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1. Set your PIN

Choose 6 digits, then enter them again. On Your PIN is set, select Continue. See PIN and lock.

2. The introduction

A short introduction appears the first time. It shows sample data, not yours.
Introduction screen titled Your Bitcoin, in one place, with Skip and Continue buttons

The first-run introduction. Select Skip or Continue.

Introduction step titled It can see, not spend, with a sample Kraken key showing read-only permissions

Wallets connect watch-only. Exchanges only need a read-only key.

The steps are:
  • Your Bitcoin, in one place.
  • Bring in what you already use. Connect a hardware wallet, multisig, exchange, or enter holdings yourself.
  • It can see, not spend. Wallets connect watch-only. Exchanges only need a read-only key.
  • Your data stays with you. Your history is saved on this computer, or on your server.
  • Choose your Electrum server. Desktop only. See step 3.
  • Start with one account. Have your hardware wallet, a read-only API key from your exchange, or just your balance to enter by hand.
Introduction step titled Start with one account, with Not Now and Add Account buttons

The last step takes you to Add Account.

Select Not Now to look around first. The introduction does not come back after you finish or skip it. Pressing Esc also skips it.

3. Choose an Electrum server (desktop)

Control Center reads wallet balances from an Electrum server. Whoever runs it can see which addresses are yours and your IP address. On desktop, the introduction asks before you add an account. StartOS always uses your own Electrs, so there is no server step. Your choice only applies when you select Continue or Connect. Select Skip before that, and you stay on Blockstream’s public server without Tor, even if you turned on Connect via Tor. To switch, see Change it later.
Choose your Electrum server step with Blockstream's public server selected and Connect via Tor off

Pick Blockstream's public server or your own node.

Blockstream’s public server

It’s selected to start. It works right away, with nothing to set up.
  1. Optional: turn on Connect via Tor to hide your IP address from Blockstream. Tor can take a minute to start. Blockstream still sees your addresses.
  2. Select Continue.
“Couldn’t connect through Tor.” Try again, or turn off Connect via Tor.

My own node

  1. Select My own node. Select Continue.
  2. On Connect your node, enter the Address, such as mynode.local or 192.168.1.20. Find it in your node’s Electrum server app, such as Electrs or Fulcrum.
  3. Use the Port and Protocol your node’s Electrum app shows. The form starts on SSL and 50002. Many home nodes use TCP on 50001.
  4. For a .onion address, turn on Connect via Tor and use TCP.
  5. Select Connect. When it works, you see Connected to your node and move to the next step.
Connect your node form with Address, Port, Protocol, and Connect via Tor

Enter your node's Electrum address, port, and protocol.

“Couldn’t connect to …” Check the details and that your node is on. The reason shows under the message. If the form is incomplete, Connect shows what to fix: Your node is saved as My node in Settings. You can rename it there. Changed your mind? Select Back. Pick Blockstream’s public server. Select Continue. My node stays saved in Settings.
Choosing Connect via Tor or your own node here also sets Statement data to Configured Electrum server. Change it in Settings.

While you use the public server

A strip above the header says Want more privacy? Look up your wallets on your own node. Select Connect your node to open Electrum settings. It goes away once you connect another server, or when you close it. The strip still shows with Connect via Tor on. Tor hides your IP address, but Blockstream still sees your addresses.
Home with a Want more privacy strip and Connect your node link above the header

The strip while you're on Blockstream's public server.

Change it later

  1. Open Settings (gear icon, top right).
  2. Under Electrum Server, select New connection.
  3. Enter a Name, Host, Port, and Protocol.
  4. Select Test Connection. Then select Save & Connect.
Electrum Server settings with the New connection form: name, start with, host, port, protocol, and Connect via Tor

Add a saved connection in Settings.

  • Protocol: use SSL for a public server. TCP is not encrypted, so use it only on your own network or for a .onion address (Tor encrypts it).
  • Connect via Tor: required for .onion addresses. Tor can take up to two minutes to start the first time.
Electrum connection showing a connected status

Connected.

You can save up to 5 connections. Only one is active at a time. See Settings for every option.

4. Add your name

Open Settings. Under Personal information, enter Your name. Select Save name. It pre-fills the name on new statements.
Settings page with the statement name field

Your name on statements.

5. Add your first account

Select Add Account on Home. Start with How accounts work.