Documentation

Quick start guide and essential information for Multibit Wallet

Quick Start Installation Basic Usage Advanced FAQ

Quick Start Guide

Get Multibit up and running in just a few steps. This guide helps you go from download to your first synchronized wallet as smoothly as possible.

Install Multibit

Download the installer for your operating system and follow the setup instructions. Once installed, launch Multibit to begin the initial configuration.

Create or Restore a Wallet

On first launch, choose whether to create a new wallet or restore an existing one using your recovery phrase. If you create a new wallet, write down your recovery phrase and store it safely offline.

Start Blockchain Synchronization

Multibit will begin downloading and verifying the Bitcoin blockchain. This process can take time depending on your internet speed and system performance, but you can already explore the interface while it runs in the background.

Check Your Status

Use the sync indicator to see your progress. Once fully synchronized, your wallet is ready to send, receive, and validate transactions independently.

You’re Ready

After synchronization completes, you are running a full Bitcoin wallet and node. You now control your funds directly and contribute to the Bitcoin network at the same time.

Installation

Windows Installation

Installing Multibit on Windows is simple and works like any other desktop application. The wallet installs only for your user account and keeps all data in your chosen folder, so you always know where everything is stored.

Download the latest Windows installer from the Multibit website.
Open the installer to start the setup process.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete installation.
Launch Multibit from the Start menu and continue with first-time setup.

macOS Installation

On macOS, Multibit runs as a standard application without requiring special system access or background services. The setup keeps everything inside your Applications folder and follows the usual macOS workflow.

Download the macOS installer from the Multibit website.
Open the file and drag Multibit into the Applications folder.
Open Multibit from Applications. If macOS shows a security prompt, confirm that you want to open the app.
Continue with the initial setup inside the wallet.

Linux Installation

Multibit for Linux is distributed as a single .jar file that works across most modern distributions. You do not need a package manager or system-wide installation. The wallet runs directly from the file you download, and you stay in control of where it lives.

Download the Multibit .jar from the official website.
Make the file executable using your file manager or terminal.
Run the .jar to start Multibit.
Follow the in-app setup to finish configuring your wallet.

Basic Usage

Receiving Bitcoin

Receiving Bitcoin in Multibit is simple and does not require any accounts or registration.

Open the Receive section of the wallet.
Copy your current Bitcoin address
Share the address with the sender.
Wait for the transaction to appear in your history.
Make sure the funds have arrived

Sending Bitcoin

Before sending, always double-check the details. Bitcoin transactions cannot be reversed.

Open the Send section.
Paste the recipient’s address.
Enter the amount you want to send.
Review the suggested transaction fee.
Confirm the transaction after checking all details.

Managing Transaction Fees

Fees affect how quickly your transaction is confirmed. Multibit helps you choose, but you stay in control.

Use the default fee if you want a balanced option.
Choose a higher fee for faster confirmation.
Choose a lower fee if time is not critical.
Always review the total cost before sending.

Viewing Transaction History

Multibit shows all wallet activity in one place, so you don’t need external tools for everyday checks.

Open the History tab.
View confirmed and pending transactions.
Click a transaction to see details such as amount, fee, and confirmations.
Use this view to track incoming and outgoing payments.

Restoring a Wallet

If you move to a new computer or reinstall Multibit, you can restore your wallet at any time.

Choose Restore wallet on the welcome screen.
Enter your recovery phrase exactly as written.
Wait for the wallet to rescan the blockchain.
Access your funds once synchronization completes.

Managing Multiple Wallets

Multibit lets you create and use more than one wallet in the same app.

Open the wallet menu.
Choose Create new wallet or Import wallet.
Give each wallet a clear name so you can tell them apart.
Switch between wallets from basic usage wallet selector.

Advanced Features

Advanced Features Overview

Multibit includes a set of advanced tools for users who want deeper control over how their wallet and node operate. These features are not required for everyday use, but they allow you to fine-tune performance, privacy, and network behavior once you are comfortable with the basics.

Node Configuration

Multibit gives you control over how your node connects to the Bitcoin network. By default, the wallet uses safe and balanced settings that work well for most users. Advanced users can adjust connection behavior to better match their environment.

You can control peer connections, reconnection behavior, and network visibility. Proper configuration helps keep your wallet synchronized and reliable even under unstable network conditions.

# Limit the total number of peer connections maxconnections=40 # Allow your node to accept incoming connections listen=1 # Bind the node to a specific network interface bind=0.0.0.0 # Route network traffic through Tor proxy=127.0.0.1:9050

These settings do not change Bitcoin’s protocol rules. They only affect how your node connects to the network. If you are unsure, it is best to keep the defaults.

Storage Management

Running a full node requires storing blockchain data. Multibit lets you choose how this data is handled based on your available disk space.

Full storage mode keeps the entire blockchain history and allows your node to serve data to others. Pruning mode keeps only recent data while still validating every block, greatly reducing disk usage.

Both modes preserve the same security guarantees. The difference is how much historical data your node stores.

Resource Usage Control

Advanced resource controls allow you to manage how much CPU and memory Multibit can use. This helps the wallet adapt to both powerful desktops and older or shared machines.

By tuning resource usage, you can keep your system responsive while allowing the node to operate reliably in the background.

Network Privacy Options

While Bitcoin is transparent, network-level privacy depends on how your node connects to peers. Multibit provides options to reduce metadata exposure.

You can route traffic through Tor to hide your IP address and adjust peer discovery behavior. These options increase privacy without changing how Bitcoin works.

Developer and Power-User Tools

Multibit includes optional tools for developers and advanced users who want visibility into wallet state, synchronization progress, and network activity.

These tools are useful for diagnostics, troubleshooting, and learning how the wallet operates internally. They read local data only and do not modify wallet state.

# Check blockchain status and sync progress bitcoin-cli getblockchaininfo # View current network connections bitcoin-cli getnetworkinfo # Check wallet balance bitcoin-cli getbalance # List recent wallet transactions bitcoin-cli listtransactions

Users often rely on these commands when troubleshooting synchronization issues or running Multibit in complex environments such as servers or virtual machines.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Multibit does not require accounts, emails, or personal information. You install the wallet and use it directly on your computer.

Your private keys are stored only on your device. They are never uploaded to servers and never shared with third parties.

Yes. You can restore a wallet using a standard recovery phrase from many other Bitcoin wallets that follow common formats.

No. Multibit does not collect wallet data. All balance checks and transaction validation happen locally on your computer.

Yes. You can restore your wallet on multiple computers using your recovery phrase. However, avoid using the same wallet simultaneously on different computers to prevent address reuse.

Multibit will notify you when updates are available. Download the new version from our website, back up your wallet first, then install the update. Your wallet data will be preserved.

Your Bitcoin is not tied to Multibit as a company. As long as you have your recovery phrase, you can restore your wallet in any compatible Bitcoin wallet.

You can open the wallet offline to view previous data, but sending and receiving transactions requires an internet connection to sync with the Bitcoin network.

You only need to back up your recovery phrase once, but it is good practice to verify that your backup is readable and stored safely from time to time.

Yes. Running a Bitcoin wallet and a full node is legal in most countries. Always check local regulations if you are unsure about cryptocurrency rules in your region.

Yes. Multibit can connect to Bitcoin testnet for development and testing without using real funds.

No. Multibit does not track behavior, collect analytics, or share data with third parties.

Ready to Get Started?

Download Multibit Wallet and start managing your Bitcoin securely with full node validation.

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