I really could use some help. I was holding some #bitcoin on chain using my node running on an #umbrel server. Today I went to? Make a transfer and the server is having an issue. Non of the apps will open and I am unable to install new apps.

No biggie, I have the keys. So I used blue wallet to restore my wallet and it did work, kind of.. But it shows no balance.

#asknostr Do I need to specifially use an umbrel node wallet or what is the deal? I thought the seeds could be used anywhere. Why are many of my transactions not showing in blue? I really appreciate any suggestions because I need access to the funds and I am not sure what to do.

Thank you.

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I'm confused because you say keys then you say seeds? Which is it?

If you import a Bitcoin private key to ANY wallet you'll have access to your coins ON the blockchain.

I used my 24 word phrase. It loaded a wallet. And it shows 0 balance and some of my history, not all of it.

Try importing your seed to Electrum.

For some reason when I enter the words in there it doesn't let me hit next after typing them. 🤷

If it doesn’t let you hit next that means you have an error in your seed phrase somewhere.

Does BlueWallet give you options to the derivation path or type of wallet? Ty them all if so.

Also, if it’s an old wallet from Umbrel it might take some time to load all the old transaction. Have you given it sufficient time?

Maybe not. I feel confident I will get it back. Just learning right now. First time I have dealt with this.

have you checked the addressed on a blockchain explorer?

I looked this up for you specifically for Electrum.

Steps to Import a 24-Word BIP39 Seed into Electrum

Open Electrum

Launch the app and choose “File → New/Restore” to create a new wallet.

Name Your Wallet

Enter a name and click Next.

Select Wallet Type

Choose the wallet type:

Standard wallet (for single key)!!

Choose “I already have a seed”

Select that option and click Next.

Paste Your 24-Word Seed

Now here’s the trick:

Paste or type your 24-word BIP39 seed.

THEN, check the box below that says:

“Options” → “BIP39 seed”

Click Next

Electrum will recognize it as a BIP39 seed and let you continue.

Choose Script Type (Derivation Path)

Electrum will ask what kind of wallet you want:

Legacy (P2PKH): m/44'/0'/0'/0

Native SegWit (P2WPKH): m/84'/0'/0'/0

Nested SegWit (P2SH-P2WPKH): m/49'/0'/0'/0

Or Custom derivation path

If you're unsure and want modern addresses (bc1), use:

m/84'/0'/0'/0

Wallet Loads

Electrum will scan the keys and generate addresses based on your chosen derivation.

Bear in mind that you CANNOT lose anything if this doesn't work out but I sure hope it does.

Also, if this works then leave the wallet open for some time so that it has a chance to scrape the chain for your transactions and balances.

Maybe it's just this. 🤷 I'm not sure what else to do. I wonder if I reinstall my node on my Umbrel if that would be any better. I don't see why. I'm afraid to wipe it. It won't do anything right now.

I tried this too, more than once. Said no wallets found. I'm so confused.

I believe the wallet in question is a 24 word LND Aezeed, correct? If so I think only certain wallets support it. I have restored one on bluewallet before, but not sure why you are getting a zero balance if you're sure you have sats on chain. I think you can restore aezeed wallets on Zeus too.

This is what I found—and confirm it imports Umbrel wallets into BlueWallet

You said you aren’t able to hit “import”. Is that still the case?

It did restore to aezeed wallet. And it seems like it is missing addresses or something.

This is a rabbit hole—still looking down it.

In the meantime, did you try importing your seed phrase into Zeus?

try this, it’s option 5 from the link

https://community.umbrel.com/t/how-to-restore-your-node-wallet-updated/3602

Using Sparrow wallet method, only for onchain funds

This method will NOT restore your LN channels, only the onchain wallet! To restore funds from LN channels you still need to do the “normal procedure” explained in the point 1 in this guide.

Install Sparrow desktop wallet

Go to Cryptography Toolkit and download the HTML file onto your computer.

Open that HTML file in “offline mode” (no internet) and select “aezeed Cipher Seed Scheme” from Tools. Then go to the 2nd tab “Decode Mnemonic”.

Paste your 24 words into the “Mnemonic” field.

Trying this now. Thanks a lot for the help.

We did some zap tests on this note… we made six attempts to⚡zap this note, using your lightning address starting with "norm3", over a period of about 2 hours. In each case, we found that your lightning address server did not respond correctly. You might want to look into using a cloud-based Lightning node which is optimized for Nostr zaps, to get your zaps working.

Sorry, I forgot that Electrum is using 12-word seeds and it's not BIP39. I apologise.

Okay. Yeah. I tried it still. It didn't find any wallets

Maybe all the history is pressent actually. Just not showing the remaining balance.

that shouldn't be the case. The wallet should fetch the history of the address(es) from the network. Do you have keys?

I never adopted seeds because I had a similar issue a long time ago with Electrum. While the seed would restore the original wallet it would not restore addresses created AFTER the seed had been created. Hence I lost two addresses at that time and went back to private keys.

I can't think of a better way than restoring your wallet than doing a reinstall of the node on your umbrel. You could also look for the node's .dat file, make a backup, reinstall the node/wallet you were using and then try to replace the .dat file (or whatever the wallet file is called on your system).

I hope this works out!

This seems like a good idea. How do I get the dat file?

Im might have messed up big. If I use Alby hub does that have a different address than my regular wallet? I might have misses backing up some keys not knowing my funds were getting moved while testing lightning stuff out. 🤷

I hope you'll be able to resolve this. 0 balance is rare in any wallet with any history (hard to spend the last bit of dust unless wasting it on excessive fee)

What's your regular wallet address. Alby lightning addresses look like: ...@getalby.com .

Let us know at support.getalby.com.

Desertdave@getalby.com I think

I ran your question into Venice and the answer returned was pretty good:

The issue you're experiencing is likely due to node connectivity/synchronization and derivation path mismatches, not a failure of your seeds. Here's a breakdown and actionable steps:

Core Problems

Node Accessibility:

Your Umbrel node is offline, so apps like Blue Wallet can’t connect to it. If Blue Wallet is set to use your local Umbrel node (default), it won’t sync transactions or show balances without node access.

Derivation Path Mismatch:

Umbrel’s Bitcoin Core (default wallet) uses a derivation path like m/84'/0'/0' (BIP-84 for segwit addresses). Blue Wallet might default to a different path (e.g., m/44'/0' for legacy addresses). If the path doesn’t match, funds won’t show up.

Syncing Issues:

Even if you restored the seed correctly, Blue Wallet might not have fully synced with the blockchain or your node, delaying transaction visibility.

Solutions

1. Temporarily Use a Public Node for Blue Wallet

Open Blue Wallet’s settings and switch from "Umbrel" or "Custom Node" to Public Node (under the "Node" or "Network" section).

This bypasses your offline Umbrel node and connects to a public Bitcoin node, allowing you to see your balance immediately (assuming your seed/path is correct).

2. Specify the Correct Derivation Path

During Blue Wallet’s seed restoration, explicitly set the derivation path to m/84'/0'/0' (the standard for Umbrel’s Bitcoin Core).

If you skipped this step earlier, you’ll need to restore the seed again with the correct path (back up your current Blue Wallet first!).

3. Verify Node Health

If you can access your Umbrel server:

Check Bitcoin Core’s logs (via system.log or the admin panel) for sync errors.

Restart Bitcoin Core or Umbrel if it’s stuck.

If the node is unreachable, prioritize fixing it (e.g., reboot hardware, check internet, ensure bitcoind is running).

4. Use an Alternative Wallet Temporarily

Install a lightweight wallet like Electrum (with "Standard" server) or Sparrow Wallet to confirm your balance. These can sync via public nodes and use your seed.

Export your wallet’s private keys or addresses from Blue Wallet (if possible) and check them on a blockchain explorer like blockchair.com.

5. Ensure Umbrel’s Bitcoin Core Is Fully Synced

If your node is back online, wait for Bitcoin Core to fully sync (could take hours/days). Blue Wallet depends on your node’s state.

Monitor sync progress via bitcoin-cli getblockchaininfo in the Umbrel terminal.

Why Seeds "Work Anywhere" But Sometimes Fail

Seeds are universal, but wallets must:

Use the correct derivation path (most issues stem from this).

Connect to a working node or blockchain explorer.

Be fully synced before displaying balances/transactions.

Final Steps

Prioritize restoring access to your funds via a public-node wallet (Blue Wallet or Electrum).

Fix your Umbrel node offline issue to regain control of your self-hosted setup.

Double-check derivation paths and sync status in all wallets.

If funds still don’t appear after these steps, verify the addresses on a blockchain explorer to confirm they’re correct. Let me know if you need help with any specific troubleshooting!

If you have your seed phrase you should be safe but there is more to how the wallets work. It doesn’t have to be an umbrel, but you need a wallet that uses the same derivation path. There are lists online that help you know which wallets are compatible but I’m sure the smart tech people (I’m not one) will be here to help you soon. I just want to encourage you that it’s not lost. 👍🏻

Would using the wrong derivation path show some transactions but no funds some how?

Idk. I use big words I don’t understand. I just know when I create a wallet I write down the seed phrase, wallet version, derivation path and date created because smart software people say it will help if I need to restore it.

If you use the wrong path you wont see the transactions. If you are in the right derivation path but dont see anything you might have a gap of 20

How do I adjust the search criteria?

search criteria is what you enter for "derivation path". eg. ((e.g., m/44'/0'/0'/0/0) here is a great disciption of a derivation path:

A Bitcoin derivation path can be likened to walking a tightrope between precision, security, and chaos. Here's the analogy broken down:

The Tightrope (Derivation Path Structure):

Like a tightrope walker must follow an exact path without deviation, a derivation path defines a strict hierarchical route for generating cryptographic keys. Each segment (e.g., m/44'/0'/0'/0/0) is a step that must be executed precisely—stray even slightly, and you risk falling into insecure or nonsensical key outputs.

Balancing Act (Security vs. Predictability):

Walking the line requires balancing rigor and adaptability. Derivation paths similarly balance determinism (predictable key generation) with security. Hardened keys (marked with an apostrophe, e.g., ') act like critical balance points: they demand parental private keys, ensuring no misstep can compromise the entire system.

Consequences of Deviation:

If a tightrope walker missteps, they fall. If a derivation path is altered (e.g., wrong coin type, account index, or purpose), it produces keys unusable for Bitcoin—or worse, keys that expose private information to unrelated chains.

No Room for Guesswork:

Just as a tightrope requires preplanned steps, derivation paths are formulaic. BIP32/44/49 standards define the "rules of the walk," ensuring wallets and services stay synchronized. Deviating from these rules is like ignoring safety gear: it might "work" but invites disaster.

Destination (Key Generation):

The end goal is safely reaching your destination (a usable key pair) without faltering. A correct derivation path guarantees you arrive at the right address, just as a skilled walker reaches the finish line.

In short: A derivation path is the unyielding, mathematical tightrope Bitcoin users walk to securely generate keys—where precision is survival, and improvisation is a risk.

There may be a setting in your wallet application to adjust the searchable address gap. It is sometimes limited by default.

I haven't seen anything like this.

I’ve been thinking about doing a Start9 or Umbrel. I’d really like to run it in raid 1. These systems don’t seem to support that yet.

You can run StartOS on a server and that can be set to raid 1

Oh really? I want something low wattage. I might have to build something. 🤔

Use a low TDP mini-PC. My Lenovo I'd running proxmox and can be set up. With enough disks to run simple RAID setups.

I’ll have to grab one on AliExpress. Thanks!

try a #zfs based host system like #Proxmox and run your node as a VM

A couple questions while I am exploring a couple things:

We are talking about your on-chain wallet, correct? Reading back into the thread makes me want to confirm this.

Also, did you set up your Umbrel wallet with a passphrase?

I have a 24 word for my lightning app on the node. Don't remember having a passphrase for the whole umbrel.

Also, according to the Umbrel community this works:

“You could try also with Zap desktop (not mobile) using the seed”

I am trying the sparrow wallet and cryptography toolkit method. Got it to load. Just waiting now. Thanks for the help.

for recovery, i'd recommend #Electrum, not #Sparrow, though I consider Sparrow in most cases is way superior, but for recovery no.

I have tried both. Blue wallet is the only one that pulled up a wallet with a transaction history at all.

Was following the links sent successful?

Not yet. I loaded a wallet into sparrow. It shows some addresses but no transactions. I am not sure how much time it might need or what else I need to do.

If your Umbrel is on a raspi and you are concerned about overwriting it with a reset, the only “safe” option I would take is buy another raspi and install Umbrel on it and re-establish the seed phrase on the new one. Once set up use the old raspi as backup server.

Other than that I would follow the link darthcoin write up.

I am trying on another hard drive right now. I have to wait for the chain to download and sync before I can see it it works. I am assuming any data that I could need is still on the other hard drive. It seems like the SD card just stores and image for the is and the Harddive holds all the data.

I ended up getting the original node back up by deleting some containers or something. Basically I talked to Venice AI and tried stuff and it worked!!!

nice!

Its a really good feeling. No more random. Power cits to the umbrel.

Not sure about a passphrase. Seems like the fact that the wallet shows up in blue wallet at all means i am accessing it without an extra passphrase.

Lightning still not ready for the masses. Maybe never will function sufficiently well outside of custodians with zero privacy.

nostr:nevent1qqsp7ektwlldcqjvtulammzp4un7gep6wtqe0xt5r4ve9k8utd9q0yspz3mhxue69uhkummnw3ezummcw3ezuer9wcpzpksekhffrcrw6zd623du2dnyprwg9w5vn60e05ew4r4xpu0ke0a2qvzqqqqqqylmk2k8

Wallets can differ in creating addresses and address gaps/hops, like receiving addresses are not created secuencially but e.g. every 10th address is used for security reasons. That can be the reason that some balances are not showing up though you use the exact seedphase or privkey. The most reliable Wallet I have found for recovery is #Electrum