How to Safely Delete Monero Files on Linux Mint:

A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re running a Monero node or wallet on Linux Mint, there may come a time when you need to clean up or delete Monero-related files. Whether you’re troubleshooting, starting fresh, or freeing up disk space, it’s important to know which files to delete and how to do it safely. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process step by step.

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Why Delete Monero Files?

1. Start Fresh: If your Monero node or wallet is acting up, deleting its data can help you start over.

2. Free Up Space: The Monero blockchain can take up a lot of disk space (over 140 GB). Deleting it can free up storage.

3. Privacy: If you’re passing your computer to someone else, you may want to remove all traces of Monero.

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What Are Monero Files?

Monero stores its data in specific directories. Here’s what you need to know:

• Node Data: Stored in the .bitmonero directory (usually in your home folder).

• Wallet Data: Stored in the Monero/wallets directory (usually in your home folder or Documents).

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Step 1: Stop Monero Processes

Before deleting any files, make sure the Monero daemon (monerod) and wallet are stopped.

1. Open a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T).

2. Check if monerod is running:

   bash

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ps aux | grep monerod

1. If you see a process, stop it by pressing Ctrl + C in the terminal where it’s running or use:

   bash

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kill <PID>

1. Replace <PID> with the process ID.

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Step 2: Locate Monero Files

Monero files are stored in two main locations:

1. Node Data

• Path: ~/.bitmonero/

• Contains:

  • lmdb/: Blockchain data (large files).

  • p2pstate.bin: Peer-to-peer network data.

  • bitmonero.log: Log file.

2. Wallet Data

• Path: ~/Monero/wallets/

• Contains:

  • your-wallet.keys: Your wallet’s private keys.

  • your-wallet: Wallet cache file.

  • your-wallet.address.txt: Your wallet address.

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Step 3: Delete Monero Files

Option 1: Delete Node Data Only

If you want to keep your wallet but delete the node data:

1. Open a terminal.

2. Navigate to the .bitmonero directory:

   bash

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cd ~/.bitmonero/

1. Delete the blockchain data:

   bash

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rm -rf lmdb/

1. Delete peer data (optional):

   bash

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rm p2pstate.bin

1. Delete logs (optional):

   bash

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rm bitmonero.log

Option 2: Delete Wallet Data Only

If you want to delete your wallet but keep the node data:

1. Open a terminal.

2. Navigate to the wallets directory:

   bash

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cd ~/Monero/wallets/

1. Delete your wallet files:

   bash

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rm your-wallet.keys your-wallet your-wallet.address.txt

1. Replace your-wallet with the actual name of your wallet.

Option 3: Delete Everything

If you want to delete both node and wallet data:

1. Open a terminal.

2. Delete the .bitmonero directory:

   bash

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rm -rf ~/.bitmonero/

1. Delete the wallets directory:

   bash

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rm -rf ~/Monero/wallets/

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Step 4: Verify Deletion

1. Check if the files are gone:

   bash

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ls ~/.bitmonero/
ls ~/Monero/wallets/

1. If the directories are empty or missing, the files have been deleted.

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Step 5: Restart Monero (Optional)

If you deleted the node data and want to start fresh:

1. Run monerod to resync the blockchain:

   bash

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monerod

1. This will create a new .bitmonero directory and start syncing from scratch.

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Important Notes

1. Backup Your Wallet: Before deleting anything, make sure you have a backup of your wallet.keys file or 25-word mnemonic seed. Without these, you’ll lose access to your funds.

2. Resyncing Takes Time: If you delete the blockchain data, your node will need to resync, which can take several hours or days.

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Conclusion

Deleting Monero files on Linux Mint is a straightforward process, but it’s important to know what you’re deleting and why. Whether you’re troubleshooting, starting fresh, or freeing up space, this guide will help you safely clean up your Monero node and wallet data.

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