.. meta:: :description: How to download, install and encrypt the Dash Core wallet in Windows :keywords: dash, core, wallet, windows, installation .. _dashcore-installation-windows: Windows Installation Guide ========================== This guide describes how to download, install and encrypt the Dash Core wallet for Windows. The guide is written for Windows 10, but the steps should be similar for Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8. Downloading the Dash Core wallet -------------------------------- Visit https://www.dash.org/downloads/ to download the latest Dash Core wallet. In most cases, the website will properly detect which version you need. Click **Download Installer** to download the installer directly. .. figure:: img/windows/download.png :height: 250px The website properly detects the wallet appropriate for your system If detection does not work, you will need to manually choose your operating system and whether you need a 32 or 64 bit version. If you are unsure whether your version of Windows is 32 or 64 bit, you can check in Windows 10 under **Start > Settings > System > About**. For details on how to check this in other versions of Windows, see `here `__. .. figure:: img/windows/106328726.png :height: 250px In Windows Settings, click System .. figure:: img/windows/106328734.png :width: 337px Under the System section, click About to view the System type. This is a 64 bit system. Once you know which version you need, download the Dash Core Installer to your computer from https://www.dash.org/downloads/ and save the file you downloaded to your Downloads folder. Verifying Dash Core ------------------- This step is optional, but recommended to verify the authenticity of the file you downloaded. This is done by checking its detached signature against the public key published by the Dash Core development team. To download the detached signature, click the **Installer Signature** button on the wallet download page and save it to the same folder as the downloaded binary. All releases of Dash are signed using GPG with one of the following keys: - Alexander Block (codablock) with the key ``63A9 6B40 6102 E091``, `verifiable here on Keybase `__ (`download `__) - Pasta (pasta) with the key ``5252 7BED ABE8 7984``, `verifiable here on Keybase `__ (`download `__) Download the key files above. Install `Gpg4win `__ if it is not already available on your computer. Once it is installed, open the **Kleopatra** certificate manager and click **File -> Import**. Import the key files and verify the Key-ID matches the ID above. .. figure:: img/windows/setup-windows-kleopatra-import.png :height: 250px Importing codablock's GPG public key Skip any requests to certify the certificate with your own key. Next, click **Decrypt/Verify...** and select the detached signature file named ``dashcore-18.2.1-win64-setup.exe.asc`` in the same folder as the downloaded installer. .. figure:: img/windows/setup-windows-kleopatra-verify.png :height: 250px Selecting the signature file for verification If you see the first line of the message reads ``Verified dashcore-18.2.1-win64-setup.exe with dashcore-18.2.1-win64-setup.exe.asc`` then you have an authentic copy of Dash Core for Windows. .. figure:: img/windows/setup-windows-kleopatra-verified.png :height: 250px The binary installer has been verified Running the Dash Core installer ------------------------------- Double-click the file to start installing Dash Core. .. figure:: img/windows/106328792.png :height: 250px The Dash Core installer in the Downloads folder At this point, you may see a warning from Windows SmartScreen that the app is unrecognized. You can safely skip past this warning by clicking **More info**, then **Run anyway**. .. figure:: img/windows/106328818.png :width: 354px .. figure:: img/windows/106328813.png :width: 354px Bypassing Windows SmartScreen to run the app. This warning is known as a “false positive”. The installer will then guide you through the installation process. .. figure:: img/windows/106328844.png :height: 250px The Dash Core installer welcome screen Click through the following screens. All settings can be left at their default values unless you have a specific reason to change something. .. figure:: img/windows/106328866.png :height: 250px Select the installation location .. figure:: img/windows/106328871.png :height: 250px Select the Start menu folder .. figure:: img/windows/106328876.png :height: 250px Dash Core is being installed .. figure:: img/windows/106328881.png :height: 250px Installation is complete Running Dash Core for the first time ------------------------------------ Once installation is complete, Dash Core will start up immediately. If it does not, click **Start > Dash Core > Dash Core** to start the application. The first time the program is launched, you will be offered a choice of where you want to store your blockchain and wallet data. Choose a location with enough free space, as the blockchain can reach 30GB+ in size. It is recommended to use the default data folder if possible. .. figure:: img/windows/106328945.png :height: 250px Choosing the Dash Core data folder Dash Core will then start up. This will take a little longer than usual the first time you run it, since Dash Core needs to generate cryptographic data to secure your wallet. .. figure:: img/windows/106328960.png :height: 250px Starting Dash Core Synchronizing Dash Core to the Dash network ------------------------------------------- Once Dash Core is successfully installed and started, you will see the wallet overview screen. You will notice that the wallet is “out of sync”, and the status bar at the bottom of the window will show the synchronization progress. .. figure:: img/windows/106328993.png :height: 250px Dash Core begins synchronizing with the Dash network During this process, Dash Core will download a full copy of the Dash blockchain from other nodes to your device. Depending on your internet connection, this may take a long time. If you see the message “No block source available”, check your internet connection. When synchronization is complete, you will see a small blue tick in the lower right corner. .. figure:: img/windows/106329009.png :height: 250px Dash Core synchronization is complete You can now begin to use your wallet to send and receive funds. Encrypting your Dash wallet --------------------------- After your wallet has synchronized with the Dash network, it is strongly advised to encrypt the wallet with a password or passphrase to prevent unauthorized access. You should use a strong, new password that you have never used somewhere else. Take note of your password and store it somewhere safe or you will be locked out of your wallet and lose access to your funds. To encrypt your wallet, click **Settings > Encrypt Wallet**. .. figure:: img/windows/106329084.png :height: 250px Encrypting the Dash wallet with a password You will be asked to enter and verify a password. .. figure:: img/windows/106329102.png :height: 150px Enter a password .. figure:: img/windows/106329143.png :width: 354px Confirm you want to encrypt your wallet When the encryption process is complete, you will see a warning that past backups of your wallet will no longer be usable, and be asked to shut down Dash Core. When you restart Dash Core, you will see a small blue lock in the lower right corner. .. figure:: img/windows/106329165.png :height: 250px Fully encrypted and synchronized Dash Core wallet You can now begin to use your wallet to safely send and receive funds.