You can create a wallet in Phantom using a 12-word recovery phrase, also known as a seed phrase. This type of wallet can be called a seed-phrase wallet. After creating the wallet, be sure save your recovery phrase somewhere offline. You'll need to enter this it every time you restore the wallet on a new device or after resetting or reinstalling the app.
Create a new wallet with a recovery phrase
Browser extension
- Download Phantom from phantom.com/download.
- Click Create a new wallet → Create a seed phrase wallet.
- Create a password. This password lets you log in to Phantom only in your current browser and doesn't replace your recovery phrase. Password requirements: at least 8 characters; special characters and numbers are optional but recommended.
- Click Continue.
- When presented with a recovery phrase, write it down and store it securely offline.
- Click Continue.
- Create a Phantom username. With it, you can join live chats across tokens, perps, and predictions markets, and use features like Phantom Cash.
You’ve successfully created a new wallet with a 12-word recovery phrase.
Warning: Phantom can't restore your recovery phrase if it's lost. Don't share it with anyone, including Phantom Support.
Mobile app
- Download Phantom from phantom.com/download.
- Tap Create a new wallet → Create a seed phrase wallet.
- Turn on device authentication (Face ID, fingerprint, or passcode). This authentication lets you log in to Phantom only on your current device and doesn't replace your recovery phrase.
- View your recovery phrase. Write it down and store it securely offline.
- Tap OK, I saved it somewhere, then tap Yes to confirm.
- Create a Phantom username. With it, you can join live chats across tokens, perps, and predictions markets, and use features like Phantom Cash.
- Tap Get started.
You’ve successfully created a new wallet with a 12-word recovery phrase
Warning: Your recovery phrase is the only way to recover your wallet if you lose access. Phantom can’t recover it for you, so keep it somewhere safe offline.
Add more accounts to your wallet
You can add more accounts to your wallet. Each account has a set of addresses on all supported networks. You can use one account for long-term holding, one for trading, one for staking, and so on.
- Select your profile avatar in the upper-left corner.
- Select Add Account → Create New Account.
- Name the account and select Create.
Phantom lets you view, create, and organize these accounts in one place, whether you’re keeping things tidy, separating funds for security, or managing activity across chains. For more information, see How to manage multiple accounts in Phantom.
Restore a wallet using its recovery phrase
If you’re setting up Phantom on a new device or after resetting the app, you can restore access to your wallet by importing the recovery phrase.
Browser extension
- Click I already have a wallet → Import Recovery Phrase.
- Enter your 12-word recovery phrase in the exact order.
- Click Import Wallet. Phantom will retrieve all accounts linked to this recovery phrase that have had previous activity.
- Click Continue.
- Create a password to unlock Phantom on this device.
- Click Get Started.
You’ve successfully restored access to your wallet.
Mobile app
- Tap I already have a wallet.
- Tap Other import options → Import Seed Phrase.
- Enter your 12-word recovery phrase in the exact order.
- Tap Import Recovery Phrase. Phantom will retrieve all accounts linked to this recovery phrase that have had previous activity.
- Tap Continue.
- Turn on device authentication (Face ID, fingerprint, or passcode) to unlock Phantom on this device, then tap Next.
- Tap Get Started.
Restore missing accounts
When you restore access on a new device or after reinstalling the app, Phantom automatically retrieves all accounts linked to this recovery phrase that have had previous activity. If you noticed that some accounts are missing, you can add them manually:
- Select your profile avatar in the upper-left corner.
- Select Add Account at the bottom, then select Create New Account, and then select Create to confirm.
- Repeat until all your accounts appear.
- Optionally, delete any extra accounts you don't need.
Fix issues when importing a recovery phrase
Error: "Invalid secret recovery phrase"
If you're getting an "Invalid secret recovery phrase" error when trying to import your recovery phrase, make sure you're entering the recovery phrase correctly, without any typos or extra spaces.
You can verify the spelling of the words using the BIP-39 English Word List.
To ensure you're entering the recovery phrase correctly:
- On mobile: enter the phrase with one space between each word, in the correct order from left to right.
- On the extension: enter one word per field, from left to right.
If the recovery phrase is entered incorrectly or lost, you won't be able to restore access to your wallet.
FAQ
Does Phantom use a 12-word or 24-word recovery phrase?
Wallets created in Phantom use a 12-word recovery phrase. If you’re importing a 24-word recovery phrase, that wallet wasn’t originally created in Phantom.
Can Phantom recover my recovery phrase if I lose it?
No. Phantom never stores your recovery phrase. If it’s lost, there’s no way to recover it. Make sure to back it up right after you set up your wallet.
Can I use my recovery phrase in another app?
Yes. Recovery phrases follow an open standard, so you can import the same phrase into other wallets that support it. Your accounts and balances will appear as long as the wallet supports the same networks. For more information, see How to view your recovery phrase or private key in Phantom.
Why don’t all of my accounts appear when I import my recovery phrase?
Phantom automatically restores only the accounts that have previous activity. To access additional accounts, add them manually: select your profile avatar in the upper-left corner → Add Account → Create New Account.
Why is my account still missing after I added more accounts?
If you imported a recovery phrase and kept adding accounts but still don’t see the one you’re looking for, you’re likely using the wrong recovery phrase.