Seed Phrase Do’s & Don’ts

Seed Phrase Do’s & Don’ts: Keep Your Keys Alive

Your seed phrase (recovery phrase) is the master key to your wallet. If someone gets it, they own your funds. If you lose it, no one can help you. Here’s a practical, no-drama guide to storing and protecting it.

Reading time: 6–8 min • Education only—no financial advice

What Is a Seed Phrase?

A 12–24-word sequence that can regenerate your private keys and wallet. It’s human-readable so you can back it up offline. Treat it like a bearer instrument: anyone who sees it can spend your funds.

Illustration: seed phrase restoring a wallet
Your seed phrase can restore your entire wallet—guard it accordingly.

Do’s

  • Write it by hand at setup—verify words carefully.
  • Store offline in a secure location (safe at home + bank box).
  • Consider metal backup (fire/flood resistant).
  • Label neutrally (avoid “Bitcoin keys” on the envelope).
  • Use geographic separation for duplicates or shards.
  • Document recovery steps for trusted heirs (but never share the phrase itself).

Don’ts

  • Don’t take photos or store in cloud/email/notes.
  • Don’t type it into any website or “support chat.”
  • Don’t enter it on a computer unless you must recover (and even then, validate software).
  • Don’t keep the phrase next to your device or with wallet packaging.
  • Don’t share it with “helpers,” influencers, or anyone who asks.

Advanced Options (Optional)

  • Passphrase (25th word): Adds a second factor; be sure you can remember/recover it.
  • Shamir secret sharing: Split into multiple shards—require a threshold to recover.
  • Multi-sig: Reduce single-key risk by requiring multiple hardware signers.

See: Multi-Sig in Plain English

Test & Recovery Drills

  1. Do a micro-restore on a spare device (or test wallet) to confirm your backup works.
  2. Send a tiny amount in/out to validate addresses and paths.
  3. Document the steps you took so future you (or heirs) can follow them.
  4. Re-check storage locations yearly; update if you move or change safes.

Related: How to test transfers safely

Education only. Not financial, legal, or tax advice.

FAQ

Is a screenshot okay as a backup?

No. Screenshots end up in cloud backups and photo streams—common cause of theft.

What if I forget my passphrase?

If you add a passphrase and forget it, the seed alone won’t restore your funds. Document securely or avoid using it.

Should I keep multiple copies?

Yes—geographically separate to avoid fire/flood theft, but keep count low and well-tracked.

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