How do I back up my Monero seed phrase safely?
Back up your Monero seed phrase by writing it down accurately and keeping it somewhere private, secure, and protected from damage. Your seed phrase is the set of words that can restore your wallet, so anyone who gets it may be able to take your XMR—even without your wallet password.
Copy the words carefully, offline
Use your wallet’s built-in backup or recovery instructions. A seed phrase is often 25 words in Monero wallets, but some wallet types use a different format or length. Follow your wallet’s instructions rather than assuming your phrase must have a certain number of words.
When you make the backup:
- Work somewhere private, away from cameras and screen sharing.
- Write every word clearly, in the exact order shown.
- Number the words so their order is easy to follow.
- Check every word against the wallet before putting the backup away.
Avoid screenshots, email drafts, cloud notes, and photos. These can quietly sync to other devices or online accounts. Avoid copying the phrase to your clipboard or printing it on a shared or network-connected printer.
If you use a hardware wallet—a separate device that holds your wallet’s secret keys—follow its recovery instructions. Do not type its seed into a computer or phone unless its official recovery process specifically requires it.
Keep two secure physical copies
Paper is a useful starting point, but it can burn, fade, or get wet. Use durable paper and a lasting pen, and keep it in a protective sleeve inside a secure container.
For better protection against fire or water, you can use a purpose-built metal seed backup. Make sure it supports your wallet’s word format; not every product does.
Two complete copies in separate secure places can protect you if one location suffers a fire, flood, or theft. Choose places where other people cannot casually find or photograph them.
More copies also mean more chances for theft. Avoid scattering backups around, and do not improvise by splitting the words between locations. Losing one piece could make recovery impossible.
Record what you will need to restore
Alongside your seed, record:
- The wallet app or hardware wallet you used.
- The seed format, if your wallet identifies it.
- The approximate date you created the wallet.
- The restore height, if shown.
The restore height is a block number that tells the wallet where to begin checking Monero’s transaction history. It is not a secret, but it can make recovery much faster. Choosing a height that is too recent can hide older transactions until you scan again from an earlier point.
Your app’s ordinary login password usually does not protect a stolen seed phrase. If you deliberately enabled an extra seed passphrase, follow your wallet’s instructions and back that up securely too, preferably separately. Losing it may mean losing access.
Verify the backup without exposing it
Use your wallet’s built-in backup-check feature, if available. If you test a restore, use trusted wallet software on a secure device and confirm that it produces your expected wallet address. Do not erase your working wallet until you have verified recovery.
Never enter your seed on a website, in a support chat, or into a “wallet verification” form. A mining service needs your receiving address for payouts, not your seed.
The bottom line
Keep an accurate, offline backup, protect it from both theft and damage, and verify it safely. Treat the words as access to your money—not just a password you can reset.
