What is monero-wallet-cli?

monero-wallet-cli is Monero's official command-line wallet. It's included in the Monero software bundle alongside monerod (the node daemon). It offers every feature Monero supports: sending, receiving, subaddresses, multisig, hardware wallet integration, payment proofs, and view-only wallets. It's the most powerful Monero wallet available.

Is CLI wallet harder to use than GUI?

Yes, but not dramatically. The CLI wallet uses text commands instead of buttons. Most operations are one-line commands: 'balance' to check funds, 'transfer ADDRESS AMOUNT' to send, 'address new' to create a subaddress. If you're comfortable with a terminal, the learning curve is about 15 minutes.

Can I use monero-wallet-cli without running a node?

Yes. Use --daemon-address to connect to a remote node: 'monero-wallet-cli --daemon-address node.moneroworld.com:18089'. For privacy, use a Tor .onion node. Running your own node is ideal but not required.

How do I restore a wallet from seed in CLI?

Use: monero-wallet-cli --restore-deterministic-wallet --electrum-seed='your 25 word seed here'. The wallet will ask for a restore height (block number) — set this to the block height when the wallet was created to avoid scanning the entire blockchain.

What's the difference between CLI and Feather Wallet?

Feather Wallet is a GUI desktop wallet with built-in Tor, coin control, and a user-friendly interface. monero-wallet-cli is the command-line equivalent with access to every Monero feature including some that GUIs don't expose (like manual ring selection, custom unlock times, and advanced multisig). CLI is for power users; Feather is for everyone else.

Monero CLI Wallet — monero-wallet-cli Guide

TL;DR: monero-wallet-cli is Monero's most powerful wallet. Text-based, runs in terminal. Every Monero feature available: send, receive, subaddresses, multisig, hardware wallets, payment proofs, view-only mode, offline signing. Learning curve: ~15 minutes if you're comfortable with a terminal.

Getting Started

Create a new wallet

monero-wallet-cli --generate-new-wallet ~/monero-wallet

Creates wallet files. Save the 25-word seed phrase on paper immediately.

Connect to a remote node

monero-wallet-cli --wallet-file ~/monero-wallet \ --daemon-address node.moneroworld.com:18089

Connects without running a local node. For privacy, use a .onion node via Tor.

Restore from seed

monero-wallet-cli --restore-deterministic-wallet \ --electrum-seed="word1 word2 word3 ... word25"

Restore height saves time — set it to the block when wallet was created.

Essential Commands

Command	What It Does
`balance`	Show total and unlocked balance
`address`	Show primary address
`address new [label]`	Create a new subaddress
`address all`	List all subaddresses
`transfer ADDRESS AMOUNT`	Send XMR (auto fee)
`transfer ADDRESS AMOUNT 2`	Send with priority 2 (faster, higher fee)
`sweep_all ADDRESS`	Send entire balance to address
`show_transfers`	Transaction history (in/out)
`show_transfers in`	Incoming transactions only
`incoming_transfers`	Show unspent outputs
`refresh`	Force wallet sync with daemon
`status`	Current sync height and daemon connection
`seed`	Display seed phrase (dangerous)
`viewkey`	Show secret and public view key
`spendkey`	Show secret and public spend key
`exit`	Save and quit

Advanced Commands

Command	What It Does
`get_tx_proof TXID ADDRESS`	Prove you sent to ADDRESS
`check_tx_proof TXID ADDRESS SIG`	Verify a payment proof
`set priority [0-3]`	Default fee priority (0=auto, 3=highest)
`export_key_images FILE`	Export key images for view-only wallet
`import_key_images FILE`	Import key images to update view-only balance
`sign FILENAME`	Sign a file with wallet key
`verify FILENAME ADDRESS SIG`	Verify file signature
`export_outputs FILE`	Export outputs for cold signing
`import_outputs FILE`	Import outputs on offline wallet
`submit_transfer`	Broadcast a signed transaction

CLI vs GUI vs Feather

Feature	CLI	GUI	Feather
Interface	Terminal	Desktop app	Desktop app
Built-in Tor	Manual config	Optional	One-click
Coin control	Yes (advanced)	No	Yes
Hardware wallet	Yes	Yes	Yes
Multisig	Full support	No	No
Offline signing	Full support	No	Yes
Payment proofs	Yes	Limited	Yes
Best for	Power users, servers	Beginners	Most users

View-Only Wallet

Create view-only wallet (for monitoring without spend access)

monero-wallet-cli --generate-from-view-key ~/view-wallet \ --address 4... --viewkey SECRET_VIEW_KEY

Shows incoming transactions but can't spend. Import key images from full wallet to show accurate balance (outgoing deductions).

The Bottom Line

monero-wallet-cli is not for beginners — use Feather Wallet or the GUI for daily use. But for power users, server deployments, multisig setups, and air-gapped signing, the CLI is unmatched. Every Monero feature ever implemented is accessible here.

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