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When dealing with cryptocurrencies or crypto-assets such as Ether and ERC-20 tokens, it is crucial to always be aware of and have your private keys, mnemonic phrases, and passwords backed up in case the unexpected occurs. For more on seed phrases and your MetaMask Secret Recovery Phrase, see here.
DO NOT share this phrase with anyone! These words can be used to steal all your accounts. You can't edit or change your Secret Recovery Phrase.
When you create a new MetaMask account, you are prompted to accept two screens concerning privacy and terms of usage followed by a page where you enter a password. This password is what allows you to unlock your local MetaMask account once installed. However, if your computer crashes or if you are somehow unable to access your MetaMask, this password will not help you gain access to your funds from another machine or after a crash.
The following page, where you are given your 12-word Secret Recovery Phrase, is the most important bit of information for you to record and keep safe in managing your MetaMask account.
You can write your Secret Recovery Phrase down on a piece of paper (or, you know, titanium) or a flash drive; optionally, we allow you to download a file containing the phrase.
Backing Up After You Install MetaMask
If for some reason you forgot to record your 12-word Secret Recovery Phrase or you lost the original copy, as long as your MetaMask account is still unlocked, you can reveal your Secret Recovery Phrase so you can back it up again.
Navigate to Settings > 'security & Privacy'.
Click on the button that reads 'Reveal Secret Recovery Phrase'.
- You'll now have to answer two brief questions to confirm you understand the implications of self-custody: that responsibility for the Secret Recovery Phrase is yours and yours alone, and that you need to keep it secure and not share it, as MetaMask cannot retrieve it for you if it's lost.
- With the questions correctly answered, you will now be prompted to enter your password, and click 'Next'. This enables you to click on the 'Hold to reveal SRP' button that appears if you entered your password correctly.
FAQs
In Settings, choose 'security & Privacy'. In this menu, tap on 'Reveal Secret Recovery Phrase'. You'll be presented with a new screen, where you can click on the button that reads 'Get started', to answer the two questions.
What is the 12-word phrase in MetaMask? ›
Your Secret Recovery Phrase (SRP) is a unique 12-word phrase that is generated when you first set up MetaMask. Your funds are connected to that phrase. If you ever lose your password, your SRP allows you to recover your wallet and your funds.
How do I restore from my 12-word secret recovery phrase? ›
Tap on the first word of the secret recovery phrase of the wallet you wish to recover. To restore your wallet, tap Restore. Open Exodus to confirm your wallet has been restored. If your wallet opens successfully, be sure to write down your secret recovery phrase.
What is 12 secret recovery phrase? ›
Keeping your 12-word secret recovery phrase safe is crucial to keep access to your crypto. Your secret recovery phrase lets you restore your wallet and funds on another device. This ensures you'll always have access to your funds, even if your device is broken, lost, or stolen.
What is the 12-word secret recovery phrase? ›
What is a secret recovery phrase? Your secret recovery phrase is the key to your wallet and controls access to all your crypto. A secret recovery phrase is a set of words that correspond to numbers. These numbers make up a seed integer that generates all of the private keys in your wallet.
Can I recover my wallet without recovery phrase? ›
Key takeaways
Even without a seed phrase, there are other ways to recover funds from a lost or locked wallet. Alternatives to seed phrases include multisig wallets, hardware security modules (HSMs), social recovery systems and biometric authentication.
Where can I find my trust wallet secret phrase? ›
Select Settings, located in the bottom row. Choose View Secret Phrase. Enter your password, then click on Reveal. Take note of your secret phrase.
What is an example of a recovery phrase? ›
The reason recovery phrase is a series of 12 to 24 simple words (like “army,” “energy,” “fabric,” “lucky,” “opera,” “stereo,” “trash,” or “void”) rather than a numeric password is because long strings of numbers are difficult for humans to remember or even transcribe correctly — think of how hard it can be to input a ...
How do I recover my phantom secret recovery phrase? ›
Now on to the second scenario: you remember your Phantom wallet password but have misplaced your recovery phrase. Unlock your wallet on the device where you remember the password once inside, navigate to the settings, tap on your account, and select 'Show' secret recovery phrase.
What is an example of a 12-word phrase? ›
It works as a master key that grants control over your digital assets. The seed phrase consists of 12 to 24 simple words, randomly sequenced from a list of 2048 words. Here is an example of what a 12-word seed phrase can look like: carpet, cat, flower, chair, foot, river, make, image, amazing, three, say, shoe.
The process of generating a seed phrase starts with generating random data, called entropy. The entropy is then run through a hashing function, specifically SHA256, to generate the checksum. Part of the checksum is then added to the random data.
How do I find my 12-word phrase? ›
If you forgot to write down your backup phrase you can always access it within the wallet. You just need to enter the wallet with your password. Then go to the Settings tab and find Private Keys. View your phrase and save it in a safe place.
How do you recover a 12-word seed phrase? ›
A seed phrase, also known as a Secret Recovery Phrase (SRP) or mnemonic, is simply a collection of words that allows you to restore your entire crypto wallet. It's those 12-24 English words that your wallet presented you with while setting it up.
How to recover your secret recovery phrase in MetaMask? ›
This part is easy, so long as you know your password. Simply put in your password, hit "Decrypt", and your Secret Recovery Phrase should appear below the box: Now: back up your SRP, in the order in which the words appear on the screen, somewhere safe.
How do I find my phantom recovery phrase? ›
Unlock your wallet on the device where you remember the password once inside, navigate to the settings, tap on your account, and select 'Show' secret recovery phrase.
What happens if you lost your recovery phrase? ›
If you have lost your recovery phrase or believe it was written down incorrectly, you will be unable to recover your funds if you are unable to log in to your wallet (for example because you lost/changed your device or your PIN).
Where is the 12-word recovery phrase in Coinbase? ›
To access the backup feature, tap Settings then Recovery Phrase from your Coinbase Wallet app. To back up your recovery phrase in Coinbase Wallet: Open the Coinbase Wallet mobile app. From the Assets tab (your avatar or profile picture), tap Settings at the top right of your screen.
How do I recover my Coinbase Wallet without recovery phrase? ›
If you simply need to recover access to your account:
If you no longer have access to your recovery phrase, you will need to create a new account. Please note: Coinbase Wallet is a user-controlled, non-custodial product. The recovery phrase is what gives you, and only you, access to move funds that you have received.
