How to protect your seed phrase

A wallet backup is more than a password. Treat it as a route to your funds.

What is a recovery phrase?

A seed phrase is a sequence of words that a compatible wallet can use to reconstruct the keys needed to access your assets. It is different from the public address you share to receive crypto. In many setups, someone with your backup can access the funds without the original device. An additional passphrase changes the recovery requirements and creates another secret you must preserve.

Keep your backup offline

Follow the backup method specified by your device manufacturer. Write down the words accurately and in order, in a private place. Avoid photographs, screenshots, synced notes, email and cloud storage. A digital copy can spread to other devices without you noticing.

Paper is vulnerable to water and fire. An appropriate metal backup may reduce some physical risks, but it does not hide the information from someone who finds it. Consider theft, damage and accidental loss separately when choosing a storage location.

Verify using the official procedure

Check your backup before depending on it for significant funds. Use the official instructions for your exact device. Do not reset a funded wallet just to try recovery: an incomplete backup or forgotten passphrase can make access impossible.

Recovery is not online verification

No form on this website needs your words. Messages asking you to synchronise, activate or validate a wallet by submitting its seed phrase are a warning sign. Never send a backup to a support agent or enter it into a link received by email or chat.

Plan for loss and emergencies

Think through what happens if the device is lost or you cannot access your backup. Avoid inventing a scheme that splits the words into fragments: it can weaken security or prevent recovery. Advanced backup methods have specific requirements and need careful understanding.

If you suspect exposure

Treat the backup as compromised. Changing the device PIN does not invalidate a copied seed phrase. Consult the official instructions for creating a new wallet with a new backup on a trusted device and carefully transferring assets. Do not disclose secrets to anyone promising to recover funds.