Last updated: October 23, 2026
A Monero private view key lets its holder see the incoming transactions to a wallet — amounts and when they arrived — without being able to spend anything; the private spend key is what moves funds. You can share a view key to create a watch-only wallet, give an accountant or auditor read access, or let a merchant tool confirm payments. But it removes privacy for incoming funds toward whoever holds it, and it doesn't reliably show outgoing spends. Keep the spend key and seed secret always. Get XMR with no account via BTC → XMR.
- 2 key pairs in every Monero wallet
- View key: read incoming
- Spend key: move funds
- 0 spending power in a view key
Monero keys at a glance
| Key | What it can do | Share it? |
|---|---|---|
| Seed (25 or 16 words) | Rebuild everything, spend everything | Never |
| Private spend key | Spend funds | Never |
| Private view key | See incoming transactions and amounts | Only deliberately, to trusted parties |
| Public address | Receive funds | Yes, to payers |
Why Monero needs a view key
On Monero, outsiders can't see which outputs belong to you — your wallet scans the blockchain with your view key to find payments addressed to you. That's why light wallets that scan on a server need your view key, and why sharing it reveals your incoming funds to that server. See is Monero traceable and the light-wallet trade-off in best Monero wallets.
When sharing a view key makes sense
- Watch-only wallet: monitor a cold wallet from your phone without exposing spend keys — see hot vs cold wallets.
- Accounting and audits: prove income to an accountant or for taxes.
- Merchant payment checks: payment processors confirm orders with your view key — see accepting Monero.
- Donation transparency: organizations sometimes publish a view key so donors can verify incoming funds.
Limits and risks
- Incoming privacy is gone for whoever holds the view key — permanently, for past and future payments to that wallet.
- Outgoing transactions aren't reliably visible with the view key alone, so balances shown in a view-only wallet may be inaccurate until key images are imported.
- Can't be revoked: to restore privacy, move funds to a new wallet.
- Prove single payments instead with a transaction key when you only need to show one payment — see tracking transactions.
How to create a view-only wallet (step by step)
- In your main wallet, open the keys section and copy the primary address and private view key.
- In a second wallet app, choose "restore from keys" / "view-only" and enter the address, view key and restore height.
- Leave the spend key empty — the wallet will show incoming payments only.
- Keep the original seed offline — see seed backup.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Monero view key?
A private key that lets its holder see incoming transactions to a Monero wallet, including amounts, without the ability to spend.
Can someone steal XMR with my view key?
No. Spending requires the spend key or seed. The view key only reveals incoming transactions.
Is it safe to give my view key to a light wallet?
It's safe for your funds, but the server can see your incoming payments. For full privacy, use a wallet that scans locally or your own node.
Can I revoke a shared view key?
No. To regain privacy, create a new wallet and move your funds there.
How do I prove one Monero payment without a view key?
Share the transaction key (tx key) for that payment; the recipient can verify it without seeing the rest of your wallet.
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