Never enter your seed phrase on any website or untrusted app. Recovery must be done only in official software you downloaded yourself.
When Do You Need to Recover a Wallet?
- Lost or reset your phone/computer
- Deleted the wallet app
- Bought a used Ledger/Trezor
- Forgot password/PIN
- Want to move to a new device or wallet
Golden Rule Before Starting
Use ONLY official apps from App Store, Google Play, metamask.io, ledger.com, trezor.io, etc.
If you type your seed anywhere else — consider it stolen.
If you type your seed anywhere else — consider it stolen.
Step-by-Step Recovery Guides
1. MetaMask (Browser & Mobile)
- Open MetaMask → “Import wallet” (or “Already have a wallet”)
- Type your 12 words in exact order
- Set a new password
- Done — all accounts and funds appear instantly
2. Trust Wallet (Mobile)
- Open app → “I already have a wallet”
- Select “Multi-Coin Wallet”
- Enter 12 words
- Funds appear immediately
3. Ledger (Nano S / Nano X / Stax)
- Reset device if it asks for PIN you don’t know
- Choose “Restore from recovery phrase”
- Enter 24 words on the device itself
- Set new PIN
- Open Ledger Live → accounts will sync
4. Trezor (Model T / Safe 3)
- Connect to Trezor Suite
- Select “Recover wallet”
- Enter 12 or 24 words on the device (never on computer!)
- Set new PIN and optional passphrase
5. Exodus (Desktop & Mobile)
- Open Exodus → “Restore from backup”
- Type 12 words
- Everything restores automatically
6. Electrum (Bitcoin only)
- File → New → “Restore a wallet or import keys”
- Choose “Standard wallet” → “Use a master key”
- Paste or type 12/24 words
About Passphrase (the “25th word”)
Some wallets (Ledger, Trezor, MetaMask advanced) support an optional BIP-39 passphrase.
- It’s a custom password you set during creation
- Same 24 words + different passphrase = completely different wallet
- If you used one — you must enter it during recovery
- If you never set one — leave the field empty
Most Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
#1
Wrong word order
#2
Using 12 words when wallet expects 24 (or vice versa)
#3
Forgetting you had a passphrase
If Recovery Shows Zero Balance
- Double-check every word and order
- Try without passphrase first, then with it
- Use Ian Coleman’s tool offline to see derived addresses
- Try different derivation paths (m/84', m/49', m/44') in advanced wallets
Final Checklist — Did You Recover Safely?
- Used official app only
- Typed words directly into the app (never a website)
- Device is clean (no viruses/malware)
- Funds appeared correctly
- Created new backup of the recovered seed on metal/paper
Check If Your Seed Is Already Leaked
Free scan. No data stored.