What happens if a hardware wallet breaks?

A hardware wallet keeps your private keys inside the device.

Does a broken wallet lose crypto?

No. The crypto is recorded on the blockchain, and the hardware wallet only holds the private keys that control it. A cracked screen or dead battery does not change that record.

How do you recover access?

You need the recovery phrase your wallet gave you during setup. A replacement hardware wallet can restore it and control the same crypto. Without the phrase, a broken device leaves the crypto permanently inaccessible.

• Find the written recovery phrase you saved during setup.
• Get a replacement hardware wallet from a different brand if it supports the same phrase standard.
• Enter the phrase on the new device, not on a computer or website.

What are the recovery phrase risks?

Your recovery phrase is the master key to your crypto. Anyone who has it can restore your wallet and spend your funds. Support staff do not need it to help with a broken device, and the manufacturer does not keep a copy.

Does the warranty replace lost crypto?

A warranty covers the hardware, not the crypto. The manufacturer may replace or repair a defective device, but that replacement can restore access only if you have your recovery phrase.

How is this different from an exchange?

With a hardware wallet, you hold the private keys and the recovery phrase. With an exchange account, the exchange holds the keys for you.

Written byVahe HakobyanVahe Hakobyan is the editor-in-chief of World-Crypt. He covers bitcoin, markets and regulation, and leads the newsroom that fact-checks every story before it goes live.