# The Starting Balance > This article provides useful information about your Starting Balance, including what it encompasses and how to include past transactions in it. Source: https://support.ynab.com/en_us/the-starting-balance-an-overview-H1uozOfJs Last updated: 2026-07-28T20:27:32.384Z Review useful information about the starting balance for each of your accounts. Learn what it encompasses, what to do if it is incorrect, and how to include past transactions in it. #### In This Article [What is the Starting Balance?](#definition) [My Starting Balance is Wrong](#wrong) [Can I Import Past Transactions from before My Starting Balance?](#past) [What if I Deleted my Starting Balance?](#deleted) * * * ## What is the Starting Balance? The Starting Balance is the transaction with the earliest date in your YNAB account register that represents **all** of your previous transaction history in one number. Because it's composed of past transaction history, you **don’t** want to include any [pending transactions](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/pending-transactions-an-overview-Bk0WoOcA5). After the Starting Balance is added, your money is ready and waiting in Ready to Assign. **Note:** If the amount in Ready to Assign seems off, try our [YNAB Checkup](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/checkup-S1vJzWGzo) process to confirm your numbers are accurate. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## My Starting Balance is Wrong If you've linked your account for Direct Import, the account will bring in the current balance as your Starting Balance. Sometimes Starting Balances pull in incorrectly, but it's easily fixable by editing the transaction date and amount. It's also **not** an indication that you'll have importing issues going forward. Review our [troubleshooting steps for an incorrect starting balance](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/troubleshooting-linked-accounts-BJ9Mv9b1s) in our general Direct Import guide! [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Can I Import Past Transactions from before My Starting Balance? Yes, but you’ll need to use [File-Based Import](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/file-based-import-a-guide-Bkj4Sszyo) to do so. Because YNAB is built around prioritizing the money you have now and looking **forward**, we highly recommend making a [Fresh Start](https://support.ynab.com/en_us/plan-resets-and-fresh-starts-HkXYR_c0q) after bringing in past transactions. Why? This allows you to be informed by the past (the historical transactions in an archived plan) while focusing on the future in your current plan—without having to spend all that time categorizing past spending.  [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## What if I Deleted my Starting Balance? If you deleted your Starting Balance transaction, you can follow these steps to create a new one. ### iOS 1. Tap the _Accounts_ tab at the bottom of the app. 2. Tap an account. 3. Tap the three dots icon in the top right corner. 4. Tap _Reconcile_. 5. Tap _No_. 6. Enter your current balance. Do not include pending transactions. 7. Tap _Next_. 8. Tap _Next_ a second time. 9. Tap _Done_ or _Create Adjustment and Finish_. 10. Tap _OK_. Once you've finished, YNAB will enter a "Reconciliation Balance Adjustment" transaction. If you can't find it, tap the three dots icon in the top right corner and tap _Show Reconciled_. Then, edit the adjustment transaction:  1. Tap the Reconciliation Balance Adjustment transaction to edit. 2. Change the date of the Reconciliation Balance Adjustment transaction to the day before your first transaction in that account. 3. Rename the Payee to "Starting Balance" and tap _Save_. 4. If prompted to "Edit Reconciled Transaction," tap _Save Anyway_. ### Android 1. Tap the _Accounts_ tab at the bottom of the app. 2. Tap an account. 3. Tap the three dots icon in the top right corner. 4. Tap _Reconcile_. 5. Enter your current balance. Do not include pending transactions. 6. Tap _Next_. 7. Tap _Next_ a second time. 8. Tap _Done_ or _Create Adjustment and Finish_. 9. Tap _OK_. Once you've finished, YNAB will enter a "Reconciliation Balance Adjustment" transaction. If you can't find it, tap the three dots icon in the top right corner and tap _Show Reconciled_. Then, edit the adjustment transaction:  1. Tap the Reconciliation Balance Adjustment transaction to edit. 2. Change the date of the Reconciliation Balance Adjustment transaction to the day before your first transaction in that account. 3. Rename the Payee to "Starting Balance."  4. Tap _Save_. 5. If prompted to "Edit Reconciled Transaction," tap _Save Anyway_. ### Web 1. Click on an account in the left sidebar. 2. In the top right corner of your account, click _Reconcile_. 3. Select _No_ or _Enter an Updated Balance_. 4. Enter your current balance. Do not include pending transactions. 5. Click Next. 6. Click _Create Adjustment & Finish_. YNAB will create a "Reconciliation Balance Adjustment" transaction. If you can't find it, click _View All Transactions_. 7. Click the Reconciliation Balance Adjustment transaction **twice** to edit. 8. Change the date of the Reconciliation Balance Adjustment transaction to the day before your first transaction in that account. 9. Rename the Payee to "Starting Balance" and click _Save_. 10. If prompted to "Save Changes to Reconciled Transaction," click _Save_. [Back to Top](#backtotop) * * * ## Help Us Help You! Our Knowledge Base team reviews article feedback responses weekly, and we actively revise these articles to make them as helpful as possible. That's where you come in! Our articles are scored based on the _Yes_ or _No_ ratings received below. 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