a MultiBit HD seed phrase
Use your 12-, 18- or 24-word seed in Electrum — including the correct derivation path.
Learn more
MultiBit Classic vs HD
Spot the difference and choose the right path for your wallet.
Learn more

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions

Why does MultiBit still matter in 2026?

Because many early Bitcoin users stored funds in MultiBit — the wallet reportedly managed roughly 1.5 million Bitcoin addresses at its peak — and the private keys or seed phrases they created are still valid today. The software is discontinued, but the coins remain on the blockchain and reachable as long as the correct keys still exist and the funds have not been moved — which is why this guide to accessing them still matters.

What made MultiBit different from Bitcoin Core?

MultiBit used Simplified Payment Verification (SPV) so it never downloaded the full blockchain, was built on Java and bitcoinj, and ran on Windows, macOS and Linux. That lightweight, friendly design made it one of the most popular wallets of the early Bitcoin era.

Are funds in a discontinued wallet lost forever?

No. A discontinued wallet doesn't erase anything — your bitcoin is on the blockchain, controlled by your private keys or seed phrase. As long as you have those, the funds are still reachable and can be moved to a modern wallet like Electrum.

What is the first step with an old MultiBit wallet?

Identify which version you have: a .wallet or .key file means MultiBit Classic; a 12-, 18- or 24-word seed phrase (or mbhd.wallet.aes) means MultiBit HD. Then follow the matching guide to export the keys or restore the seed.

Why was MultiBit discontinued?

MultiBit was acquired by hardware-wallet maker KeepKey in 2016, and in July 2017 the project announced the discontinuation of both Classic and HD. Development stopped permanently. The multibit.org domain has since been repurposed and is not the original project archive.
View all 20+ FAQ answers

Help & support

Stuck with your MultiBit wallet?

There is no official MultiBit support — the wallet was discontinued in 2017. This independent site offers free guides for every common problem.

Browse the free guidesCheck the FAQ

Not sure which MultiBit you have?

A .wallet file means Classic. A seed phrase or mbhd.wallet.aes means HD. Take our two-minute guide to find out, then follow the right steps.

I have ClassicI have HD