3 · Old software we import from
The desktop can import wallets from the old Epic GUI wallet (3.x to 6.1) and from the epic command-line program. Its old folders are read but never changed. Every other wallet comes across with its recovery phrase.
Screen you see
The app works
Saved on the device / a file
Network or blockchain
Warning, stop or problem
A way in
3 Known issue, see the list below the diagram
Thick green arrows are the usual path. Dashed arrows are side paths. Arrows into the red band are what happens when something goes wrong. In the diagram, tap a box to highlight its links.
Swipe sideways to see the whole diagram, or open it full screen to zoom.
Swipe sideways to see the whole diagram, or open it full screen to zoom.
Where the desktop looks
Welcome › Import wallets searches only the ~/.epic folder and the older GUIs' address books, read only. An Epic GUI 6.1 folder is not searched any more: pick it with Choose a folder…, which also covers a copied wallet or a USB stick. Picking the 6.1 folder itself (usually ~/.epic-gui) lists every wallet in it, and the GUI's wallet names, node list and address book are read from that folder only.
| What | Linux | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epic GUI 6.1 | Not searched. Choose a folder… on its folder (usually ~/.epic-gui, or where you moved it) lists the wallets in its wallets/, with the names and networks from its settings | ||
| GUI 3.0 / 4.x accounts | ~/.epic/epic_3-0-0_config.json (account list) | ||
| epic program and GUI 4–6 | ~/.epic/main (and floo, user) with account sub-folders | %USERPROFILE%\.epic\… | ~/.epic/… |
| Old GUI address books | ~/.config/EpicWallet (up to 5.3), ~/.config/epic-desktop-wallet (6.0); GUI 6.1's only from a picked folder | %APPDATA%\… | ~/Library/Application Support/… |
A folder counts as a wallet when it has wallet_data/wallet.seed.
What comes across, by source
| You had | How | You need | Balance | Payment history | Notes, labels | Contacts | Node, Epicbox | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epic GUI 6.1 | Desktop import, Choose a folder… | Old password | Yes, by search | Yes, from its log | Not in old wallets | Yes, from the picked folder | Nodes added to your list, not switched on. Epicbox server not kept | No |
| Epic GUI 4.x – 6.0 | Desktop import | Old password | Yes | Yes (epic-wallet 3.3 or newer) | No | Yes | Node added | No |
| Epic GUI 3.x and older wallets (5.3 or older format) | Desktop import | Old password | Yes | No: the old database format is not readable | No | Yes | Node added | No |
| epic program (command line) | Desktop import | Old password | Yes | Yes | No | No address book | Node added | — |
| Stack Wallet, Epic Pay | Restore from phrase | Phrase | Yes, by search | No | No | No | No | No |
| Our older apps (other app ids, old data folders) | Restore from phrase | Phrase | Yes | Only from a .wfeh you saved | Only from .wfeh | From .wfeh or a contacts file | Only from .wfeh | Only from .wfeh |
A .wfeh history file | Settings, or right after a restore | The same phrase, nothing else | — | Yes | Yes | Yes, with stars | Yes: lists and choices | Yes |
Why
- The old password is needed because the old wallet's seed file is encrypted with it. The import decrypts it once and stores the seed under your new password. The imported wallet keeps the old password. Only an old password shorter than today's rule (8+) is replaced by a new one you choose.
- Balance always comes from the blockchain search, never from the old files. The first unlock of each imported wallet searches the whole chain.
- Old payment history comes from the old wallet's own log. The import checks that the log belongs to this seed. Log entries that were never finished stay open: the new wallet cannot complete them, because their private keys stayed in the old wallet.
- Notes and labels never existed in the old wallets, so there is nothing to bring.
- Stack Wallet and Epic Pay keep their data in their own apps. We only use the phrase. A 12- or 24-word phrase from them gives the same keys and coins: both follow the same standard as the original Epic wallet.
- Our older apps used other app ids and data folders. Nothing is copied across: restore from the phrase and import a
.wfehif you saved one. Old desktop folders:~/.local/share/com.blacktyger…(Linux),%APPDATA%\com.blacktyger\…(Windows). The new one is~/.epic_cash_desktopon every system. They can be deleted by hand once you have the phrase. - Only main-network wallets can be imported. Test-network wallets are listed but cannot be picked.
- Wallet in use: the import skips a wallet that another program has open. On Windows the app cannot tell, so close the old wallet first.
The .wfeh history file
- Saved from Settings (phone) or Settings › This wallet › Backup (desktop). It holds everything the phrase and the blockchain search cannot rebuild: payments with their notes, labels, fees and who paid; invoices and payment requests both ways, with their message, contact and final state; the whole shared address book with its stars; paired contacts with their trust; the wallet's settings; and, on the desktop, the wallet's name.
- Settings in it: payment methods on or off and the default one, the node and Epicbox server lists and the chosen ones, Advanced and experimental switches, display choices and send defaults. Not in it: notifications, and never the public HTTP mode.
- It never holds the recovery phrase, keys, the password or the PIN, and it cannot restore a wallet on its own: restore from the phrase first, then import the file. Both apps offer the import right after a restore.
- No password: only a wallet restored from the same phrase can open it. A file from another wallet or another network is refused with its own message.
- Import applies everything at once and shows one summary ("Restored: 12 payments, 5 notes, 4 contacts, 3 invoices and settings"). It asks only where you changed something here that differs from the file: a note or label you typed, or a setting you changed. Nothing is written until you choose.
- A payment request still open when the file was saved comes back as history only; the restored wallet cannot finish it.
- Files saved by earlier 26.10 versions still import. An older app cannot read a file saved by a newer one, and says so.
Known issues
12Importing an old wallet silently moves it to our Epicbox relay Medium Fixed
- Where
- Desktop › Welcome › Import wallets › Done (proof lines)
- What
- An imported wallet uses the app's default Epicbox server; if the old wallet used another server, give contacts the new address.
- Status
- Fixed in the next update
27Import reads the old wallet's name, language and built-in-node choice and drops them Low Fixed
- Where
- Desktop › Import wallets
- What
- Imported wallets from older GUI versions keep their folder name, not the name set in the old app.
- Status
- Fixed in the next update
28Windows cannot tell whether the old wallet program is still running Low Partly fixed
- Where
- Desktop › Import wallets › Check
- What
- On Windows, close the old wallet program before importing.
- Status
- Partly fixed in the next update. Close the older wallet program before importing.
29Import refusal text says 'copy it by hand' though nothing is copied any more Low Fixed
- Where
- Desktop › Import wallets › blocked row
- What
- A wallet folder with links inside is refused by the import; restore it from the phrase.
- Status
- Fixed in the next update
30Old-history refusal text mixes GUI and wallet-engine version numbers Low Fixed
- Where
- Desktop › Import wallets › Done (history line)
- What
- Payment history of the oldest wallets cannot be imported; the balance still comes back by scanning.
- Status
- Fixed in the next update
31Stack Wallet and Epic Pay users get no hint that only the phrase works Low Fixed
- Where
- Desktop › Welcome / Import wallets; Phone › first screen
- What
- Coming from Stack Wallet or Epic Pay: restore from your recovery phrase; there is no file import.
- Status
- Fixed in the next update
40Imported old history: open entries stay open, kernel checks stop at 200, moved folders are not retried Low Open
- Where
- Desktop › Activity after an import
- What
- Payments that were still pending in the old wallet stay pending after an import.
- Status
- Not changed: old-software import edge case.
41Import Done does not say which password unlocks the imported wallet Low Fixed
- Where
- Desktop › Import wallets › Done
- What
- An imported wallet opens with its old password unless the app asked you for a new one.
- Status
- Fixed in the next update