Connect Sparrow Wallet to BTCPay Server

This guide shows you how to connect Sparrow Wallet to your BTCPay Server's Bitcoin Core node via RPC over Tor.

Prerequisites

  • BTCPay Server BTC fully synced
  • Sparrow Wallet downloaded & verified on your dedicated desktop
  • Tor Browser, downloaded and verified, running on your dedicated desktop (provides Tor proxy on port 9150)

Setup Steps

Step 1: Start Tor Browser

  • Open Tor Browser on your computer
  • Wait for it to connect to the Tor network
  • Keep Tor Browser running in the background (Minimize it)

Step 2: Get Your BTCPay Server RPC Credentials

  • Log into your BTCPay Server
  • Navigate to Server Settings → Services → BTC-RPC
  • Note down the connection information from the QR code data. Bottom of the page → "See QR Code information by clicking here"
  • Format: btcrpc://username:password@onionaddress.onion:8332

Step 3: Configure Sparrow Wallet

  1. Open Sparrow Wallet
  2. Go to top left → Preferences (or Sparrow → Settings)
  3. Click on the Server tab
  4. Select Bitcoin Core (top middle) as the server type

Step 4: Enter RPC Connection Details

  • URL: Your onion address (e.g., abc123xyz.onion)
  • Port: This goes to the right of URL (e.g., 8332)
  • Authentication: "User/Pass"
  • User: RPC username from BTCPay (typically btcrpc)
  • Password: RPC password from BTCPay (typically btcpayserver4ever)

Step 5: Enable Tor Proxy

  • Check the box for Use proxy
  • Set Proxy URL: 127.0.0.1 or localhost
  • Set Port: 9150

Test Connection!

  • Click Test Connection
  • If successful, you should see a green indicator and connection confirmation. see below:
  • Click Close to save settings (after successful connection message)
Sparrow Server Connection Successful Sparrow Wallet Server Config - should look similar to above.

Note: Keep Tor Browser running whenever you use Sparrow Wallet, as it provides the Tor proxy connection needed to reach your BTCPay Server's onion address.

Privacy Benefits

  • Your wallet connects directly to your own Bitcoin Node
  • Connection is encrypted and anonymized through Tor
  • Your private keys never leave your local machine
  • You get to use Sparrow Wallet

Troubleshooting

  • Connection fails: Make sure Tor Browser is running
  • Wrong proxy port: Verify Tor Browser uses port 9150 (not 9050)
  • Authentication error: Double-check username and password from BTCPay
  • Timeout: Your BTCPay Server might be offline or syncing