ARK Desktop Wallet is a free, open-source desktop wallet for managing ARK cryptocurrency on Windows, macOS and Linux. It was designed for people who wanted to hold their own keys on a personal computer instead of relying on an exchange account.
The program is no longer supported. The last code update to the project dates from March 2023, and the project now points users to ARKVault, its successor wallet at app.arkvault.io. That makes this page most useful as a reference: if you already have an ARK Desktop Wallet installation, or you are researching the software, you should understand its status before installing or moving any funds.
What ARK Is and Why a Desktop Wallet Exists
ARK is the blockchain ecosystem this wallet was built to serve. A wallet does not store coins in the traditional sense. Instead, it holds the cryptographic keys that prove ownership of funds recorded on the blockchain, and it signs transactions when you send them.
A desktop wallet keeps those keys on your own computer. This differs from a custodial account at an exchange, where the provider controls the keys. The trade-off is responsibility: if you lose your keys or your backup phrase, no support desk can restore access for you.
For many users, a desktop wallet is a middle ground between web services and dedicated hardware devices. It gives direct control over transactions while remaining easy to open whenever you need it.
Who Might Still Look at ARK Desktop Wallet
Several groups still have reasons to read about this program. Existing users who installed it years ago may need to understand whether their setup still works and how to move their holdings. Researchers and developers may be interested in how an Electron-based wallet is structured, since the source code is public.
A typical scenario is someone who set up the wallet on a Windows laptop and now wants to confirm that the backup phrase is safe before changing devices. Another is a user who inherited a computer with the software installed and needs to decide whether to keep it.
In both cases, the sensible first step is to review the project's status, back up your recovery phrase offline, and plan a move to a supported wallet rather than building new habits around retired software.
How Desktop Wallets Handle Keys and Backups
Most wallets rely on a private key, which is a long secret number that authorizes spending. Many wallets make this easier to manage by generating a seed phrase, a list of words that can recreate the keys. Whoever holds the seed phrase can control the funds, so it should be treated like cash.
Backups matter because a computer can fail, be reformatted, or be lost. Writing the seed phrase on paper and storing it in a secure location is a common practice. Digital copies in cloud folders, email or screenshots increase the risk of exposure.
When you migrate to a new wallet, test the process with a small amount before moving everything. Confirm that the new wallet shows the expected balance, and only then consider the older software finished.
Key features
Open-source code under the MIT license
Desktop app across three operating systems
Built with Electron
How to install ARK Desktop Wallet on Windows
- 1
Get the installer from an official source
Download the Windows build from the project's GitHub Releases page or the official website. Download only from the official website or GitHub, and avoid mirror sites or file-sharing links. Check the release date, since this project no longer receives updates.
- 2
Verify the file
Compare the SHA-256 checksum of the downloaded file with the value published alongside the release. You can calculate it with the built-in Windows command certutil -hashfile followed by the file name. If the hashes do not match, delete the file and do not run it.
-
Run the installer
Launch the installer and follow the on-screen prompts. Install the wallet on a computer you control, and avoid shared or public machines. Once it opens, create or restore a wallet and back up the recovery phrase before receiving any funds.
How to use ARK Desktop Wallet
Using the wallet follows the same general pattern as other desktop wallets. Plan each step carefully, especially the backup, because the process cannot be undone if you skip it.
- Open the installed application and create a new wallet, or restore an existing one from your recovery phrase.
- Write the recovery phrase on paper, in the order shown, and store it offline in a secure place.
- Re-enter the phrase when the wallet asks you to confirm it, so you know the backup is correct.
- Wait for the wallet to synchronize with the network, then check that the balance matches what you expect.
- Send a small test transaction to an address you control before moving larger amounts.
- Review the project status and begin planning a move to ARKVault if you intend to keep using ARK.
Pros & cons
- Free and open-source under the MIT license
- Runs on Windows, macOS and Linux
- Source code is public for independent review
- Keys stay on your own computer rather than with a third party
- The project is no longer supported
- The last code update dates from March 2023
- Electron-based apps can use more memory than native programs
- Users need to manage their own backups and recovery phrases
Is ARK Desktop Wallet safe?
This is a wallet, so safety matters more than features. The project is no longer supported, and the last code update is more than two years old, so you should not expect security patches. Review the status on the official project pages before using it, and check the latest version on the official website.
Download only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page, verify the SHA-256 checksum or signature, and do not run files from other sources. Never enter your seed phrase on a third-party website, in a chat, or in an email, even if the page looks official. Scammers often copy wallet interfaces to collect recovery phrases.
For ongoing use, consider moving funds to ARKVault after confirming the new wallet works with a small test transaction.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/ArkEcosystem/desktop-wallet. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
ARK Desktop Wallet focuses on a single network, which keeps the interface simple but limits its usefulness if you hold other assets. Coinomi and Atomic Wallet are multi-asset wallets that cover far more coins, which suits people who manage a varied portfolio. Exodus combines a desktop wallet with built-in exchange features, a different approach that some users find convenient.
Electron Cash is a lightweight wallet for Bitcoin Cash, so it is narrower in scope. Frame is a system-level Web3 wallet for desktop, and Trust Wallet on a PC works through a browser extension, so both differ in how they connect to applications. Greenery is better suited to bookkeeping than to holding keys.
For most people today, a supported wallet is the practical choice over ARK Desktop Wallet.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- MIT
- Latest version
- 2.9.5
- Last update
- 23 Mar 2023
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/ArkEcosystem/desktop-wallet
Frequently asked questions
No. The project is no longer supported, and its last code update dates from March 2023. The developers recommend ARKVault at app.arkvault.io as the successor wallet. Because there are no ongoing updates, you should plan a move rather than rely on the older software for new activity.
It depends on how you install and manage it. Download the program only from the official website or GitHub, verify the SHA-256 checksum, and protect your recovery phrase offline. Because the software is no longer maintained, it carries risks that supported wallets avoid, so a move to a maintained alternative is the safer choice.
Yes, the program is free and released under the MIT license. Free software still carries responsibilities: you must keep your own backups and recovery phrase, since no company can restore access for you if they are lost. Review the terms of any network fees separately, as they are not part of the wallet itself.
Yes. The wallet is available as a Windows build or installer from the official GitHub Releases page. Verify the file's checksum before running it, install it on a computer you control, and create or restore a wallet only after writing down your recovery phrase offline.
The recommended replacement is ARKVault, a wallet that the project points users toward at app.arkvault.io. Before moving significant funds, send a small test transaction to confirm that the new wallet recognizes your balance and that the recovery phrase works as expected.
A seed phrase is a list of words that can recreate the private keys of a wallet. Anyone who has it can control the funds, so it should never be shared or typed into websites. Keep a written copy in a secure location, and do not store it in cloud folders, email or screenshots.
Verdict
ARK Desktop Wallet is a free, open-source option for people who want to hold ARK keys on their own computer, and its MIT-licensed code is open to inspection. However, the project is no longer supported and its last update dates from March 2023. It suits mainly existing users who need to access or move their funds, and developers interested in how Electron wallets are built. For new use, a supported successor such as ARKVault is the more responsible choice.