Difference between revisions of "Help:Installing Bitcoin Core"

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This is a step-by-step tutorial to help new users start using bitcoin. After you read this page, you'll know the basics of what bitcoin is and how it is structured, how to get and install the bitcoin client, where to get coins, and how to use the client to send and receive transactions.
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An account can effortlessly be created using an [[eWallet]] service. eWallet services provide an online wallet to hold your bitcoins.
  
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=What is Bitcoin=
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This guide covers installing Bitcoin without needing a third party wallet service.
  
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Insert here a basic description of what it is and how it works. With a possible link to a separate page with a more detailed, but still "layperson oriented" explanation.
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== For Windows Computers ==
  
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=Getting started=
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Download Windows Bitcoin Wallet at [https://bitcoin.org/en/download http://bitcoin.org/en/download] available in 64bit and 32bit.
  
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In this section, you'll learn where to get the client, how to install it on different operating systems, and download the [[block chain]].
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[[File:Bitcoin-qt-welcome-install.jpeg|frame|none|Welcome Wizard Screen]]
  
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==Download and install the client==
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Click Next to start installation.
  
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First, download the bitcoin client from http://bitcoin.org/. Choose the appropriate link depending on your operating system, and install in the usual manner. For Windows, easiest is probably the executable installer. See screenshots on the right.
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[[File:Bitcoin-qt-location-install.jpg|frame|none|Destination Folder Screen]]
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[[File:Download it fin.png|frame|none|Downloading the "Windows (exe)" version]]
 
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[[File:Install fin.png|frame|none|Windows installation wizard]]
 
  
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(Optional) Choose preferred directory then click Next.
  
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For Linux, note that the tar.gz contains the binary build, in addition to the source, so if you run a recent distribution, you should be able to just run the binary without compiling yourself.
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[[File:Bitcoin-qt-start-menu-folder.jpg|frame|none|Choose Start Menu Screen]]
  
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==Starting the client and connecting to the network==
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Click Install.
  
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[[File:First time run fin.png|400px|thumb|right|Bitcoin is initializing by establishing a connection to other clients and downloading the blocks.]]
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[[File:Bitcoin-qt-installation-complete.jpg|frame|none|Installation Screen]]
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Bitcoin comes with a GUI client called "bitcoin", and a CLI (text-mode) client called "bitcoind". It is probably more user-friendly to start with the GUI, so launch the bitcoin client.
 
  
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When you start for the first time, your bitcoin wallet will be created automatically, and the client will attempt to establish connections to other nodes on the network and start downloading the bitcoin [[block chain]]. You must get all of the blocks in the chain before sending/receiving transactions. [http://blockexplorer.com/q/getblockcount Click here] to see the current number of blocks in the chain. This download may take as long as several hours.
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Wait until installation completes then click Next.
  
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==Client features==
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[[File:Bitcoin-qt-finish-install.jpg|frame|none|Finish Screen]]
  
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[[File:Bitcoin all blocks fin.png|400px|thumb|right|Some bitcoin client features.]]
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Click Finish to start Bitcoin Wallet.
  
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Your starting bitcoin address (you can have as many as you want - we'll talk about [[#Bitcoin addresses|addresses]] later) shows in a text box at the top. Right below it is your total bitcoin balance, which, of course, to start with will be zero. There is a list box below it showing all your transactions, which can be variously filtered with tabs, which again will be empty to start with.
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[[File:Bitcoin-qt-data-directory.jpg|frame|none|Welcome Screen of Bitcoin Core Wallet]]
  
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The status bar at the bottom will display some important information. If you have [[#Generating bitcoins|bitcoin generation (block hashing)]] turned on, on the left the client will display your hash rate. To the right of that, you will see the number of bitcoin nodes your client is connected to, then, the number of blocks your client has in its chain, and finally, the number of transactions you have in your wallet.
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On the first load, Bitcoin Qt will ask you to choose directory where your Bitcoin block chain and wallet.dat will be stored. Click OK when done.
  
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=Using bitcoin=
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== For Mac OS Computers ==
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Download Mac Bitcoin Wallet at http://bitcoin.org/en/download and expand the disk image.
  
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In this section you will learn about bitcoin addresses, sending and receiving transactions, the block chain and transaction confirmations, where to get your first bitcoins (faucet), generation. Tips on keeping wallet safe.
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[[File:BcOSX.png|frame|none|Contents of the Bitcoin disk image after expansion]]
  
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==Getting your first bitcoins==
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Drag the Bitcoin icon to the desired install location, and double-click the icon to run the application.
  
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There are few things more exciting than getting your first bitcoins! So once you have all the blocks downloaded, head on over to the [https://freebitcoins.appspot.com/ bitcoin faucet], fill out the form and put in your bitcoin address, and receive some free bitcoin! (You can do this before finishing the block chain download, but you won't see the coins in your wallet until you finish downloading the blocks... which would put a damper on the whole excitement bit.)
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== Initialization ==
  
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[[File:Get some btc.png|frame|none|Getting free coins from the Faucet]]
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The Bitcoin window will open and connections will start up in minutes. The blocks will begin downloading.  
  
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Once you submit the form successfully, you should see a new transaction in your client within seconds. But it will be grayed out, and have 0/unconfirmed status:
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At this point, it is recommended to encrypt your wallet before receiving any bitcoins. Encrypting later may leave earlier addresses vulnerable to theft in the case that the system is compromised. This can be done from the Settings menu using the Encrypt Wallet function.
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[[File:First btc recv.png|frame|none]]
 
  
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Once your transaction makes it into the block chain, the confirmation count will grow in step with the number of blocks in the chain. By default, the client stops showing "unconfirmed" after the transaction is 6 blocks deep in the chain:
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[[File:Bitcoin-qt-main-window.jpg|frame|none|Main window]]
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[[File:Six confirms bitcoin client.png|frame|none]]
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[[File:Bitcoin-qt-preferences.jpg|frame|none|Preferences window on Windows]]
  
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==Transaction confirmations==
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Your wallet will automatically have your first bitcoin address.
  
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write about blocks and confirmations here.
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[[File:Bitcoin-qt-receiving-address.jpg|frame|none|Receive coins window]]
  
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thanks to the block chain, you don't need to be online for receiving BTC...
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== Getting my first coins ==
  
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==Bitcoin addresses==
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You can get your first coins from [[Bitcoin Faucet|Bitcoin faucets]] which gives small amount of BTC for free.
  
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You can create as many new addresses as you like. Using a different address each time helps to preserve your [[anonymity]].
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The client will eventually show the transaction.
  
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You cannot send BTC to an invalid address. Client will refuse to send payment to a misspecified address. (Though with care you can craft a valid but nonexistent address.)
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[[File:Bitcoin-qt-receive-transaction.png|frame|none]]
  
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talk more about addresses here
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After about one hour the transaction should get 6 confirmations. You are able to spend the coins once the transaction shows at least one confirmation.
  
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==Generating bitcoins==
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The confirmation counter (like the block counter) will increase by one roughly every 10 minutes. Six confirmations are considered as 100% sure a transfer has been processed.
  
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talk about generation here
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[[File:Bitcoin-qt-receive-transaction-confirmed.png|frame|none|Transaction once confirmed]]
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== Buying Bitcoins ==
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Bitcoins can be bought from individuals, on trading exchanges or from other online services. See the main page about [[Buying bitcoins|Buying Bitcoins]] for more information.
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== Points to remember ==
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* You don't need to be online to receive BTC.
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* You can create as many new addresses as you like. Using a different address each time helps keep you [[Anonymity|anonymous]].
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* You can be [[Anonymity|anonymous]] with adequate precautions.
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* You cannot send BTC to an invalid address. Typos are not a worry as the payment will refuse to send.
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* The [[Wallet|wallet]] file holds the keys that allow spending and thus the computer should be [[Securing_your_wallet|protected]] from the risk of loss and theft.
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* Leaving Bitcoin open improves connectivity for the network and ensures that you don't fall behind on the block chain. Also see [[FAQ#Do_I_need_to_configure_my_firewall_to_run_bitcoin?|the FAQ about port forwarding]]
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Proceed to the [[Introduction|introduction]]
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== Technical ==
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=== Block chain ===
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The [[block chain]] is a never-ending story of every transaction throughout the network from day 1 (genesis). The first time you run Bitcoin, it is downloaded and verified on your computer. Every new transaction is added to the end of this chain and verified by the network to be valid.
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=== Addresses ===
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Whenever you send a coin, you are actually sending a cryptographically signed message, associating your coin with the recipient's address. This effectively transfers ownership to the recipient. Once they own the coin, they are free to transfer it to another person.
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A wallet is a collection of addresses. You can create as many new addresses as you wish; having more addresses makes you more anonymous, because then people cannot see how much BTC you received. Your wallet contains the secret keys used for spending that money, and must be [[Securing your wallet|backed-up regularly]]. If you lose the wallet then you no longer possess the money.
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=== Generating ===
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New coins are mined through generating hashes. These generators are rewarded with a small fee for the computationally intensive task of incorporating your transactions into the block-chain. This fee halves each time 210000 blocks are added to the block chain, or approximately every 4 years. The fee will keep halving until it effectively reaches zero, at which point 21 million coins will be in circulation.
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[[Category:Introduction]]
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[[de:Erste Schritte]]
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[[zh-cn:入门]]
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{{Bitcoin Core documentation}}

Revision as of 10:43, 29 October 2017

An account can effortlessly be created using an eWallet service. eWallet services provide an online wallet to hold your bitcoins.

This guide covers installing Bitcoin without needing a third party wallet service.

For Windows Computers

Download Windows Bitcoin Wallet at http://bitcoin.org/en/download available in 64bit and 32bit.

Welcome Wizard Screen

Click Next to start installation.

Destination Folder Screen

(Optional) Choose preferred directory then click Next.

Choose Start Menu Screen

Click Install.

Installation Screen

Wait until installation completes then click Next.

Finish Screen

Click Finish to start Bitcoin Wallet.

Welcome Screen of Bitcoin Core Wallet

On the first load, Bitcoin Qt will ask you to choose directory where your Bitcoin block chain and wallet.dat will be stored. Click OK when done.

For Mac OS Computers

Download Mac Bitcoin Wallet at http://bitcoin.org/en/download and expand the disk image.

Contents of the Bitcoin disk image after expansion

Drag the Bitcoin icon to the desired install location, and double-click the icon to run the application.

Initialization

The Bitcoin window will open and connections will start up in minutes. The blocks will begin downloading.

At this point, it is recommended to encrypt your wallet before receiving any bitcoins. Encrypting later may leave earlier addresses vulnerable to theft in the case that the system is compromised. This can be done from the Settings menu using the Encrypt Wallet function.

Main window
Preferences window on Windows

Your wallet will automatically have your first bitcoin address.

Receive coins window

Getting my first coins

You can get your first coins from Bitcoin faucets which gives small amount of BTC for free.

The client will eventually show the transaction.

Bitcoin-qt-receive-transaction.png

After about one hour the transaction should get 6 confirmations. You are able to spend the coins once the transaction shows at least one confirmation.

The confirmation counter (like the block counter) will increase by one roughly every 10 minutes. Six confirmations are considered as 100% sure a transfer has been processed.

Transaction once confirmed

Buying Bitcoins

Bitcoins can be bought from individuals, on trading exchanges or from other online services. See the main page about Buying Bitcoins for more information.

Points to remember

  • You don't need to be online to receive BTC.
  • You can create as many new addresses as you like. Using a different address each time helps keep you anonymous.
  • You can be anonymous with adequate precautions.
  • You cannot send BTC to an invalid address. Typos are not a worry as the payment will refuse to send.
  • The wallet file holds the keys that allow spending and thus the computer should be protected from the risk of loss and theft.
  • Leaving Bitcoin open improves connectivity for the network and ensures that you don't fall behind on the block chain. Also see the FAQ about port forwarding

Proceed to the introduction

Technical

Block chain

The block chain is a never-ending story of every transaction throughout the network from day 1 (genesis). The first time you run Bitcoin, it is downloaded and verified on your computer. Every new transaction is added to the end of this chain and verified by the network to be valid.

Addresses

Whenever you send a coin, you are actually sending a cryptographically signed message, associating your coin with the recipient's address. This effectively transfers ownership to the recipient. Once they own the coin, they are free to transfer it to another person.

A wallet is a collection of addresses. You can create as many new addresses as you wish; having more addresses makes you more anonymous, because then people cannot see how much BTC you received. Your wallet contains the secret keys used for spending that money, and must be backed-up regularly. If you lose the wallet then you no longer possess the money.

Generating

New coins are mined through generating hashes. These generators are rewarded with a small fee for the computationally intensive task of incorporating your transactions into the block-chain. This fee halves each time 210000 blocks are added to the block chain, or approximately every 4 years. The fee will keep halving until it effectively reaches zero, at which point 21 million coins will be in circulation.


Bitcoin Core documentation
User documentation
Developer documentation
History & theory
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