Guides: finding lost Bitcoin, step by step
Calm, plain-English guides for the situations we investigate — written from the questions real people ask. No hype, no recovery promises, and one rule that never changes: never share your seed phrase with anyone.
Found a wallet.dat File but Forgot the Password? Read This FirstYou found it — on an old laptop, a backup drive, or buried in a folder from 2013: a file called wallet.dat (or an Electrum wallet file). The file surviving is half the battle. The password is gone. Here's how to handle it without making it worse. Your Spouse or Parent Passed Away and Had Bitcoin: First Steps for Families and ExecutorsFirst: we're sorry for your loss. This guide can wait until you're ready — nothing here is urgent this week, and the worst mistakes happen when grieving families rush. When you are ready, here's the calm version. Bitcoin Recovery Service Scams: 9 Red Flags Before You Pay AnyoneIf you're reading this, there's a decent chance you're mid-conversation with someone who says they can get your Bitcoin back. Pause. Pausing is free, and it's the one move the scammers can't counter — everything on this page can be checked in ten minutes, before any money moves.Start with a free assessment.
Lost Bitcoin investigates what actually happened to your Bitcoin — records, old devices, and public blockchain evidence — and classifies what is confirmed, what is a possible lead, and what is honestly unknown. A full Investigation Report is $9.99 and is only offered when a credible lead exists. We never ask for seed phrases, private keys, or wallet passwords. Recovery is never guaranteed.