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How do I always have access to my wallet with my 12-word secret recovery phrase?
How do I always have access to my wallet with my 12-word secret recovery phrase?

With Exodus, you will always have access to your crypto if you have your 12-word secret recovery phrase. So write it down and keep it safe!

Updated over a week ago

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.

Need a crypto wallet that gives you full control of your assets? You can download Exodus here.


In this article:



Why is it important to back up my wallet?

This backup process does not back up your hardware wallet data. Your Trezor secret recovery phrase is different than your Exodus 12-word secret recovery phrase. Your Trezor secret recovery phrase is only displayed when you first set up your Trezor.

Backing up your wallet consists of writing down your 12-word secret recovery phrase and setting a strong password.

You should back up your wallet so that you never lose access to your funds, no matter what happens to your device.

Writing down your 12-word secret recovery phrase will allow you to restore your wallet on another device at any time: How do I restore from my 12-word secret recovery phrase?

You only need to back up your wallet once. Writing down your secret recovery phrase will ensure that you can regain access to your crypto if you get a new device, or if your phone or computer breaks, gets stolen, or is lost.

Exodus allows you to try the wallet before having to back it up. Once you decide that Exodus is right for you, and you make your first deposit, the backup option will be highlighted with an exclamation mark in an orange triangle (on Desktop) or a pop-up screen (on Mobile and Web3 Wallet) so that you can start the backup process.

If you'd like, you can also write down your secret recovery phrase before you receive any crypto.

Back up your wallet in a private location where no one is able to see your screen. Also, don't back up your wallet when your device is connected to a public WiFi connection.


What happens if I get a new device?

If you get a new phone or computer, you will have to download Exodus again. In order to access your previous wallet, you can restore it using your 12-word secret recovery phrase.

Your assets will not automatically transfer over when you get a new device because your secret recovery phrase is not stored in a centralized server.

Your 12-word secret recovery phrase is generated by your device when you first open your wallet. This is why installing Exodus on a new device will generate a completely new wallet with its own unique secret recovery phrase.

Writing down your secret recovery phrase ensures that you always have access to your funds, regardless of which device you are using.

For more information, you can check out these articles:


If you have an iOS device, be aware that your iCloud backup might contain your 12-word secret recovery phrase. If someone gets access to your device, they could gain access to your 12-word secret recovery phrase, and your funds. Because of this, it is important to delete old iCloud backups. To learn how, please visit Apple's support article: Manage your iCloud storage.


What’s the difference between my password and 12-word secret recovery phrase?

While your password and 12-word secret recovery phrase may appear to have a similar function, they serve very different purposes. Here are some of the key differences.

Your password protects your Exodus wallet on your device from anyone that could potentially have access to your device. If someone gets access to your device, they still cannot open or access the wallet unless they have the password.

If your device gets lost or stolen, your password alone is not enough to recover your wallet.

On Exodus Desktop and Web3 Wallet, your wallet data files are encrypted with your password. Even if someone were to get access to your wallet data files, your password would still hinder any attempts to steal your funds. On Mobile, both on Android and iOS, your wallet information is encrypted using your device's own encryption resources.

On the other hand, your 12-word secret recovery phrase is the seed from which all your addresses and private keys are derived. Anyone with access to your 12-word seed phrase has full access to your funds, and they would not need the password.

If your device gets lost or stolen, you can always recover your wallet as long as you have your secret recovery phrase.

Be very careful with your 12-word secret recovery phrase. The secret recovery phrase grants full access to your funds. Never share it with anyone. To find out more, check out this article from our Knowledge Base: How do I keep my money safe?


Do I have to back up my wallet every time it updates?

No, you don't need to back up your wallet every time it updates. Your wallet will continuously back up, even if you never open Exodus. This is because your funds are stored on the blockchain, and Exodus serves as a user interface to access information on the blockchain.

So you can rest assured that your wallet is being backed up automatically.

As long as you keep your secret recovery phrase safe, you will be able to restore access to your wallet at any time.


How do I back up my wallet and write down my 12-word secret recovery phrase?

Mobile

  1. In Exodus Mobile, a) tap the Profile icon, then b) tap Security.

  2. Tap Backup.

  3. Make sure no one is around to see your 12-word secret recovery phrase, then a) check the box to confirm that you understand the risks of sharing your secret phrase, and b) tap View Secret Phrase.

    We recommend writing down your 12-word secret recovery phrase on more than one piece of paper, and keeping the copies in separate secure locations. This will prevent a single point of loss from events like fires, floods, etc.

    • Your secret recovery phrase generates all your wallet’s addresses and private keys, so it's crucial to keep it safe

    • Do not store your secret recovery phrase as an unencrypted digital copy, because it's possible for hackers to access digital information like text files and screenshots. Learn more about how to keep your crypto safe.

  4. To see your 12-word secret recovery phrase, a) press and hold your finger on the Press and Hold to Reveal button. Once you have written it down, b) tap Done.

  5. Next, to check your backup, you will receive a question about your secret recovery phrase. a) Choose the correct answer, then b) tap Done.

  6. Now that you have your secret recovery phrase secure, it is time to add a passcode to lock your wallet. In the Security menu, toggle on Secure with a Passcode.

  7. Once you have created your passcode, you will be asked to re-enter it to confirm it. This will enable your passcode on Exodus Mobile.

And that's it! You only have to go through the backup process once! As long as you have your 12-word secret recovery phrase safe, you won't lose access to your funds.

If you would like to set up Face ID on an iOS device, or Touch ID on an Android device, you can visit: How do I secure my wallet with Face ID or Touch ID?


Tutorial video: How do I back up my mobile wallet?


Desktop

  1. In Exodus Desktop, click the Settings icon in the top right corner.

  2. a) Click the Backup tab. b) Enter a strong, secret, and unique password, and c) click Next.

    Make sure your Exodus wallet password is not the same or similar to any other password you have ever used! We recommend using a password manager to create your password, as they can generate highly random and strong passwords for you as well as store them.

    If you forget or lose your password, no one can recover or reset it for you. You can only reset your password with your secret recovery phrase.

  3. a) Re-enter your password and b) click Next.

  4. a) Check the box to confirm you understand the risks of sharing your secret phrase, then b) click View secret phrase.

  5. a) Check the box to show your secret recovery phrase and then write it down in the correct order. Double-check that they are spelled correctly. When you are finished writing down the secret recovery phrase, put it in a secure place that only you can access and b) click Done.

    We recommend writing down your 12-word secret recovery phrase on more than one piece of paper, and keeping the copies in separate secure locations. This will prevent a single point of loss from events like fires, floods, etc.

    • Your secret recovery phrase generates all your wallet’s addresses and private keys, so it's crucial to keep it safe

    • Do not store your secret recovery phrase as an unencrypted digital copy, because it's possible for hackers to access digital information like text files and screenshots. Learn more about how to keep your crypto safe.

  6. Next, a) read the verification question carefully, b) select the correct answer, and c) click Done.

    And that's it! You only have to go through this process once.


Tutorial video: How do I back up my desktop wallet?


Web3 Wallet

  1. In Exodus Web3 Wallet, a) click the Profile icon, then b) click Security.

  2. Click Back Up.

  3. a) Check the box to confirm you understand the risks of sharing your secret phrase. Next, b) enter your password, and c) click View Secret Phrase.

  4. You can now view your 12-word secret recovery phrase by clicking Reveal secret recovery phrase. Write down your secret recovery phrase and store it in a secure place to you always have access to your funds. Be sure to double-check that the words have been written down in the correct order and that every word is spelled correctly.

    We recommend writing down your 12-word secret recovery phrase at least twice, and keeping copies in separate secure locations. This will prevent a single point of loss from events like fires, floods, etc.

    • Your secret recovery phrase generates all your wallet’s addresses and private keys, so it's crucial to keep it safe

    • Do not store your secret recovery phrase as an unencrypted digital copy, because it's possible for hackers to access digital information like text files and screenshots. Learn more about how to keep your crypto safe.

  5. After you have written down your 12-word secret recovery phrase, click Next.

  6. To confirm that you've written down the correct secret recovery phrase, a) choose the correct word, then b) tap Next.

And that's it! You only have to go through the backup process once. As long as you have your 12-word secret recovery phrase safe, you won't lose access to your funds.

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