What is a Seed Phrase?
A seed phrase (also known as a recovery phrase) is a series of 12, 15, or 24 words that act as a backup key to your cryptocurrency wallet. When you first create a Cardano wallet, you are provided with this phrase, which is essential for recovering your wallet on a new device or with a different wallet provider.
⚠️ Important: Your seed phrase is the only way to restore your wallet. If lost, forgotten, or compromised, you may lose access to your funds permanently. Never share it with anyone, as it provides full control over your wallet.
Why Would You Need to Restore Your Wallet?
You may need to restore your Cardano wallet in several situations:
Accessing your wallet on a new device (e.g., switching from one phone or computer to another).
Recovering a wallet after reinstalling a wallet app or browser extension.
Switching from one Cardano wallet provider to another (e.g., from Eternl to Vespr).
Retrieving your wallet after losing access to a device.
If you have your seed phrase, you can easily recover your wallet across any compatible Cardano wallet provider.
How to Restore a Wallet Using a Seed Phrase
Step 1: Install or Open a Cardano Wallet
To restore your wallet, you first need to install a compatible Cardano wallet. If you're unsure which wallet to use, check out our guide: Find the Right Wallet for Cardano NFTs
Step 2: Select "Restore Wallet"
Once inside the wallet app, choose the option to restore an existing wallet. The wording may vary slightly between wallets, but it will generally be something like:
Restore Wallet
Import Wallet
Recover Wallet from Seed Phrase
Step 3: Enter Your Seed Phrase
You will be prompted to enter your seed phrase in the exact order it was given to you when you first created your wallet.
📌 Tips for Entering Your Seed Phrase Correctly:
✅ Check for typos: The words must be spelled exactly as provided.
✅ Enter words in the correct order: Even one misplaced word will result in an error.
✅ Use only lowercase letters: Seed phrases are not case-sensitive.
✅ No extra spaces: Only enter the words as they were given.
⚠️ If you receive an error message:
Double-check your spelling and word order.
Ensure you are using a wallet that supports your seed phrase format. Some wallets only support specific seed phrase lengths (e.g., 24-word vs. 15-word).
Step 4: Set Up Your Wallet Again
After successfully entering your seed phrase, you will be asked to:
Create a new spending password (used for transactions).
Reconnect to the blockchain to sync your assets.
Your wallet should now be restored, and your ADA and tokens should appear after synchronization is complete.
Switching Wallet Providers Using Your Seed Phrase
Cardano wallets are interoperable, meaning you can restore the same wallet across different wallet providers. If you want to switch from one wallet to another, simply install the new wallet and restore using your existing seed phrase.
For example, you can switch from Yoroi to Vespr or from Eternl to Lace by restoring your wallet in the new wallet app.
⚠️ Important Considerations When Switching Wallets:
Your assets remain on the blockchain, not inside the wallet app. The wallet is just an interface.
Your spending password will reset when you restore the wallet (you will need to set a new one).
Certain features may vary between wallet providers, so always research the capabilities of the new wallet before switching.
What If You Don’t Have Your Seed Phrase?
If you lose your seed phrase, you cannot restore your wallet. However, you may still be able to access your funds if:
✅ You still have access to your original wallet on a device. Some wallets, such as Vespr, allow you to view your seed phrase within the wallet settings. If your wallet supports this feature, immediately back up your seed phrase.
✅ You set up a hardware wallet (like a Ledger or Trezor), which might provide a recovery method.
❌ If you lost both your wallet and seed phrase, there is no way to recover your funds. This is why it is critical to back up your seed phrase securely.
How to Keep Your Seed Phrase Safe
🔒 Do:
✅ Write it down and store it in a safe place (preferably multiple copies in secure locations).
✅ Use offline storage (never store it in a digital file or screenshot).
✅ Consider using a metal backup plate for extra durability against water/fire damage.
🚫 Don’t:
❌ Store it on your phone, computer, or online cloud storage.
❌ Share it with anyone—even wallet support teams will never ask for it.
❌ Take a screenshot of it (hackers and malware can steal it).
What’s Next?
By following these steps, you can restore access to your Cardano wallet easily and ensure you never lose access to your funds. 🚀
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