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The Wallet page provides comprehensive management of your Internet Computer wallet, including controller management, address book functionality, custodian operations, and cycle transfers. This page centralizes all wallet-related operations in a professional tabbed interface with full dfx 0.25.0 compatibility.

Overview

Wallet Overview The Wallet page is organized into six main functional areas, each designed to handle specific aspects of wallet management:

Controllers

Manage wallet controllers with administrative access

Address Book

Store and manage addresses locally with DFX integration

Custodians

Authorize and manage custodians with limited permissions

Cycle Transfers

Send cycles between canisters and wallets

Wallet Settings

Configure wallet name and perform upgrades

Faucet

Redeem faucet coupons for development cycles
The wallet functionality requires an active wallet canister. Ensure you have a wallet set up before using these features. You can create a wallet using the dfx identity deploy-wallet command.

Wallet Management Tabs

  • Controllers
  • Address Book
  • Custodians
  • Cycle Transfers
  • Wallet Settings
  • Faucet

Controllers Tab

Controllers ManagementControllers have administrative access to your wallet canister. This tab provides comprehensive controller management capabilities:

Controller Overview

View Controllers

List all current controllers with their principals and copy functionality

Controller Status

Display controller count and authorization status

Adding Controllers

1

Initiate Addition

Click the “Add Controller” button to start the process
2

Enter Principal

Enter the principal ID of the new controller in the input field
3

Select Network

Choose the appropriate network (local or IC) for the operation
4

Authorize

Click “Add” to authorize the new controller with administrative access

Removing Controllers

1

Locate Controller

Find the controller you want to remove from the list
2

Initiate Removal

Click the trash icon next to their principal
3

Confirm Action

Confirm the removal in the confirmation dialog
4

Complete Removal

The controller will be removed from your wallet
Be very careful when managing controllers. Removing all controllers can make your wallet inaccessible. Always ensure you maintain at least one controller with administrative access.

Network Support

All wallet operations support multiple network configurations for flexible development and production workflows:
  • Development Environment: Perfect for testing and development
  • Fast Operations: Quick cycle transfers and operations
  • No Real Costs: Use fabricated cycles for testing
  • Production Environment: Live network operations
  • Real Cycles: Actual cycle costs and transfers
  • Mainnet Operations: Production wallet management
  • Custom Configurations: As configured in your dfx.json
  • Testnet Support: Connect to various testnets
  • Flexible Setup: Adapt to different network requirements
The network selector is available in each tab where applicable, ensuring you’re always operating on the intended network.

Best Practices

Optimize your wallet security:
  • Regular Backups: Keep secure backups of your wallet information
  • Controller Management: Maintain multiple controllers for redundancy
  • Access Control: Regularly review and audit controller/custodian access
  • Secure Storage: Store sensitive information in encrypted locations
Optimize your wallet operations:
  • Address Organization: Use clear, descriptive labels in your address book
  • Cycle Monitoring: Regularly check your wallet balance and set alerts
  • Network Verification: Always verify you’re on the correct network
  • Transaction Records: Keep detailed records of important transactions
Optimize your development process:
  • Testing Environment: Use local network for development and testing
  • Faucet Usage: Leverage faucet coupons for development cycles
  • Upgrade Testing: Test wallet upgrades on development networks first
  • Documentation: Maintain clear documentation of wallet configurations

Troubleshooting

Common wallet access problems:Problem: Wallet not found or inaccessible
  • Ensure you have a wallet canister deployed
  • Verify you’re using the correct identity
  • Check network connectivity and configuration
Problem: Permission denied errors
  • Ensure you have appropriate controller/custodian permissions
  • Verify identity matches wallet controller
  • Check network selection matches wallet deployment
Common transaction problems:Problem: Insufficient cycles for operations
  • Check your wallet balance before operations
  • Ensure sufficient cycles for transaction fees
  • Consider topping up wallet from other sources
Problem: Transfer failures
  • Verify destination addresses are correct
  • Check network connectivity and status
  • Ensure recipient can receive cycles
Common configuration issues:Problem: Balance not updating
  • Use the refresh button to update manually
  • Check network connectivity
  • Restart the application if issues persist
Problem: Upgrade failures
  • Check network status and connectivity
  • Verify sufficient cycles for upgrade
  • Try again after network issues resolve
Problem: Coupon redemption fails
  • Verify coupon code is correct and not expired
  • Check network selection matches coupon requirements
  • Ensure wallet can receive cycles

Security Considerations

Critical security practices:
  • Controller Access: Only add trusted principals as controllers
  • Custodian Permissions: Regularly review and audit custodian access
  • Principle of Least Privilege: Grant minimum necessary permissions
Safe transaction practices:
  • Address Verification: Always double-check addresses before transfers
  • Network Selection: Ensure you’re using the correct network for operations
  • Amount Verification: Verify transfer amounts before confirmation
Information security measures:
  • Backup Strategy: Maintain secure backups of wallet credentials
  • Regular Audits: Periodically review controllers and custodians
  • Secure Storage: Store sensitive information in encrypted locations

Additional Resources

Ready to explore cycle management? Continue to the Cycles page to learn about cycle monitoring, management, and optimization strategies.
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