wallet guide / Monero GUI restore height

Monero GUI Restore Height: Safe Date and Rescan Guide

Learn what restore height means in Monero GUI, how to choose a safe earlier date, and what to do if your restored XMR balance looks wrong.

Quick answer: In Monero GUI, restore height tells the wallet where to start scanning. It should be before the first incoming transaction. Too low means a slower scan. Too high can hide balance and history until you rescan from earlier.

Last updated: June 24, 2026Independent educational guideNo seed phrase requested

What restore height does in Monero GUI

Monero GUI uses restore height to decide where wallet scanning begins. It is not a password, not a seed phrase, and not a balance checker.

The wallet still needs to scan the blockchain to discover outputs that belong to your keys. A safer earlier date gives the wallet more history to inspect.

When you need to change it

Change restore height when a restored wallet shows the wrong balance, old transactions are missing, the wallet was restored from seed, or you accidentally chose a date that is too recent.

Before changing it, confirm the wallet is fully synchronized. A wallet that is still syncing may temporarily show incomplete balance data.

How to choose a safe date

If you know the first receive date, choose a date before it. If you only know an approximate month, choose the first day of the previous month. For uncertain old wallets, choose much earlier or height 0 if necessary.

How to change restore height in Monero GUI

In Monero GUI, the official guide describes the path as Settings → Info → Wallet restore height → Change. Enter the new block height, confirm, and let the wallet resync fully.

Changing restore height may clear locally cached transaction metadata while the wallet rebuilds history. That is different from moving funds: your XMR is controlled by keys, not by cached display data.

Use official Monero documentation for exact current UI wording before changing wallet settings.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing a date after the first receive because it feels faster.
  • Closing the wallet before sync finishes.
  • Using wallet creation date without a buffer when the first receive date is uncertain.
  • Following fake support links or entering seed words outside Monero GUI.

Privacy and safety

Download wallet software from official sources, verify links, and never enter seed phrases into websites. A restore-height article can explain scanning; it cannot provide wallet support or guarantee privacy.

Official sources to verify

Use official wallet and project documentation before installing software or changing sensitive wallet settings. External links below are for verification and further reading.

FAQ

Can I use a date instead of block height in Monero GUI?

Some wallet flows help with dates, while the restore-height setting is a block height. Use official documentation for the current UI and choose a date before first incoming XMR.

What happens if I set restore height too low?

The scan starts earlier and may take longer, but it is usually safer for complete history.

What happens if I set restore height too high?

The wallet may skip older transactions and show missing balance or history.

Does changing restore height move my funds?

No. It changes scanning/cache behavior, not blockchain ownership.

Can I recover missing balance by rescanning?

If the missing balance is caused by a too-late restore height, rescanning from earlier can make history visible again.

Run the calculatorEstimate a conservative starting height.Missing XMR balance after restoreTroubleshoot empty restored wallets.Seed phrase safetyAvoid support scams.Cake Wallet restore heightMobile wallet restore-date guide.

Reviewed for wallet-safety clarity. This page is an independent educational guide and does not provide financial, legal, privacy, security, or recovery advice.