How to use a wallet backup
Trezor now uses the term wallet backup instead of recovery seed.
To learn more about this change, check out our blog post: Wallet Backups Explained: Why Trezor Replaced the Term "Recovery Seed" With "Wallet Backup."
Keep your wallet backup safe for the long-term security of your digital assets.
Do not share your wallet backup with anyone.
Do not keep digital copies of your wallet backup (this includes screenshots, photographs, emails, Dropbox, etc.).
We will never ask you for your wallet backup, even if you are speaking with our customer support.
Never enter your wallet backup anywhere unless prompted by your Trezor device.
What is a wallet backup?
- Your wallet backup may also be referred to as a: backup, recovery seed, seed, seed phrase, BIP-39 seed phrase, mnemonic, recovery phrase (plus various combinations of these terms).
- It is an ordered list of English words that contains all information necessary for recovering your wallet (i.e., accessing Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency funds on-chain).
- A wallet backup provides full access to the associated wallet (the private key is mathematically derived from the wallet backup)—this is why you must keep it safe.
Wallet backups were introduced as part of Bitcoin Improvement Proposal 39 (BIP-39) as a human-friendly method for backing up your wallet.
Your wallet backup is a "plain English" representation of a random number, from which all of your keys and addresses are mathematically derived.
- Your wallet backup is an ordered sequence of:
- When you write down your wallet backup, the words must be copied in the exact order they appear.
- It is very important that you keep your wallet backup private and safe to ensure your cryptocurrency is never at risk.
- Having a secure wallet backup means you can recover your Bitcoin in case of hardware failure or device loss.
Your Trezor derives your private key from your wallet backup, which can then be used to spend your funds.
We will never ask for your wallet backup!
Scammers, posing as Trezor support on social media or chat forums, may try to persuade you to share your wallet backup.
Beware of phishing attacks (fake websites, emails, etc.) that aim to steal your security info (wallet backup, PIN, passphrase, etc.).
Recording & storing your wallet backup
The physical security of your wallet backup is even more important than that of your device.
Your Trezor hardware wallet ships with wallet backup cards that you should use for writing down the words when you back up your device—this is a strongly recommended step when setting up your Trezor.
You can download additional copies of the Trezor wallet backup card article.
You can also protect your wallet backup with the Trezor Keep Metal, a robust and easy-to-use wallet backup solution designed for secure storage.
If your Trezor is lost or stolen, it is highly unlikely that someone would be able to access it without your PIN. However, if someone steals your wallet backup, they can access your coins using a different device or wallet.
When backing up your device, you should:
- Ensure all words are correctly spelled and in the correct order.
- Never make a digital copy of your wallet backup (this includes Dropbox, email, encrypted folders, or photos).
- Keep your wallet backup safe from theft and damage.
Learn more about how to store your Bitcoin wallet backups on the Trezor Blog.