What is a Watch-Only Wallet
A watch-only wallet lets you monitor a crypto address in Guarda without importing its private key. You can see its balance and transaction activity, but you can't send funds from it. This is especially useful when you want to keep an eye on a hardware wallet, for example, without bringing private keys anywhere near the internet.
How Does a Watch-Only Wallet Work?
A public wallet address is enough to view information recorded on the blockchain. Guarda uses the public address you provide to display the wallet and its activity. When you add a wallet as watch-only, its private key isn't added to Guarda. As a result, you can view the wallet, but you can't sign transactions or send funds from that address. Adding an address as watch-only doesn't move or import any funds. It simply gives you a convenient window into the wallet.
Public address — View the wallet — Watch-Only
Private key — Sign transactions — Regular Wallet
Never share a private key or recovery phrase just to let someone monitor a wallet. A public address is enough for watch-only access.
How to Add a Watch-Only Wallet in Guarda
- Open Guarda and click Create new or connect hardware.
- Select Watch only.
- Choose the coin you want to monitor.
- Paste the wallet address. You can't add an address as watch-only if it's already added to Guarda as a regular wallet.
- Click Add.
You'll find the wallet in the Watch only tab on the wallets page.