A watch-only wallet in Sparrow Wallet lets you monitor your Bitcoin balance, transaction history, and receiving addresses without exposing your private keys.

This guide explains how to export account information from the BitBoxApp and import it into Sparrow Wallet as a watch-only wallet.

A Sparrow watch-only wallet can view Bitcoin wallet activity, but it cannot sign transactions or send bitcoin.

Before you begin

Before creating a Sparrow watch-only wallet, make sure that:

• The BitBoxApp is installed and updated to the latest version.
• Your BitBox02 is already set up.
• Your BitBox02 is running the newest firmware. 
• Sparrow Wallet is installed and up to date.

Learn how to update your device in the BitBox02 firmware update guide.

You can download Sparrow Wallet from the official Sparrow Wallet website.

Learn how the Remember wallet feature works in the guide: How to check your balance without your BitBox02.

Export account information from the BitBoxApp

Sparrow Wallet can create a watch-only wallet using either:

• A wallet descriptor (recommended)
• An extended public key (xpub, ypub, or zpub)

A wallet descriptor contains all information required to recreate a Bitcoin account configuration, including the script type and extended public key.

An extended public key only contains the public key information and may require additional manual configuration in Sparrow Wallet.

1. Open the BitBoxApp.
2. Select the Bitcoin account you want to monitor.
3. Click Account info.
4. Open the View account details tab.

You will find:

• The wallet descriptor
• The extended public key

Option 1: Create a watch-only wallet using a wallet descriptor

Using a wallet descriptor is the recommended method because Sparrow Wallet automatically imports the correct script type and account configuration.

1. Copy the wallet descriptor from the BitBoxApp.
2. Open Sparrow Wallet.
3. Click File → New Wallet.

4. Enter a wallet name.
5. Click Create Wallet.

6. In the Script Policy section, click Edit next to Descriptor.

7. Paste the wallet descriptor from the BitBoxApp.
8. Click OK.

Sparrow Wallet automatically fills:

• Script type
• Extended public key
• Account configuration

9. Click Apply.

10. Choose whether to protect the Sparrow Wallet file with a password.

You can:

• Set a password, or
• Select No Password

11. Wait while Sparrow Wallet scans the blockchain and loads the wallet history.

After the scan is complete, the watch-only wallet is ready.

Option 2: Create a watch-only wallet using an extended public key

You can also create a watch-only wallet using an extended public key.

This method requires selecting the correct script type manually.

1. Copy the extended public key from the BitBoxApp.
2. Open Sparrow Wallet.
3. Click File → New Wallet.
4. Enter a wallet name.
5. Click Create Wallet.
6. Select the script type that matches the BitBoxApp account.

Most modern BitBoxApp Bitcoin accounts use Native SegWit addresses, which usually correspond to a zpub.

6. In the Keystores section, select xPub / Watch Only Wallet.

7. Paste the extended public key from the BitBoxApp into the xpub field.

7. Click Apply.

9. Click Apply.
10. Choose whether to protect the Sparrow Wallet file with a password.
11. Wait while Sparrow Wallet scans the blockchain and loads the wallet history.

After the scan is complete, the watch-only wallet is ready.

What you can do with a Sparrow watch-only wallet

A Sparrow watch-only wallet can:

• View Bitcoin balances
• View transaction history
• Generate receiving addresses

A Sparrow watch-only wallet cannot:

• Sign transactions
• Send bitcoin
• Access private keys

FAQ

Should I use a wallet descriptor or an extended public key?

Use a wallet descriptor whenever possible.

A wallet descriptor contains both the script type and extended public key information required by Sparrow Wallet. Sparrow Wallet automatically configures the watch-only wallet using the descriptor, reducing the risk of selecting the wrong address format.

Extended public keys remain supported for compatibility with older workflows and wallet software.

What is a watch-only wallet?

A watch-only wallet can monitor a Bitcoin account without containing the private keys.

A Sparrow watch-only wallet can display balances, transactions, and receiving addresses, but it cannot sign Bitcoin transactions.

Can I send bitcoin from a Sparrow watch-only wallet?

No. A Sparrow watch-only wallet cannot send bitcoin because it does not contain the private keys required to sign transactions.

To send bitcoin, you must use the wallet or device that holds the private keys, such as your BitBox02.

Is it safe to import a wallet descriptor into Sparrow Wallet?

Yes. Importing a wallet descriptor into Sparrow Wallet does not expose your private keys and does not allow Sparrow Wallet to spend your bitcoin.

However, a wallet descriptor can reveal your Bitcoin transaction history and receiving addresses. Treat wallet descriptors as privacy-sensitive information.

Do I need to connect my BitBox02 to create a Sparrow watch-only wallet?

Not always.

If the Remember wallet feature is enabled in the BitBoxApp, you can export the wallet descriptor or extended public key without connecting your BitBox02.

If the Remember wallet feature is disabled, connect and unlock your BitBox02 before exporting account information.

What is the difference between xpub, ypub, and zpub?

The prefix indicates the Bitcoin address format used by the account.

• xpub is used for Legacy addresses that start with 1
• ypub is used for Wrapped SegWit addresses that start with 3
• zpub is used for Native SegWit addresses that start with bc1

Sparrow Wallet must use the address format that matches the BitBoxApp Bitcoin account.

Why does Sparrow Wallet not show my Bitcoin transaction history?

This usually happens when the wrong script type or extended public key format was selected during wallet creation.

Using a wallet descriptor avoids this issue because Sparrow Wallet automatically imports the correct account configuration.