# Restore a Keystore File

If you participated in Curio Cards back in 2017 your card wallet might be saved in a Keystore file. You can still access your Cards, but this is now an outdated method for storing Ethereum wallets. It is recommended that you migrate to a newer method. Newer methods (like MetaMask) will also allow you to Wrap/Unwrap, Trade, and [Vote](https://docs.curio.cards/dao-and-contribution/proposals) with your cards a lot easier.

### **Important Security Warning:**

In the following steps, you could find yourself accessing passwords, seed phrases, and private keys. **BE CAREFUL!** Anyone with access to this private key or seed phrase can steal all your funds and cards. Curio Cards, MetaMask, MEW, etc, will **NEVER** email or message you requesting your private key or seed phrase **FOR ANY REASON**. There is no valid support reason for anyone to need to request this information. You are the only person who needs to control, backup, or access your wallet.

## Accessing you Keystore file

![Example of what a Keystore looks like](https://2756902500-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MWkjjaXfhvQqHx69e7j%2F-MWl4QyoBi9atKScv-VN%2F-MWl7IjWj--49Gxyqef-%2FScreen%20Shot%202021-03-26%20at%205.41.23%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=2bcaca5b-78bb-497c-aa0f-1a10e87813bb)

Note that if you have a file like the one above it will also require a password to access.

### Method 1: Load wallet and Transfer Cards to a new MetaMask address

* Pros: Safer (your Cards are backed up with your MetaMask Seed Phrase and your private key is never revealed)
* Cons: Gas costs to transfer your Cards to the new address

Curio Cards ran a version of the original MyEtherWallet (MEW), called MyCurioWallet , that had support for the card addresses built-in. MyCurioWallet is still accessible if needed (covered in [Method 2](#method-2-export-private-key-and-load-into-metamask)) but it is outdated and less secure. The new version of [MEW](https://www.myetherwallet.com/) still supports loading Keystore files and can display the Card balances. You can use it to transfer your Cards to a new wallet, but it does not support revealing the private keys for security reasons.

* Go to [https://MyEtherWallet.com/](https://myetherwallet.com/)
* Scroll down and select 'Access My Wallet'

![](https://2756902500-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MWkjjaXfhvQqHx69e7j%2F-MWl4QyoBi9atKScv-VN%2F-MWlDlrzm1d0NmKXqz9d%2Faccess-wallet-1.png?alt=media\&token=183afc13-fad6-48ae-8467-2eccd95afc10)

* Select 'Software'

![](https://2756902500-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MWkjjaXfhvQqHx69e7j%2F-MWl4QyoBi9atKScv-VN%2F-MWlDppOl1ehpqReho4l%2Faccess-wallet-2.png?alt=media\&token=8b96c51e-6c90-4c58-85d9-7bcbf4cb7539)

* Select your Keystore file and enter your password

![](https://2756902500-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MWkjjaXfhvQqHx69e7j%2F-MWl4QyoBi9atKScv-VN%2F-MWlDsJBOOz5qSvNbCJN%2Faccess-wallet-3.png?alt=media\&token=4a807d6a-c0e5-4aa1-801e-9d180915a075)

* You can now see your Cards in the Token List on the right side of the Dashboard

![](https://2756902500-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MWkjjaXfhvQqHx69e7j%2F-MWl4QyoBi9atKScv-VN%2F-MWlHUHO6ga6OHd6XLEc%2FScreen%20Shot%202021-03-26%20at%206.24.46%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=d008857f-f68b-41ff-8729-5037170897d6)

* Select Send in the sidebar, choose your Cards, and send them to your MetaMask wallet. Make sure you have already backedup your MetaMask wallet!

![](https://2756902500-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MWkjjaXfhvQqHx69e7j%2F-MWl4QyoBi9atKScv-VN%2F-MWlHYHdm8dUV7z5oJZw%2FScreen%20Shot%202021-03-26%20at%206.25.11%20PM.png?alt=media\&token=8b30773a-770a-442a-a4f4-4f3a48adf9e7)

![How to copy your metamask wallet address](https://2756902500-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-MWkjjaXfhvQqHx69e7j%2F-MWl4QyoBi9atKScv-VN%2F-MWlIQShR7wVxJTZWrpG%2Fmeta-mask-copy.png?alt=media\&token=20f4be10-b63a-4432-b6a6-09e4a9638eb9)

Lastly, [How to Display your Cards in MetaMask](https://docs.curio.cards/info/overview/displaying-in-metamask). This step is needed so you can see your card balances in the MetaMask wallet

### Method 2: Export private key and load into MetaMask

* Pros: No gas costs
* Cons: Less safe (need to reveal and then back up your private key)

#### 1. Extracing the Private Key from the Keystore File

There are a few ways you can extract your Private Key from the Keystore file. None of the modern online wallets support this feature [for various security reasons](https://medium.com/mycrypto/a-safer-mycrypto-79d65196e7d8), but you can still access them using a few methods:

* MyCrypto (a popular fork of MyEtherWallet) Desktop wallet:
  * The Desktop version of MyCrypto can be downloaded here: <https://download.mycrypto.com/>
  * Documentation for how to access a Keystores private key is located here:&#x20;
  * <https://support.mycrypto.com/how-to/accessing-wallet/how-to-access-your-wallet-with-keystore-file>
  * This method is the most secure as the private keys are not revealed using an online webpage
* The old MyCurioWallet
  * MyCurioWallet has so far been left only up for convenience and emergencies, but is no longer a fully functional wallet (the old nodes are no longer supported) and should not be considered a secure option (it is easier to perform phishing attacks with websites). Nevertheless, it does offer a quick way to view a keystore file's private key
  * [https://MyCurioWallet.com/](https://mycuriowallet.com/)
  * Go to "View Wallet Info" in the header
  * Choose Keystore from the methods, select your file and enter your password
  * You will now have the ability to see your public key as well as reveal your private key
* Downloading ad running an offline version of the old MyEtherWallet
  * Documentation for this method with trusted download links is harder to come by now given the age of the old version of MEW

#### 2. [**Importing the Private Key into MetaMask**](https://docs.curio.cards/info/overview/importing-a-private-key)

###