How do I set up a watch-only wallet in the Pocket app?

The Pocket app supports watch-only wallets. This allows you to set up a wallet with read access to your bitcoin address without importing the private key. This way you can view the balance and transaction history of your wallet without being able to spend the bitcoin. Doing so can be useful to monitor the activity of an address without having to connect your Bitbox02 with a computer.

The Pocket app can be used in conjunction with the BitBox hardware wallet to provide a secure and convenient way to manage bitcoin addresses. By combining the security of a hardware wallet with the convenience of a mobile app, the Pocket app is a flexible tool for managing your bitcoin holdings stored on a hardware wallet, such as the Bitbox02.

Requirements

In this article, we assume that you already have a BitBox02 and that it is already set up.

1. Download the Pocket app

If you have already downloaded and set up the Pocket app, skip to Step 3.

To download the Pocket app, go to the corresponding app store with an Android or iOS device (coming to iOS soon), search for "Pocket Bitcoin" and download the app "Pocket: Buy Bitcoin instantly" in the Google Play Store.

If you use Android, you can also download the APK directly.

2. Set up the Pocket app

After you have downloaded the Pocket app, you must first set it up. If you have already done this, skip to Step 3.

If you are opening the Pocket app for the first time, you will see an information screen. Read everything carefully and click on "Start".

You will now be asked to set a PIN for the Pocket app. Enter a six-digit number combination of your choice and confirm it by entering it again.

After you have set the PIN, you will be automatically redirected to the start screen of the app.

3. Allow import of watch-only wallets

Now click on the symbol with the 3 dashes in the top right-hand corner to open the menu.

Now select the cogwheel icon to access the settings.

Tap on the menu item "Advanced".

Now activate the option "Allow watch-only import" by clicking on the slider. You can recognize the activation by the fact that the button moves to the right and gets a pink background.

Navigate back to the start page of the app.

4. Create watch-only wallet

Click on the gray tile "Add a bitcoin wallet to get started".

A new screen opens. Here you have the choice of importing an existing wallet or creating a new one. Select "Restore existing wallet".

Another screen now appears with information on importing existing wallets. Read the text carefully and then click on "Import XPUB".

Now give your watch-only wallet a name, e.g. "BitBox", and then click on "Continue".

Now you will be asked to enter your XPub.

If you connect your BitBox to another device in the next step, click on the symbol at the top right of the input field to scan the XPub via QR code in the following step. If you are on an Android smartphone and use your BitBox with this device, proceed directly to the next step.

5. Access XPub in the BitBoxApp

Connect your BitBox to your computer or directly to your Android smartphone, open the BitBoxApp and enter your password on the BitBox to access your accounts. You will now see the account overview in the BitBoxApp. In the menu on the left, click on the account you want to monitor on your smartphone with the watch-only wallet.

Now click on the link at the top right that says "Account info".

On the next screen, you will see the extended public key, also called XPub, of your bitcoin account. Your XPub is the long alphanumeric character string that begins with the letters "zpub". You now have the option to copy your XPub to the clipboard by clicking on the small symbol next to the XPub or to scan the displayed QR code directly with the Pocket App.

6. Import XPub in the Pocket App

Return to the Pocket App.

If you scanned the QR code, your XPub was automatically imported. Otherwise, paste your XPub from the clipboard into the corresponding field. Confirm the entry by clicking on the "Import" button.

You will probably have to wait a moment while your wallet and transactions are loaded.

Done

That's it. Your BitBox wallet and all your transactions are now displayed in the Pocket app. The small eye symbol indicates that this wallet is a watch-only wallet. If you click on the wallet, you will also see that you only have the option to receive bitcoin. The button to send your bitcoin is missing.

Fantastic! You can now keep an eye on your bitcoin holdings, which are safely stored on your BitBox hardware wallet, with this watch-only wallet and see how many Satoshis you have already stacked.

If you have several accounts on your BitBox that you would like to view from your smartphone without having to connect your BitBox, you can repeat these steps for each of these accounts separately.

Thank you for your trust.