Hardware wallet recovery

Hardware wallet recovery primarily relies on your recovery seed phrase, a unique sequence of 12, 18, or 24 words provided during initial setup. This phrase is the master key to your crypto assets on the blockchain, not the physical device itself.

​

Recovery Process

If your hardware wallet is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can regain access to your funds by following these general steps:

Retrieve your seed phrase backup: Locate the securely stored, offline backup of your 12, 18, or 24-word recovery phrase.

​

Obtain a new device: Purchase a new hardware wallet (it can be a different brand, as most use the industry-standard BIP39 protocol). Alternatively, you can use a reputable software wallet temporarily if you need quick access to funds.

​

Restore the wallet: Follow the manufacturer's instructions to initiate a wallet restoration on the new device, selecting the "Restore Wallet" or "Import existing wallet" option.

Enter the seed phrase: Carefully type the words of your seed phrase into the new device in the correct order, double-checking for accuracy.

​

Verify access and transfer funds (if compromised): Once the wallet is restored and balances are verified, if your original device was stolen, you should immediately send your funds to a new address generated by a new, uncompromised seed phrase.

​

Important Considerations

Physical device is a tool: The hardware wallet device itself is just a secure interface for your private keys; the funds live on the blockchain.

​

Seed phrase is paramount: The seed phrase is your ultimate backup. Anyone with access to it can access your funds.

​

Never store digitally: Do not store your seed phrase as a text file, email, or cloud document, as this exposes it to online threats and malware.

​

Use durable storage: Consider stamping your seed phrase into a fire and water-resistant metal plate for long-term durability, rather than relying solely on paper.

​

Consider a backup device: Having a second, pre-configured hardware wallet with the same seed phrase (stored separately from the primary device and PIN) allows for immediate access in case of an issue, without waiting for a replacement

​

• Forgot PIN: Most hardware wallets will wipe themselves after a few incorrect PIN attempts, requiring the seed phrase for recovery. 

To ensure you have a resilient recovery plan, I can outline some specific products for secure, durable offline seed phrase storage (e.g., metal plates) and their features.