Receiving Monero is simple once you have a wallet. This guide shows you how to generate a receive address, share it safely (QR or link), and confirm the payment—plus privacy tips for in-person and online transfers.
What You Need
- A Monero wallet (non-custodial, recommended):
- Monero.com (Cake Wallet) — iOS & Android
- Monerujo — Android
- Stack Wallet — iOS/Android/F-Droid
- Feather — Windows/macOS/Linux
- Monero GUI / CLI — official desktop wallets
- Network connectivity (mobile data or Wi-Fi). For best privacy, connect your wallet to your own node; using a trustworthy remote node also works.
Step 1 — Create a Receive Address (Use a Subaddress)
- Open your wallet → Receive.
- Tap New (or “+”) to create a subaddress. Subaddresses help compartmentalize payments per customer/order.
- Label it (e.g., “Order #1843” or “Table 7”). Labels make reconciliation easy.
Optional: Make a Monero Payment Link (URI)
You can request a specific amount and memo with a URI:
monero:44Affq5kSiGBoZ...YourAddress...9A?tx_amount=0.2500&tx_description=Coffee%20and%20muffin
Most wallets can generate this automatically and embed it in a QR code.
Step 2 — Share Your Details Safely
- QR Code: Let the sender scan your wallet’s receive QR. Fastest for in-person sales.
- Copy/Paste: If sending remotely, share the plain address (or URI). Double-check for paste errors.
- Never share your seed phrase or private keys. You only share the public receive address.
- Avoid address reuse for better privacy—use a fresh subaddress per payment.
Step 3 — Wait For Broadcast & Confirmations
- After the sender broadcasts, your wallet shows an incoming transaction (often with “pending/unlocked in X blocks”).
- Monero’s target block time is ~2 minutes. Funds are typically spendable after ~10 blocks (~20 minutes). Small, in-person purchases are sometimes accepted with 0–1 confirmations at the merchant’s discretion.
Step 4 — Verify Payment
- In your wallet: Check the transaction list. The amount should appear under the labeled subaddress.
- Ask for TXID (optional): If you need a record, the sender can provide a transaction ID. You can keep it with your invoice notes.
- Advanced—Payment proof: A sender can generate a signature (“tx proof”). You (or your accountant) can verify it with the GUI/CLI using the TXID, your address, and the signature if there’s a dispute.
Quick In-Person Flow (60-Second Version)
- Open wallet → Receive → create/choose subaddress.
- Enter the amount to auto-make a QR (if your wallet supports it).
- Customer scans and sends. You’ll see it appear. For small tickets, many shops accept 0–1 conf—follow your policy.
- Save the TXID or label for bookkeeping.
Best Practices for Privacy & Bookkeeping
- Run your own node for maximum privacy, or use a trusted remote node over Tor.
- One subaddress per invoice/customer to keep deposits segregated and reporting simple.
- Watch-only wallets (view-key only) let staff verify payments without spending authority.
- No Payment IDs: They’re deprecated. Modern wallets use subaddresses instead.
Troubleshooting
- Sender says “sent,” but you see nothing: Ensure your wallet is synced; switch to a reliable node; ask for the TXID; confirm they used the correct address and network (Monero/XMR, not another chain).
- Stuck “pending”: It will unlock after ~10 blocks. Exchanges may add extra delay due to internal batching or compliance checks.
- QR won’t scan: Increase screen brightness, enlarge the code, or share the address text directly.
Accepting Monero Online
- Share a unique subaddress per order or use a wallet that can generate request links.
- Consider merchant tooling (e.g., BTCPay-based or other integrations) if you want automated invoice status updates.
Refunds
- Ask the customer for a fresh subaddress to refund.
- Send the refund and record the TXID alongside the original invoice.
FAQ
How long until I can spend received XMR?
Typically after ~10 confirmations (~20 minutes). Your wallet shows the countdown to “unlocked.”
Is it safe to accept to an exchange deposit address?
Not recommended. Use a self-custody wallet for direct customer payments; exchanges can freeze/fail deposits or change deposit addresses without notice.
What’s the easiest wallet for first-timers?
For mobile, Monero.com (Cake) and Monerujo are popular. For desktop, try Feather or the official Monero GUI.
Checklist: Wallet ready → New subaddress (label it) → Share QR/URI → See incoming TX → Wait to unlock → Save TXID/notes. You’re done.
