How To Check Your Bitcoin Balance

Want to know how to check your Bitcoin balance? You’re not alone. As Bitcoin (BTC) adoption continues to rise, so does the need for its holders to learn the basics.

Bitcoin’s decentralized nature, which operates without a central authority, brings with it unique ways to manage and monitor your holdings. And though the ways to check your Bitcoin balance might exhibit slight variations across different devices and interfaces, the core process largely remains consistent.

It’s essential for both newcomers and seasoned Bitcoin enthusiasts to grasp the importance of regularly tracking their balance, not just to keep an eye on their investment, but also to ensure the security and privacy of their transactions.

How to check your Bitcoin balance will depend entirely on the device you use, but they’re all pretty similar, and in this post we’ll cover Bitcoin wallets, a Block Explorer, and a portfolio app.

How to Check Bitcoin Balance on a Wallet

A Bitcoin wallet is much like a digital version of a physical wallet or bank account, but instead of storing fiat money, it stores your Bitcoin. Well technically it doesn’t store your Bitcoin, but it does store your private keys which is the virtual keys to your Bitcoin balance. Think of a wallet as an interface to the Bitcoin network, allowing users to manage their bitcoins.

Wallets can be broadly categorized into three types:

Software Wallets: These are apps or software installed on your computer or mobile device. They give you full control over your keys and funds, but they also require you to be responsible for backups and security.
Hardware Wallets: Think of these as dedicated devices (similar to USB drives) that securely store your private keys offline. This makes them immune to online hacks, malware, or phishing attacks, but it’s important to keep the device safe and secure.
Paper Wallets: As the name suggests, these are physical pieces of paper on which your Bitcoin addresses and private keys are printed. While they keep your bitcoins completely offline (hence safe from online attacks), they are vulnerable to physical damage, theft, or loss.

Hardware wallets are the best way for most Bitcoiners to store their bitcoins.

Synchronize the Wallet: For software or hardware wallets, you may need to synchronize the wallet before checking your balance, it depends how often you use it.
Navigate to the Balance: Once synchronized, open your wallet and navigate to the ‘Balance’ tab or its equivalent. Here, you will see your total Bitcoin balance, often alongside a list of transactions.

Lastly, it’s paramount to ensure your wallet is always up-to-date, especially software wallets. Developers regularly release updates to improve wallet security, add features, or fix bugs. Using an outdated wallet can expose you to vulnerabilities or even display inaccurate balance information.

How to Check a Bitcoin Balance Using Online Block Explorers

A block explorer is essentially a search engine for the Bitcoin network. Just as you’d use Google to search the internet, you’d use a block explorer to glean insights from the Bitcoin blockchain.

The blockchain, being a public ledger, contains all transaction data from the very first Bitcoin transaction to the latest. Block explorers access this data and present it in a user-friendly format, allowing anyone to search for specific transaction details, addresses, or block information.

To check your Bitcoin balance using a block explorer:

Navigate to a Reputable Block Explorer Website: There are several online, and always ensure you’re using a trustworthy site to avoid misleading or false information. I recommend Blockstream or Blockchair, but there are a few others.
Input Your Public Bitcoin Address: In the search bar of the block explorer, enter your public Bitcoin address, which is the alphanumeric string you share with others to receive Bitcoin. This address is entirely public and doesn’t give anyone access to your actual Bitcoins, just the transaction history and balance of that address.
View Balance and Transaction History: Once you input your address, the block explorer will display a wealth of information, including your current balance and a list of all transactions associated with that address. This can be useful to track incoming and outgoing transactions, verify payments, or just check your balance.

A vital reminder when using block explorers: Never input your private keys. While your public address is meant to be shared, your private keys are confidential and provide full access to your Bitcoins. Revealing them to any third party, intentionally or unintentionally, risks theft of your assets.

How to Check Bitcoin Balance Using Third-Party Portfolio

For Bitcoiners on the go, mobile apps dedicated to tracking Bitcoin balances are a necessity. It’s essential to understand that these apps are primarily trackers, and they don’t actually store your Bitcoin. Instead, they provide a window into the blockchain, showing you how much Bitcoin is associated with a particular address, or the transactions you input.

Steps to Use Mobile Apps for Balance Checks:

Download a Reputable Bitcoin Portfolio App: There are myriad apps available on the App Store or Google Play, but not all are trustworthy. Check reviews, ratings, and ideally choose one with high ratings.
Input or Scan Your Public Bitcoin Address: Once you’ve installed the app, you’ll need to enter your public Bitcoin address. Some apps offer the convenience of scanning a QR code, eliminating the need for manual entry.
Input Your Transactions: Portfolio trackers allow you to manually add your transactions, which the app then uses to track and calculate your balance.
Navigate to View Balance: After inputting your details into whichever app you use, navigate through the app to the section that displays your balance. Often, these apps will also showcase your transaction history and other relevant details.

I would recommend these apps for those who check regularly, withoit needing to transact. You can check the balance without going through the steps of logging into your Bitcoin wallet, and the block explorer can be a bit awkward, especially if you have your bitcoins on more than 1 address.

How to Check Bitcoin Balance

The Bitcoin price fluctuates, so keeping track of your balance is a no brainer. Not that I would recommend selling, but it’s always good practice to know your net worth in Bitcoin.

There are many ways to check your balance, and whether you prefer to track it inside your wallet, a block explorer, or a portfolio tracker, it’s not rocket science.

But, with these conveniences, you should always remember: your public address is for sharing, but your private key remains confidential. If anybody has your private keys, they have access to your Bitcoin.