How do I create a Monero wallet?

You create a Monero wallet by installing a trusted wallet app, choosing “Create a new wallet,” and saving its recovery phrase somewhere safe. Once it is ready, you can copy your receiving address and use it for XMR payments or mining payouts.

Choose a wallet you can trust

A wallet manages the private keys—the secret information that lets you spend your Monero. Your XMR is recorded on Monero’s blockchain, its shared record of transactions, rather than stored inside the app.

For your first wallet, choose an established app that supports Monero and lets you control your own keys.

• On a computer: The official Monero GUI wallet gives you a visual interface with buttons and menus. “GUI” simply means graphical user interface.
• On a phone: Choose a well-established Monero wallet. Check its current reputation and supported operating systems through official Monero resources.
• For larger amounts: Consider a compatible hardware wallet, a separate device that protects your keys. Check current Monero support before buying.

Download through the project’s official website or its verified app-store listing. Avoid search ads, unsolicited messages, and “wallet support” accounts offering downloads. A convincing name or logo does not prove an app is genuine.

Create your wallet and protect its backup

The exact screens vary, but the basic process is similar:

1. Open the app and select Create a new wallet.
2. Give it a name you will recognize.
3. Set a strong, unique password.
4. Write down the recovery phrase, also called a seed phrase, in the exact order shown.
5. Complete any backup check the app provides.

The recovery phrase can restore your wallet if your device breaks or disappears. Its length depends on the wallet and backup format, so follow that app’s instructions rather than expecting one particular word count.

Keep the phrase offline, somewhere private and protected from damage. Avoid screenshots, email, cloud notes, and online forms. Anyone who gets it can take your funds.

Your wallet password usually protects the wallet on that device. It does not replace the recovery phrase. If the app also shows a restore height, save it too: this block number helps it find your transactions faster during recovery.

Let your wallet connect and synchronize

Your wallet needs information from the Monero network to show an accurate balance. This process is called synchronization.

It can get that information through:

• Your own node: Software that checks and stores blockchain information. This takes more storage and setup time.
• A remote node: Another computer providing blockchain information to your wallet. This is usually easier for beginners, but involves privacy trade-offs.

Using a remote node does not require giving it your recovery phrase or private keys. Let synchronization finish before relying on the displayed balance.

Get your address for payments or mining payouts

Open Receive and copy your Monero address. This is the public destination someone uses to send you XMR—not your recovery phrase.

For mining payouts, paste that address into the service’s payout settings. If supported, create a subaddress, an extra receiving address within the same wallet, to keep payouts separate from other payments.

Check the pasted address carefully. If possible, receive a small test payment before using it for a larger transfer. A mining service may have a minimum payout, so creating a wallet does not mean earnings arrive immediately.

The bottom line

Choose a trusted wallet, protect its recovery phrase offline, and let it synchronize. Share your receiving address when you want XMR sent to you. Never share your recovery phrase—not even with someone claiming to provide support.