Backing up your recovery phrase
Your 12-word recovery phrase is the master key to your wallet. It’s the only way to restore access to your bitcoin if you lose your device, break your phone, or need to move to a new one. There is no alternative recovery method — if you lose this phrase, your funds are gone permanently.
This is not a scare tactic. It’s the fundamental tradeoff of self-custody: no one can take your bitcoin from you, but no one can recover it for you either.
What the recovery phrase is
Your recovery phrase is a human-readable representation of your private key — the cryptographic secret that proves you own your bitcoin. The 12 words are generated from a standardized list (BIP-39) and encode the exact same information as your private key, just in a format that’s possible to write down.
Anyone who has these 12 words in the correct order can fully reconstruct your wallet and access all of your funds. That’s why protecting them matters so much.
How to store it safely
Write it on paper
The simplest and most reliable method. Use a pen (not pencil — it fades) on a clean piece of paper. Write clearly. Double-check every word against what’s shown in the app. Number each word 1–12.
Store it in a secure location
Treat your recovery phrase like you’d treat a stack of cash equal to your entire bitcoin balance. Good storage options:
- A home safe or lockbox
- A safety deposit box at a bank
- A sealed envelope in a trusted location
Some people store copies in two separate secure locations in case one is destroyed. This is smart — just make sure both locations are truly secure.
Consider a metal backup
Paper can burn, get wet, or degrade over time. If you hold a significant amount of bitcoin, consider stamping or engraving your recovery phrase on a stainless steel plate. Products like Cryptosteel, Billfodl, and similar metal backup devices are designed for exactly this purpose.
What not to do
Don’t store it digitally
Do not save your recovery phrase in Notes, Google Docs, email drafts, text messages, password managers, or cloud storage. If any of these services are compromised — through a data breach, phishing attack, or unauthorized access — your bitcoin can be stolen instantly and irreversibly.
Don’t screenshot it
Screenshots are automatically synced to cloud services (iCloud, Google Photos) and can appear in image search, recently deleted folders, or shared albums. A screenshot of your recovery phrase is effectively publishing it to the internet.
Don’t share it with anyone
No legitimate service, wallet, or support team will ever ask for your recovery phrase. Not Bread, not Apple, not anyone. If someone asks for it — through email, DM, a website, or even a phone call — it is a scam. 100% of the time.
What to do if you think it’s compromised
If you suspect someone has seen or copied your recovery phrase:
- Create a new wallet immediately — Open Bread and create a brand new wallet. This generates a new recovery phrase and new keys.
- Transfer all funds — Send your entire balance from your old wallet to your new wallet address.
- Secure the new phrase — Write down and safely store your new recovery phrase.
- Abandon the old wallet — Never use the compromised wallet again.
Speed matters here. If someone has your recovery phrase, they can drain your wallet at any time. Don’t wait.
Testing your backup
After storing your recovery phrase, it’s worth verifying it works. You can do this by restoring your wallet on a second device using the “Import Wallet” option and entering your 12 words. If the same balance appears, your backup is good.
Don’t do this on someone else’s device — only on hardware you own and trust.