When using an unencrypted read-only wallet, pressing “Create Unsigned”, shows “This operation needs you wallet passphrase to unlock the wallet” #772

1. 
   stevenroose commented at 3:01 pm on October 24, 2023: contributor

   Is there an existing issue for this?

   • I have searched the existing issues

   Current behaviour

   When using an unencrypted, read-only (descriptor) wallet, when trying to make a new transaction and pressing the “Create Unsigned” button, a dialog is shown with the message “This operation needs you wallet passphrase to unlock the wallet”. There is no wallet passphrase as I have never created it. It’s also not possible to enter the empty passphrase as the submit button is grayed out.

   Expected behaviour

   “Create Unsigned” creates an unsigned PSBT.

   Steps to reproduce

   When using an unencrypted, read-only (descriptor) wallet, when trying to make a new transaction and pressing the “Create Unsigned” button

   Relevant log output

   no log output without debugging enabled

   How did you obtain Bitcoin Core

   Package manager

   What version of Bitcoin Core are you using?

   v25.1

   Operating system and version

   Guix

   Machine specifications

   No response

2. stevenroose cross-referenced this on Oct 24, 2023 from issue qt: When using an unencrypted read-only wallet, pressing "Create Unsigned", shows "This operation needs you wallet passphrase to unlock the wallet" by stevenroose
3. 
   achow101 commented at 8:37 pm on October 24, 2023: member

   Are you able to reproduce this on master?

   I am unable to reproduce this issue. On regtest, I created a new wallet with private keys disabled and was able to use the “Create Unsigned” button as expected.

   This is likely an issue specific to your wallet. Is it possible that you had used it with unreleased software or an unmerged PR? Would you be willing to share this wallet file?

   This is possibly related to #631, perhaps the fix was incomplete.

4. 
   achow101 commented at 9:05 pm on October 24, 2023: member

   If your watchonly was encrypted with an older version of Bitcoin Core that accidentally allowed that, then it is possible to hit this error. The obvious solution is to enter the password. If you don’t remember it, and are feeling particularly adventurous, you can open the wallet.dat file with your choice of sqlite tool, find the record beginning with \x04mkey, and delete it.
5. achow101 cross-referenced this on Oct 24, 2023 from issue Check for private keys disabled before attempting unlock by achow101
6. achow101 cross-referenced this on Oct 24, 2023 from issue wallet: Cleanup accidental encryption keys in watchonly wallets by achow101
7. hebasto renamed this:
   qt: When using an unencrypted read-only wallet, pressing "Create Unsigned", shows "This operation needs you wallet passphrase to unlock the wallet"
   When using an unencrypted read-only wallet, pressing "Create Unsigned", shows "This operation needs you wallet passphrase to unlock the wallet"
   on Jan 3, 2024
8. hebasto closed this on Feb 12, 2024

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9. hebasto referenced this in commit c6398c609b on Feb 12, 2024

Contributors
stevenroose achow101