Last updated: October 28, 2026
If you lost your seed phrase but can still open the wallet (app with PIN, or a hardware wallet), create a new wallet with a new seed phrase right now and move all funds to it — your coins are safe as long as that device works. If you lost both the seed phrase and access to the wallet, nobody — not the wallet maker, not an exchange — can restore it; the only realistic options are finding a backup or recovering missing words you partly remember. This guide covers each situation and how to back up properly next time.
- 12–25 words in a typical seed phrase
- 0 companies that can reset a self-custody wallet
- 1–2 missing words often recoverable
- Now is the time to move funds if the wallet still opens
Which situation are you in?
| Situation | Can the funds be saved? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet still opens, seed lost | Yes | New wallet + new seed, move everything |
| Hardware wallet works, seed lost | Yes | Set up a new seed (or new device), send funds there |
| Seed partly remembered (1–2 words missing) | Often | Recover the missing words with an offline tool |
| Seed lost, phone or device wiped | Only with another backup | Search for old backups, cloud notes, paper copies |
| Seed may have been seen by someone | Yes, if you act fast | See seed phrase compromised |
If the wallet still opens: move the funds
- Create a brand-new wallet and write down its new seed phrase on paper or steel. Verify it before sending anything.
- Send a small test amount first — why test transactions matter.
- Move everything, including tokens on each network.
- Keep the old wallet empty and stop using it.
If you want to convert at the same time — for example to consolidate into Monero — you can swap straight into the new wallet: BTC → XMR or ETH → BTC, paying to your new address.
If you remember most of the words
Seed phrases use a fixed list of 2,048 words (for BIP39 wallets) and include a checksum, so one or two missing or misspelled words can usually be found by trying all combinations against your known address. Open-source recovery tools do this. Do it offline, on a clean computer, and never give your partial seed to a "recovery service" — that's how recovery scams work. Monero uses its own 25-word list; the last word is a checksum.
If everything is lost: where to look
- Old notebooks, safes, document folders — people often wrote it during setup and forgot.
- Old phones with the wallet still installed.
- Password managers or encrypted notes (not recommended for storage, but often where it ends up).
- Wallet files on old computers — desktop wallets like Monero GUI or Electrum keep a wallet file that opens with your password.
If none of these exist, the coins can't be moved. That's the trade-off of self-custody — explained in not your keys, not your coins.
Back up properly so this never happens again
- Two copies in two places, on paper or steel, never in screenshots or cloud photos.
- Test the backup by restoring it in a wallet before funding.
- Plan for your family — crypto inheritance plan.
- Monero users: see Monero seed phrase backup.
Frequently asked questions
Can a wallet company recover my seed phrase?
No. Self-custody wallets generate the seed on your device and never store it. That's why they can't reset it — and why no one else can take your funds.
Can I recover a seed phrase with my private key or address?
No. You can't go backwards from an address to the seed. But if you still have a private key or a working wallet, you can move the funds to a new wallet.
I have the words but not the order. Is that recoverable?
For 12 words it's often possible with an offline tool if you know the address, because the checksum rules out most orders. For 24 words it's much harder.
My hardware wallet works but I lost the seed. Am I safe?
For now, but if the device breaks the funds are gone. Set up a new seed and move the funds as soon as possible.
Should I pay a service to recover my seed?
Be extremely careful. Most services that contact you are scams. If you use a tool, run open-source software yourself, offline.
Protect what you have: read hot vs cold wallets and best Monero wallets, and swap without accounts on /swap. No account, no ID, no logs.