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    How to Migrate from MultiBit to Electrum

    Complete step-by-step guide to safely transferring your Bitcoin from MultiBit Classic or HD to Electrum wallet. Includes seed phrase and private key import methods.

    Electrum is the recommended destination for MultiBit users. It's a well-maintained, lightweight Bitcoin wallet that supports both seed phrase restoration and private key import. This guide covers all migration paths from MultiBit to Electrum.

    Important Warning
    Before migrating, ensure you have backups of your MultiBit wallet files or seed phrase. Never delete MultiBit data until you've confirmed your Bitcoin is accessible in Electrum.

    Step 1: Download and Install Electrum

    Getting Electrum Safely

    1. Go to the official website:electrum.org
    2. Verify you're on the real site: Check the URL carefully. There are many phishing sites that look identical but steal your Bitcoin.
    3. Download the installer for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux)
    4. Verify the download (optional but recommended) using GPG signatures provided on the download page
    5. Install Electrum following your system's standard installation process
    Security Tip: Never download Electrum from anywhere other than electrum.org. Fake versions of Electrum have stolen millions of dollars in Bitcoin.

    Choose Your Migration Method

    The method you use depends on what you have from your MultiBit wallet:

    Method A: Seed Phrase (MultiBit HD)

    You have the 12-word recovery phrase from MultiBit HD

    Easiest

    Method B: Private Key Import

    You have exported .key files from MultiBit Classic

    Method C: Sweep Private Keys

    Move funds to a new Electrum seed (most secure)

    Recommended

    Method A: Restore MultiBit HD Seed Phrase

    If you have the 12-word seed phrase from MultiBit HD, you can restore your wallet in Electrum.

    Step 1: Start Electrum

    Launch Electrum. The setup wizard will appear automatically for a new installation.

    Step 2: Create New Wallet

    1. Enter a name for your wallet (e.g., "MultiBit Recovery")
    2. Click Next

    Step 3: Select Wallet Type

    1. Select "Standard wallet"
    2. Click Next

    Step 4: Choose Keystore

    1. Select "I already have a seed"
    2. Click Next

    Step 5: Enter Your Seed Phrase

    1. Type your 12 words in the text box, separated by spaces
    2. Important: Click "Options" button
    3. Check the box for "BIP39 seed"
    4. Click OK to close options
    5. Click Next

    Critical: You MUST enable "BIP39 seed" in Options. MultiBit HD uses BIP39, which is different from Electrum's native seed format. Without this option, Electrum will reject your seed phrase.

    Step 6: Set Derivation Path

    MultiBit HD uses a non-standard derivation path. You may need to try:

    Default: m/0'

    If that doesn't work, try: m/44'/0'/0'

    Select legacy (p2pkh) for address type, as MultiBit HD used legacy addresses starting with "1".

    Step 7: Set Password and Complete

    1. Set a strong password for your Electrum wallet
    2. Click Next
    3. Electrum will sync and display your balance
    Balance Not Showing? If your balance is zero but you expect Bitcoin, try a different derivation path. MultiBit HD's path is m/0', but some versions may have used different paths. You can also try generating more addresses (Wallet → Addresses → Create new addresses).

    Method B: Import Private Keys

    If you have exported .key files from MultiBit Classic containing your private keys in WIF format.

    Step 1: Prepare Your Private Keys

    Open your .key file in a text editor. You should see private keys that look like:

    5HueCGU8rMjxEXxiPuD5BDku4MkFqeZyd4dZ1jvhTVqvbTLvyTJ

    Private keys start with "5" (uncompressed) or "K"/"L" (compressed) and are 51-52 characters.

    Step 2: Create Import Wallet in Electrum

    1. Open Electrum
    2. File → New/Restore
    3. Name your wallet
    4. Select "Import Bitcoin addresses or private keys"
    5. Click Next

    Step 3: Enter Private Keys

    1. Paste your private keys in the text box (one per line)
    2. If you have multiple keys, paste them all
    3. Click Next
    4. Set a wallet password
    5. Click Next to complete

    Step 4: Verify Balance

    Electrum will sync and show any Bitcoin associated with those addresses. Your balance should appear within a minute.

    Method C: Sweep Private Keys (Recommended)

    Sweeping is more secure than importing because it moves your Bitcoin to a completely new wallet with fresh keys. The old MultiBit keys are never used again.

    Step 1: Create a New Electrum Wallet

    1. Open Electrum → File → New/Restore
    2. Name your wallet (e.g., "New Bitcoin Wallet")
    3. Select "Standard wallet"
    4. Select "Create a new seed"
    5. Choose "Segwit" for modern addresses
    6. Write down your new 12-word seed phrase carefully!
    7. Verify the seed and set a password

    Step 2: Access Sweep Function

    1. Go to Wallet → Private Keys → Sweep
    2. Enter your MultiBit private keys (from your .key file)
    3. Set the destination as your new Electrum address

    Step 3: Execute Sweep

    1. Review the transaction details
    2. Set an appropriate fee (Electrum suggests a reasonable fee)
    3. Click Sweep
    4. Confirm the transaction
    5. Wait for confirmation (usually 10-60 minutes)

    Why Sweeping Is Better

    • • Your new wallet has fresh keys that were never exposed
    • • Old MultiBit keys can be discarded, reducing attack surface
    • • New addresses use modern formats (SegWit) with lower fees
    • • Cleaner wallet history going forward

    Troubleshooting Common Issues

    Electrum says my seed is invalid

    Make sure you clicked Options and enabled "BIP39 seed". Electrum's native format is different from MultiBit HD's BIP39 format.

    Balance shows zero after importing

    • • Try different derivation paths (m/0', m/44'/0'/0', m/0'/0)
    • • Generate more addresses: Wallet → Addresses → right-click → Create new addresses
    • • Make sure you imported ALL private keys from MultiBit
    • • Verify your Bitcoin is still at those addresses using a blockchain explorer

    Private key format not recognized

    Make sure you're copying the actual private key (starting with 5, K, or L), not the public address or other data from the file.

    Encrypted .key.aes file

    You need to decrypt the file first using the password you set during MultiBit export. Technical users can try tools like btcrecover or hashcat if you know partial password information. For professional assistance, contact support@cryptorecovers.com.

    After Migration: Security Checklist

    You're Done!

    Your Bitcoin is now in a modern, actively-maintained wallet. Electrum receives regular security updates and will continue to work for years to come. Make sure to back up your new seed phrase and never use MultiBit for Bitcoin transactions again.

    Version-Specific Guides

    MultiBit Classic Guide →MultiBit HD Guide →
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