How to test a wallet backup before relying on it
Test a wallet backup by restoring it on a clean device and comparing the addresses and balances with your current wallet before you rely on it.
Vahe HakobyanEditor-in-chief
Updated Oct 5, 20263 min readFact-checked
- A restore is the only real test of a backup.
- Keep the phrase out of email, cloud notes, and unverified apps.
- Wipe the test device once the restore checks out.
A backup you have never restored is only a guess, and a lost phone can take your keys with it. The test below proves the phrase rebuilds your wallet while the original still works.
Before you start
Check how your wallet handles backups first, because some wallets need a fresh backup to cover addresses they create later. Work on a spare device or a hardware wallet recovery check, so your main wallet stays out of the test. Do not wipe the original until the test passes.
How to test the backup
During a restore, the wallet rebuilds your keys from the phrase and shows the accounts those keys open. Read each screen before you continue.
- 1Install the wallet softwareGet the app from the wallet maker on a spare phone or computer, or start a recovery check on a hardware wallet.
- 2Restore from your backupEnter the phrase in the wallet app itself. Keep it out of email, cloud notes, and unverified sites or apps.
- 3Compare the addressesCheck the first receiving address and a few more against the original wallet. Some wallets use different address paths and show a different account.
- 4Check balances and assetsConfirm the same balances and coins appear. A coin that never shows up can mean the backup misses a key.
After the test
When the restored wallet shows the right accounts, the backup has done its job. The test device still holds a copy of your keys, so clean it up.
Frequently asked questions
Some wallets use a different address path, so the same phrase can open another account. Check the path settings, and treat missing coins as an incomplete backup.
Yes. A restore rebuilds your keys on the test device and sends no transaction, so your coins stay where they are.
There is no set schedule. Test after you create the wallet, after you switch devices, and when the app asks for a fresh backup.
It can, because a test is a moment when you enter the phrase on a device. Use a device you control and software from the wallet maker.
