Installation of Wasabi

Frequently asked questions about how to properly install Wasabi Wallet. This is the Wasabi documentation, an archive of knowledge about the open-source, non-custodial and privacy-focused Bitcoin walle

Installing the Package

Where can I download Wasabi?

You can find the recent version of the compiled packages for Linux, Windows and Mac available on the official wasabiwallet.io. It's always best to download software directly from the official source acknowledged by the developers. In order to preserve your network level privacy from the very first step on, please consider visiting the Tor onion service wasabiukrxmkdgve5kynjztuovbg43uxcbcxn6y2okcrsg7gb6jdmbad.onion. The old versions of the software can be found in the releases of the GitHub repository, here you also find the libre & open source code for when you want to build it yourself. Please take special care to verify the PGP signatures of zkSNACKs' PGP public key ${zksnacksPublicKeyFingerprint} over the software packages and code commits.

Why is it important to verify PGP signatures?

:::danger Don't trust ~ verify. ::: These are not just empty words. Self sovereignty is at the core of Bitcoin in general, and Wasabi specifically. You have powerful tools at your disposal, yet they only work when used as they are designed. Wasabi is tailor made so that you do not have to trust anyone, but you have the power to verify everything.

With PGP signatures you can verify that the software package you download is actually the one by the developers. Every release of Wasabi is signed by zkSNACKs, the company behind Wasabi. You can verify that the PGP public key ${zksnacksPublicKeyFingerprint} is actually the one of zkSNACKs by exploring the web of trust. When you have a software package that was signed by this PGP public key, then you can be sure that this is an official release approved by zkSNACKs. This protects you against malicious man in the middle attacks where bad guys give you a fake version of Wasabi with malicious code.

How can I verify PGP signatures?

On the WasabiWallet.io website you can download the packages of the latest release. To verify the signature you also need to download the separate signature .asc file. In the terminal, change the directory to the one with the downloaded files, and verify the signature with gpg --verify + the corresponding signature file name, depending on which operating system you are.

Everything is valid if it returns Good signature from zkSNACKs and that it was signed with the Primary key fingerprint: ${zksnacksPublicKeyFingerprint}.

For an in-depth guide for Debian and Ubuntu, other Linux, Windows, and macOS see the main documentation.

How do I install Wasabi on Debian and Ubuntu?

Download the most recent .deb package and the .deb.asc signature file from the wasabiwallet.io or the Tor onion service.

Verify the signature of the package with gpg --verify Wasabi-${currentVersion}.deb.asc Wasabi-${currentVersion}.deb and ensure that the software was signed by zkSNACKs' PGP public key ${zksnacksPublicKeyFingerprint}.

Now install Wasabi with sudo apt install ./Wasabi-${currentVersion}.deb, and run it with wassabee. Check out the main documentation for a step-by-step guide.

How do I install Wasabi on other Linux?

Download the most recent .tar.gz package and the .tar.gz.asc signature file from the wasabiwallet.io or the Tor onion service.

Verify the signature of the package with gpg --verify Wasabi-${currentVersion}.tar.gz.asc Wasabi-${currentVersion}.tar.gz and ensure that the software was signed by zkSNACKs' PGP public key ${zksnacksPublicKeyFingerprint}. Now install Wasabi with sudo tar -pxzf Wasabi-${currentVersion}.tar.gz, and run it with ./wassabee. Check out the main documentation for a step-by-step guide.

How do I install Wasabi on Windows?

Download the most recent .msi package and the .msi.asc signature file from the wasabiwallet.io or the Tor onion service.

The Wasabi package is signed and automatically verified on Windows upon installation.

Optionally, you can still verify the PGP signature of the package by right-clicking on the signature file > More GpgEX options > Verify and ensure the software was signed by zkSNACKs' PGP public key ${zksnacksPublicKeyFingerprint}. Now install Wasabi by double-clicking the .msi file. Check out the main documentation for a step-by-step guide.

How do I install Wasabi on macOS?

Download the most recent .dmg package and the .dmg.asc signature file from the wasabiwallet.io or the Tor onion service.

The Wasabi package is signed and automatically verified on macOS upon installation.

Optionally, you can still verify the PGP signature of the package with sudo gpg2 --verify Wasabi-${currentVersion}.dmg.asc and ensure that the software has been signed by zkSNACKs' PGP public key ${zksnacksPublicKeyFingerprint}. Now install Wasabi by double-clicking the .dmg file. Check out the main documentation for a step-by-step guide.

Why are there two different packages for macOS (intel and Apple Silicon)?

Intel and Apple Silicon are two different processors types that Apple uses for their computers. These processors work a bit differently from each other. With the architecture that Wasabi uses, these two different processors need their own specific code binary in order to make it work.

What happens when I install the wrong package for macOS?

Wasabi will crash on startup or run significantly slower than it should. This will not harm your computer.

Do I need to install Tor separately?

No, because Wasabi has Tor built into the software. All Wasabi network traffic goes via Tor by default - no need to set up Tor yourself.

You can turn off Tor in the Settings. Be careful, as this will compromise your privacy. When you coinjoin over clearnet, the coordinator would know the links between your inputs and outputs based on your IP address. When you broadcast a transaction over clearnet, the connected full node will know the link between your transaction and your IP address.

Can I use Wasabi on Tails?

No, it is not possible to install Wasabi on Tails, because Wasabi uses the Tor control port, which is not exposed in this operating system.

Can I use Wasabi on Whonix?

No, it is not possible to install Wasabi on Whonix, because Wasabi uses the Tor control port, which is not exposed in this operating system.

What are the differences between the Debian/Ubuntu version and the "Other Linux" version?

Debian/Ubuntu version contains .deb package. Other Linux version contains .tar.gz package.

The advantages of the .deb format is solely packaging related. It installs Wasabi in your computer, so you're able to access it from start menu, remove it through apt, and so on.

The "Other Linux" option is just a generic install method not targeted to Debian/Ubuntu specifically but that works on it anyway because it is still linux.

There's no difference in the code, the same binaries are being delivered in different formats.

Update Wasabi

Why should I update Wasabi?

Wasabi is cutting edge software and is being worked on by the developers on a daily basis. Once in a while (+- every month) all the changes/improvements are being released in a new Wasabi version. The changes can contain (critical) bug fixes, small improvements, new features etc. It's always a good idea to run (one of) the latest Wasabi versions.

How do I check the current version of Wasabi?

In the GUI, go to the SearchBar at the top of the screen and click on About Wasabi. Here the current version of your Wasabi is displayed.

You can also verify the version using the command line by executing wassabeed --version.

Wasabi is cutting edge software, so it is well-advised to stay up-to-date.

How do I know about a new version of Wasabi?

When a new major version [v2.X.X] has been released, you'll see an orange update icon in the bottom right, upon hovering over it you can see Version 2.X.X is now available.

Clicking on Update uses the default browser to go to the website, where you can download this new version. There are occasional silent releases like [v2.X.X.X] which fix small issues, and these are not announced in the GUI, so you will not see the orange update icon. The website always contains the most recent version. All releases (major and minor) are announced on the social media like Twitter and Reddit.

How do I securely upgrade Wasabi?

To upgrade Wasabi, you need to download the new version. Downloading and installing the newer Wasabi package will overwrite the previous one, while preserving your files like your wallets etc. So to upgrade Wasabi, simply download and install the new version like at first install.

What does Auto download new version in the settings mean?

If enabled, the software will automatically download the new version's installer upon a new release. If disabled, the software will only signal, but not automatically download, that there is a new version available.

:::tip Auto download new version is currently only available for Windows and macOS For Linux, this setting does not work. A new version will have to be installed manually. :::

How does the Auto download new version work?

The software will automatically download the new version's installer upon a new release. After it is downloaded, the user can press "Update on Close" to run the installer when closing Wasabi. The installer is downloaded from GitHub.

Advanced Installation

How do I compile Wasabi from source?

If you cannot wait until the next release, and you want to experience the most cutting-edge version of Wasabi, then you can build the source code.

The only two required tools are Git and .NET ${dotnetVersion} SDK for "Build apps". You can download every line of the Wasabi code by git clone https://github.com/zkSNACKs/WalletWasabi.git, this will create a new directory called WalletWasabi. In order to build and run the Wallet software, change directory to cd WalletWasabi/WalletWasabi.Fluent.Desktop. Wasabi is written in C# with the .NET framework, and it is very easy to run it. Simply execute dotnet run from the WalletWasabi.Fluent.Desktop folder. You can update the master branch with git pull.

How can I verify the deterministic build?

The guide for the deterministic builds can be found in the WalletWasabi repository.

My antivirus marks Wasabi Wallet as a virus. Am I downloading the right software?

After you have downloaded Wasabi from the official website or from the official GitHub repository, make sure you have verified the PGP signatures.

If you have downloaded and verified digital signatures and your antivirus continues to report Wasabi as positive, you don't have to worry about anything; it is a false positive.

If you are still not sure, before starting Wasabi, you can check that it is safe by uploading and scan it via VirusTotal.

:::tip Remember to report Wasabi as a safe software/false positive to your antivirus. In doing so you will help users who use the same antivirus. :::

Why is the executable called wassabee?

The most obvious thing would be to call the executable Wasabi Wallet.exe on Windows and Wasabi Wallet on Linux and Mac.

However launching Wasabi Wallet from certain terminals/command lines is problematic, so we should remove the spacing: WasabiWallet, and the case sensitivity differences between the operating systems can also cause issues, so that must go too: wasabiwallet.

But it's too long, it needs a faster way to launch: wasabi.

However this is too generic, it'll certainly cause conflicts, we need to make it unique: wassabee.

Also, this sounds awesome and is a fun inside joke.

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