Crypto Safety Tips › How to Protect Your Seed Phrase
The short answer: Write your seed phrase on paper (or metal), keep it somewhere private and safe from fire and water, and never type it into a website, photograph it or store it online. Nobody legitimate will ever ask for it. Anyone who has those words owns your wallet.
What is a seed phrase?
A seed phrase, also called a recovery phrase or secret recovery phrase, is a list of 12 or 24 words your wallet shows you when you create it. Those words can rebuild your entire wallet on any device. That makes them the master key: whoever has them can move everything in the wallet, from anywhere, and it cannot be undone.
Where should I keep it?
- On paper, written by hand. Check every word and its order.
- Somewhere private and safe. Away from fire, water and prying eyes. For bigger amounts, consider a fire-proof metal backup.
- Consider a second copy in another secure place, so one fire or flood doesn't cost you everything.
Where should I never keep it?
- Screenshots or photos, which sync to the cloud automatically.
- Notes apps, email drafts, password-protected documents, iCloud or Google Drive.
- Discord, Telegram or any chat, even a message to yourself.
- A text file on your computer.
Anything connected to the internet can be hacked, synced or leaked.
Who will ask for it?
Only scammers. Real support teams, founders, moderators and wallet companies never need your seed phrase. Common tricks include fake "support" DMs, "wallet validation" websites, fake wallet updates and pop-ups saying your wallet has been compromised. The only place your seed phrase should ever be typed is your own wallet app, when you are restoring it yourself.
Should I split my seed phrase into parts?
Usually not. Splitting the words across places sounds clever, but done badly it makes things worse: each part leaks information, and losing one part can lock you out for good. Unless you are using a system designed for it, keep whole copies somewhere secure instead.
What if someone has seen it?
Treat the wallet as compromised. Create a brand-new wallet with a new seed phrase and move everything across straight away, starting with the most valuable assets. Don't reuse the old wallet.
Quick questions
Can I store my seed phrase in a password manager?
It is safer offline. A password manager is far better than a notes app, but a written or metal backup that never touches the internet cannot be hacked remotely.
Will my wallet company ever ask for my seed phrase?
No. No legitimate company, founder or support team needs it. Anyone asking for it is trying to steal your wallet.
What should I do if my seed phrase is exposed?
Create a new wallet with a new seed phrase and move your assets to it immediately. Stop using the old wallet.
NFT Wars puts a stranger's seed phrase in your hands. What you do with it says a lot, and shows how little stands between a seed phrase and a wallet.
Keep learning
General safety information, not financial or legal advice. HooTang Clan has no token, and nothing on this page is a reason to buy anything. Report fraud to Action Fraud, or Police Scotland on 101.