Seed phrases and backups

When you set up a wallet it shows you a list of 12 or 24 words. This is your seed phrase, also called a recovery phrase. It is the master backup for every key in that wallet. If your phone or device is lost, broken or stolen, those words bring everything back.

How to store it

• Write it on paper, or stamp it into metal for fire and water resistance.
• No photos, no screenshots, no cloud notes, no email, no password manager notes.
• Keep it somewhere safe and private. Some people keep a second copy in a different location.
• Only ever type it into the wallet you are restoring, and never into a website.

Test your backup

Before you send serious money, practise a recovery. Reset the wallet, restore it from your written words and check the same addresses appear. Do this with a small amount first.

Avoid clever tricks like splitting the words up or making them into a puzzle. These tend to lose more coins than hackers do. Proper multisig, where a wallet needs several separate keys, is a different and safe technique. For a real example of scammers chasing seed phrases, read the Passport recall alert. Look up any terms you are unsure of in the glossary.

All lessons

Not financial advice. These lessons are general education only. Bitcoin prices can swing hard. Never put in more than you can afford to lose, and do your own research.