Use File > Backup Wallet within the Bitcoin Core GUI. 2. Encryption
Bitcoin Core scrambles the private keys inside the wallet.dat file using AES-256-CBC encryption. Without your passphrase, the file is worthless gibberish.
Local records of your transaction history, labels, and descriptions. Default File Locations Bitcoin Core Wallet.dat
The wallet.dat file faces several security threats that every Bitcoin Core user must understand.
To understand wallet.dat , you must first understand the difference between a "wallet" and a "wallet file." Use File > Backup Wallet within the Bitcoin Core GUI
Store backups on different types of media (e.g., a local hard drive and a USB flash drive).
If you create a new address, the wallet.dat might need to be backed up again to secure that specific key. Without your passphrase, the file is worthless gibberish
The wallet.dat file is the heart of a Bitcoin Core node. It contains the private keys, public keys, scripts, and transaction history that allow you to access and manage your Bitcoin. Understanding how this file works, where it is located, and how to secure it is critical for anyone running a full node or using Bitcoin Core as their primary wallet. What is the Wallet.dat File?
Without this file, you cannot access your Bitcoin, even if you have the Bitcoin Core software installed. Where is the Wallet.dat Located?
If you run a Bitcoin Core node (the reference implementation of the Bitcoin protocol), your entire wallet—your private keys, public addresses, and transaction metadata—exists inside a single file named wallet.dat . Lose this file, and you lose your Bitcoin. Protect it poorly, and you invite disaster.
C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Bitcoin\wallet.dat