Version 30 `-datadir=` not working

Waytoogo commented at 1:43 pm on October 13, 2025: none

Is there an existing issue for this?

I have searched the existing issues

Current behaviour

After installing version 30 the command line argument -datadir= for Bitcoin-qt.exe does not work on Windows. It keeps saying I don’t have a wallet. I had to go back to version 29.1

Expected behaviour

I expected it to load the data directory that I put in the command line.

Steps to reproduce

Try to start Bitcoin-qt.exe with a the command line -datadir=“C:\MyDataDirectory” or where ever your data directory is.

Relevant log output

The GUI comes up and says there is no wallet file, would I like to make one.

How did you obtain Bitcoin Core

Pre-built binaries

What version of Bitcoin Core are you using?

v30.0

Operating system and version

Windows 11 24h2

Machine specifications

Ryzen 7 CPU 32GB ram NVME SSD it has nothing to do with hardware I tried it on an old Intel machine with Windows 10 and it did the same thing.

fanquake renamed this:
~~Version 30 -datadir= not working~~
Version 30 `-datadir=` not working
on Oct 13, 2025

maflcko added the label Wallet on Oct 13, 2025

maflcko added the label Utils/log/libs on Oct 13, 2025

Waytoogo commented at 1:50 pm on October 13, 2025: none

Thank you for fixing the formatting. I’m not very good at this, but I wanted you guys to know about this problem.

maflcko commented at 1:55 pm on October 13, 2025: member

Is there a warning about the wallet being BDB, and a suggestion to migrate it? If yes, my recommendation would be to backup the wallet (following your normal backup flow) and then migrate it, using v30.0.

maflcko removed the label Utils/log/libs on Oct 13, 2025

maflcko added the label GUI on Oct 13, 2025

maflcko added the label Questions and Help on Oct 13, 2025

Waytoogo commented at 2:00 pm on October 13, 2025: none

No it’s just not taking the -datadir= command. In older versions if I put a wrong directory in the command it will tell me the directory does not exist and won’t start bitcoin. The new version just starts and completely ignores the -datadir= command and is trying to use the default directory.

maflcko commented at 2:13 pm on October 13, 2025: member

Do you have more precise steps to reproduce? Include the full command and the full output for 29.x and 30.x, please.

It works locally:

0bitcoin-qt -datadir=/tmp/does_not_exist
1Error: Specified data directory "/tmp/does_not_exist" does not exist.

Waytoogo commented at 2:31 pm on October 13, 2025: none

Yes now that I play with it more, it is opening my data directory, it just doesn’t see my wallet. It says “No wallet has been loaded. Go to File > Open Wallet to load a wallet. If I do that it says [default wallet] [needs migration]. should I click on that and let it migrate my wallet? I didn’t know it needed migration. I’m backing everything up before I do anything else.

Waytoogo commented at 2:42 pm on October 13, 2025: none

It wants me to put in my pass phrase to migrate the wallet. I don’t see anything about having to migrate the wallet from 29.1 in the release notes. Something is wrong here.

maflcko commented at 2:52 pm on October 13, 2025: member

it says [default wallet] [needs migration]. should I click on that and let it migrate my wallet? I didn’t know it needed migration. I’m backing everything up before I do anything else.

Yeah, a backup makes sense. See also my previous reply: “my recommendation would be to backup the wallet (following your normal backup flow) and then migrate it, using v30.0.”.

It wants me to put in my pass phrase to migrate the wallet. I don’t see anything about having to migrate the wallet from 29.1 in the release notes. Something is wrong here.

It is mentioned in the 30.0 release notes for the 30.0 release. See https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/blob/master/doc/release-notes/release-notes-30.0.md#wallet

Waytoogo commented at 3:12 pm on October 13, 2025: none

I have never had to do a wallet migration before. In the past when a database migration was needed, it was stated very plainly that it would happen, no surprises. This time there is a wallet migration that needs me to put in my pass phrase, and it was mentioned way down in the release notes. The message it gave me when I started bitcoin-qt.exe with my data directory was not helpful, and why I filed an issue. Because it requires you to put in your passphrase, it should have been front and center in the email, and on the download page. I’m still afraid to put my passphrase in to migrate my data base. I will be staying with 29.1 until I find out for sure that this is on the up and up, and not some scheme to steal my coins. This was a very poorly done release.

maflcko commented at 3:29 pm on October 13, 2025: member

it should have been front and center in the email, and on the download page.

I am not sure about modifying the download page for a one-off release note snippet. The release notes mention it and the release notes are in the email and on the website.

In any case, it is not possible to go back in time and announce it differently, so I’d say this issue should be closed.

maflcko commented at 3:29 pm on October 13, 2025: member

Closing for now, but discussion can continue. Also, this issue can be re-opened, when there is need.

maflcko closed this on Oct 13, 2025

Waytoogo commented at 3:34 pm on October 13, 2025: none