Importing keys
Overview
This guide walks you through importing existing keys into the Transaction Tool that were not generated by the recovery phrase used during the initial application setup. You can import both ECDSA and ED25519 key types, including password-protected (encrypted) keys.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, you should have completed the following:
Transaction Tool Setup: New User Installation Guide or Install: Existing Users
User Account Configuration: Account Setup process to create user account.
You should also have:
Private Keys: The private key(s) you want to import in the correct format.
Key Information: Knowledge of whether your keys are ED25519 or ECDSA type.
Password Access: If importing encrypted keys, you must have the password to decrypt them.
Import Options
ED25519 Key
Import a single ED25519 private key
Raw private key string or DER-encoded format
ECDSA Key
Import a single ECDSA private key
Raw private key string or DER-encoded format
Encrypted Keys
Import a directory containing multiple encrypted keys
(folder or .zip file)
Password-protected key files
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Navigate to the Key Management Settings
Select Settings from the bottom left corner of the application.
Select the Keys tab to access key management options.
Step 2: Initiate Key Import Process
Select Import from the top right corner of the Keys interface.
Choose your import method from the available options.
Import Method 1: Import Individual Keys (ED25519 or ECDSA)
Select either ED25519 Key or ECDSA Key based on your key type.
In the Private Key field, enter your private key string.
In the Key Nickname field (optional), enter a descriptive name for easy identification.
Select Import to add the key to your key management system.
Import Method 2: Import Encrypted Key Directory
Select Import and then choose Encrypted Keys.
Select Browse to choose the folder and select the folder or a
.zipfile containing your encrypted keys.
Select Import add all valid keys from the folder or a zip file.
(Optional) After Importing the system will prompt you to Import recover phrase, add the recovery phrase and select import.
Enter the Decryption Password to decrypt the keys when prompted.
Once you have imported the key, the key will appear in the keys table:
Step 3: Verify Imported Keys
Review the keys table to ensure your imported keys appear correctly.
Index
The index at which the private key was generated.
This value is only available if you imported the key using a recovery phrase; otherwise, it displays N/A.
0, 1, 2...
Nickname
The nickname provided for the key
"Main Signing Key"
Account ID
If the key is associated with an account on the selected network, the account ID will be displayed here. If the key is not associated with any account, this field remains empty.
0.0.12345
Key Type
The type of key. Either an ED25519 or ECDSA key type
ED25519, ECDSA
Public Key
The public key corresponding to the private key
b691f79aef5b36f5a3c58757971bca9.....
Private Key
The private key
Hidden for security reason
Verify that key information such as type, public key, and nickname are displayed accurately.
Check that any associated Account IDs are properly linked if the keys correspond to existing Hedera accounts.
Last updated