You can create a new Phantom wallet using a 12-word Secret Recovery Phrase, sometimes called a seed phrase.
Your recovery phrase is shown to you during setup. Write it down and store it somewhere secure and offline. You will use it to restore your wallet on a new device or after resetting the app.
A recovery phrase gives you direct, portable control over your wallet. You can import it into any wallet app that supports the same standard. This also means the phrase is the only backup for this type of wallet. If you lose it, access to your wallet cannot be restored.
If you prefer a recovery flow backed by email and a PIN instead, see Create a new Phantom wallet with Google or Apple.
Before you start
These steps in this article are for setting up Phantom for the first time. If Phantom already has a wallet on your device and you want to replace it with a new one, reset the app first. See Reset Phantom for instructions.
If your wallet was compromised and you still have funds you want to move out first, see Move funds to a new Phantom wallet when you need to start over before resetting.
Browser extension
- Open the Phantom browser extension.
- Click Create a New Wallet, then Create a Recovery Phrase Wallet.
- Create a secure password. This password unlocks Phantom only in your current browser and does not replace your recovery phrase. Your password must be at least eight characters, and can contain special characters and numbers.
- When presented with a recovery phrase, write it down and store it securely offline. You will use this to restore your wallet.
- Create a Phantom username.
Mobile app
- Open the Phantom mobile app.
- Tap Create a New Wallet, then Create a Recovery Phrase Wallet.
- Turn on device authentication such as Face ID or fingerprint. This unlocks Phantom only on your current device and does not replace your recovery phrase.
- When presented with a recovery phrase, write it down and store it securely offline. You will use this to restore your wallet.
- Create a Phantom username.
Warning: Phantom does not store your Secret Recovery Phrase and cannot restore it if lost. Never share your recovery phrase with anyone, including Phantom Support.
Common issues
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.
If you use Phantom Terminal (trade.phantom.com), signing in with a recovery phrase wallet creates a separate trading account with its own 24-word recovery phrase. See Why do I see a new account in Phantom after using Phantom Terminal? for details.
Can Phantom restore my recovery phrase if I lose it?
No. Phantom does not store your recovery phrase. If you lose it, there is no way to restore it. If you'd prefer a recovery method that doesn't rely solely on a phrase you store yourself, consider creating a wallet with Google or Apple instead, which uses your email and a PIN as two factors of authentication.
Can I change my recovery phrase?
You cannot change your recovery phrase or any part of it.
How can I view my recovery phrase?
Go to Settings → Security & Privacy → Show Recovery Phrase. You'll need to authenticate with your password, PIN, or device biometrics to view it.
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. For details, see View your recovery phrase or private key in Phantom.
Can I get a new recovery phrase for an existing wallet?
No. Recovery phrases are generated once when the wallet is created and cannot be replaced or regenerated. If you've lost yours, the wallet cannot be restored.