Quill is a free, open source ledger and governance toolkit for cold wallets on the Internet Computer, written for people who want to keep their keys offline and still take part in network activity. It is a minimalistic tool, so it suits users who prefer a small, focused program over a full multi-asset app.
The Windows version is distributed as a ready-made file, so you do not need a build environment to run it. The project is a beta release (v3.0.2-beta.7), and its code was last updated on September 16, 2026, which shows active maintenance. Treat it as early-stage software, and test with small amounts before relying on it.
What Is a Cold Wallet and Why Use One?
A cold wallet is a way of storing cryptocurrency keys on a device that is not connected to the internet. The private keys never leave that environment, which makes it much harder for malware or phishing sites to steal them. Cold storage is popular with long-term holders who do not need to trade every day.
The trade-off is convenience. Signing transactions offline takes more steps, and you must protect a recovery phrase with the same care as the keys themselves. Losing that phrase can mean losing access permanently, so most cold-storage setups include written backups kept in more than one secure place.
Tools like Quill are built around this model. They let you prepare and sign actions on an isolated machine, then move only the necessary data to a connected computer when it is time to submit.
How Quill Fits Into the Internet Computer Ecosystem
The Internet Computer is a blockchain network with its own ledger, governance system and set of applications. Quill is built specifically for this environment rather than for a long list of unrelated coins. Users who hold assets on the network and want to participate in governance tend to be its main audience.
An important detail for cold-wallet users is that messages sent to the Internet Computer travel through boundary nodes over the internet. This means that even in a cold setup, the step where a signed message is submitted requires a connected machine. Understanding this split helps you plan your workflow, so that the signing happens offline and only the submission step touches the network.
Because the toolkit is narrow in scope, it is most useful when your goal matches the network's own tasks. If you are looking for a general wallet for many different tokens, a broader program in this catalog will probably fit better.
Who Should Use Quill and in Which Situations
Quill makes the most sense for three kinds of users. The first is a holder who wants offline key storage and is comfortable with a more manual workflow. The second is a governance participant who wants to act on proposals without keeping keys on an everyday laptop. The third is a developer or tester who wants to understand how cold-wallet signing works on this network.
A typical scenario looks like this: you keep your Ledger device at home, prepare a governance action on a machine that stays offline, and then transfer the signed file to a connected computer for submission. Each step is separate, so a compromised internet-facing device cannot easily read your keys.
If you mainly want to check balances or send small amounts quickly, a hot wallet from this catalog may be a better everyday choice. Quill is a tool for deliberate, careful actions rather than frequent transactions.
Key features
Minimal Ledger Toolkit
Governance Tools
Hardware Wallet Support
Supported coins
Quill is focused on the Internet Computer ledger and its governance features rather than a long catalog of coins. It works with Ledger hardware devices, which keep key material off the computer. Because the program is narrow in scope, check that your asset and action are supported before you begin.
How to install Quill on Windows
- 1
Download the Windows file
Open the project page on GitHub at github.com/dfinity/quill or the official website, and go to the Releases section. Download the file named quill-windows-x8664.exe. Download it only from the official website or GitHub Releases, never from a mirror or a link shared in a chat.
- 2
Rename and place the file
Open PowerShell and run Move-Item quill-windows-x8664.exe ~\quill.exe to rename the file to quill.exe in your user profile folder. A shorter name makes the program quicker to launch from a terminal.
- 3
Verify the checksum
Before running the file, calculate its SHA-256 hash with Get-FileHash and compare the result with the value published on the release page. If the hashes do not match, do not run the file. The safety section explains this step in more detail.
-
Run a test launch
Open PowerShell in the folder that contains quill.exe and run .\quill.exe to confirm that it starts. Quill is distributed as a standalone file, so there is no separate installer to run or background service to configure.
How to use Quill
Quill is a toolkit, so its workflow centers on keeping keys offline and moving signed data between machines only when needed. Follow these steps to get started carefully.
- Prepare a dedicated folder on an offline machine, and write your recovery phrase down on paper before you do anything else.
- If you use a Ledger device, connect it and confirm on the device that it is the source of the key during setup.
- Run Quill from the folder where you placed quill.exe, and check that it starts before you add any funds.
- Create or load the ledger or governance action you need, and read every detail on screen before you approve it.
- Transfer the signed output to an internet-connected computer only when you are ready to submit it, since submission requires a connection to boundary nodes.
- Record the result, store your files in a backed-up location, and keep the offline machine disconnected when you finish.
Pros & cons
- Free and open source, with the code available on GitHub
- Minimal scope keeps the program focused on cold-storage tasks
- Supports Ledger hardware wallets for key storage
- Available for Windows, macOS, Linux and Docker
- Recent code updates show ongoing maintenance
- Beta release (v3.0.2-beta.7) that may still have rough edges
- Focused on the Internet Computer rather than many different coins
- Submission step needs an internet connection, which limits a fully offline workflow
- Fewer convenience features than full-featured wallet apps
Is Quill safe?
Quill handles signing keys, so treat the download and setup with care. Download the file only from the official website or the GitHub Releases page for the dfinity/quill project. Before running quill-windows-x8664.exe, verify its SHA-256 checksum or signature against the value published by the project. If the check fails, delete the file and download it again.
Never enter your seed phrase on a third-party website, in a chat, or into any program you have not verified. The --insecure-local-dev-mode flag is intended for local development, so do not use it when you are working with real funds. Keep your recovery phrase offline, and test every new workflow with a small amount first.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/dfinity/quill. 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
Many programs in this catalog, such as Exodus, Atomic Wallet and Coinomi, are multi-asset wallets with built-in interfaces and support for large numbers of coins. Quill takes a different path. It is a narrow toolkit centered on the Internet Computer, cold-storage signing and governance work, and it does not try to be a general wallet.
Electron Cash is also focused on a single network, but it is a lightweight Bitcoin Cash wallet with its own interface. Frame is a desktop Web3 wallet that connects to applications, while Trust Wallet on PC works mainly as a browser extension. Choose Quill when your priority is offline control over Internet Computer keys rather than convenience across many chains.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v3.0.2-beta.7
- Last update
- 16 Sept 2026
- Windows support
- Yes (Windows build or installer)
- Source code
- github.com/dfinity/quill
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Quill is free and open source. You can read its Rust code on the project's GitHub page, and the Windows file comes with no purchase step. Because it is a beta release, check the release notes before you rely on any specific feature.
Quill can be used safely if you follow basic precautions. Download it from the GitHub Releases page, verify the SHA-256 checksum, and never enter your seed phrase on a website. Since this is a beta version, test with small amounts and keep a written backup of your recovery phrase offline.
Yes, Quill supports Ledger hardware wallets, which lets you keep key material on a dedicated device rather than on your computer. This is one of the main reasons people use it for cold storage. Confirm the details on the device itself during every signing step.
Quill is used to manage cold wallets on the Internet Computer and to take part in governance activity. People who want to keep signing keys offline while still interacting with the network use it most often. It is a focused tool rather than an everyday wallet for frequent transfers.
Partly. Sending messages to the Internet Computer requires a connection to boundary nodes over the internet, so the submission step needs a connected machine. Key storage and signing can stay offline, which is the purpose of a cold setup.
No, you do not need to build it yourself. The Windows release is a ready-made executable named quill-windows-x8664.exe that you can download, rename and run. Building from source is only relevant for developers who want custom feature options.
Verdict
Quill suits people who want a small, focused cold-wallet tool for the Internet Computer and the option to use Ledger hardware for key storage. It is a weaker first choice for anyone who wants a multi-coin app with a polished interface. Because the current build is a beta release, start with small amounts, learn the workflow carefully, and check the latest version before updating.