How to Import a Watch Address

In cryptocurrency, managing your funds securely and efficiently is important. A useful feature Trust Wallet provides is the ability to import and monitor a watch address. This guide will explain what a watch address is, and what you can and cannot do with it. We will provide step-by-step instructions on how to import a watch address using Trust Wallet, with examples using BNB Smart Chain.

Before You Get Started

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What is a Watch Address?

A watch address is a public receiving address for a cryptocurrency wallet. Your watch address enables you to monitor the activity of a wallet without having access to its private keys. When you import a watch address, you can view the tokens, collectibles, and transaction history associated with that wallet, without being able to make any changes or transactions.

The watch wallet feature is particularly useful for monitoring funds in cold wallets while keeping private keys offline, and keeping track of transactions on wallets you do not own for transparency or auditing purposes.

What You Can Do with a Watch Address

• View the wallet's transaction history.

• Check the balance and value of tokens held in the wallet.

• Send tokens to the wallet.

What You Cannot Do with a Watch Address

• Send funds from the wallet to an exchange or another wallet.

• Sign smart contracts.

• Use decentralized applications (DApps) through the DApp browser.

How to Import a Watch Address Using Trust Wallet

Follow these steps to import a watch address using Trust Wallet. For this example, we’ll use an address on the BNB Smart Chain (BSC).

1. Open the Trust Wallet app on your mobile device.

2. Navigate to the Settings section by tapping on the gear icon.

3. In the Settings menu, tap on Wallets.

4. Tap on the “+” button in the upper-right corner of the screen to open the import options.

5. Select “Add existing wallet.”

6. Select “View-only wallet.”

7. From the list of supported blockchains, select BNB Smart Chain. This ensures that you are importing an address compatible with BNB tokens and transactions.

8. In the import screen, type or paste the public wallet address you want to monitor into the designated field. If you have a QR code for the wallet address, you can scan it directly using your device’s camera.

9. Assign a name to this watch-only wallet for easy identification

10. Complete the import by tapping on “Confirm”

The wallet will now appear in your list of wallets within Trust Wallet as a watch-only address.

Important Considerations

While importing a watch address is straightforward, remember that this feature is purely for viewing purposes. You cannot perform any actions that require private keys, like sending funds or interacting with DApps.

Always ensure that you are entering accurate wallet addresses and avoid sharing sensitive information like private keys or recovery phrases with anyone.

Watch Wallet Scams: What You Need to Know

Watch wallets are a legitimate and useful tool for monitoring crypto balances, but they can also be exploited by scammers. A common scam involves fraudsters using watch-only wallet addresses to create the illusion of accessible funds. Scammers may claim that a wallet needs "unlocking" to access its balance and request payments or sensitive information, like private keys or seed phrases, to do so. In reality, these funds are inaccessible without the private key, which the scammer controls. To protect yourself, never send funds to unknown wallets or share your private keys. Remember, no legitimate wallet requires "unlocking" for access to funds

Why Use Trust Wallet for Watch Addresses?

Trust Wallet is a versatile, secure non-custodial wallet that supports over 100 blockchains and millions of crypto assets. When you use Trust Wallet to import watch addresses, you can easily manage multiple wallets in one place without compromising security or control.

Whether you're monitoring your own cold storage wallets or keeping an eye on public addresses for transparency purposes, Trust Wallet provides an intuitive and reliable solution. Following this guide on how to import a watch address enables you to efficiently track wallet activity while maintaining complete security over your private keys. Start using this feature to enjoy peace of mind knowing your assets are safe and accessible for monitoring.

Disclaimer: Content is for informational purposes and not investment advice. Web3 and crypto come with risk. Please do your own research with respect to interacting with any Web3 applications or crypto assets. View our terms of service.

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Note: Any cited numbers, figures, or illustrations are reported at the time of writing, and are subject to change.