Importing a seed phrase restores a wallet by deriving all accounts from a 12- or 24-word BIP-39 phrase. Phantom processes the phrase locally and never stores it.
This guide covers desktop, mobile, adding a second wallet, and fixing every common import error.
Phantom derives private keys from a seed phrase using deterministic algorithms defined by BIP-39 and derivation paths. Each derived key controls a blockchain address across supported networks like Solana and Ethereum.
| Credential | Scope | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Recovery Phrase | All accounts | Restores full wallet |
| Private Key | Single account | Grants address access |
A Secret Recovery Phrase is a 12- or 24-word phrase that acts as the master key to your entire wallet, restoring every account across Solana, Ethereum, Polygon, and Bitcoin. For most users migrating a wallet, this is the correct method.
Phantom natively generates 12-word phrases for wallets created within the app. A 24-word phrase means the wallet was created outside Phantom — for example in Ledger Live, older Solflare versions, or Phantom Terminal.
Before You ImportVerify you’re using the official Phantom extension, and never import your seed phrase on a public or shared device, or while screen sharing is active.
Download from phantom.com/download.
Then click “Import Recovery Phrase.”
One word per field, left to right, in the exact original order.
Phantom scans for accounts with prior onchain activity, then click Get Started.
Click your profile avatar → Add Account (plus icon) → Import Recovery Phrase → enter your phrase and click Import Wallet. The imported wallet appears as a selectable account in your profile switcher.
Agree to Terms, then tap “I already have a wallet.”
Under “Other import options.”
With a single space between each word, in the exact order.
Enable Face ID, fingerprint, or passcode — this unlocks Phantom locally only.
Phantom automatically restores only accounts with previous onchain activity. To restore an inactive account manually: profile avatar → Add Account → Create New Account → Create, and repeat until the account appears.
This is usually caused by a derivation path mismatch — different wallets like MetaMask, Solflare, or Backpack may follow different standards, so the same phrase can produce different addresses across apps.
Ledger Accounts Are Never Auto-RestoredLedger stores its seed phrase in a secure element and never exposes it to software wallets — reconnect manually via Add Account → Connect Hardware Wallet. Never import a Ledger recovery phrase directly into Phantom.
| Backup Method | Durability |
|---|---|
| Metal seed storage plates | Fireproof and waterproof |
| Handwritten paper, multiple locations | Simple and effective |
| Encrypted password manager | Acceptable as secondary backup only |
Never photograph your phrase, store it in a notes app, or save it to cloud storage — any digital plaintext copy is a liability.
If Your Phrase May Be CompromisedCreate a new wallet, import the old phrase as a secondary account, and transfer all funds to the new wallet immediately. Then abandon the old wallet.
On the extension, click “I already have a wallet” → Import Recovery Phrase → enter your phrase word by word. On mobile, tap “I already have a wallet” → Import Seed Phrase, entering the phrase with single spaces between words.
Common causes include extra spaces, a misspelled word not on the BIP-39 wordlist, wrong word order, or a phrase length other than 12 or 24 words.
Phantom only auto-restores accounts with prior onchain activity. Add empty accounts manually via Add Account → Create New Account until the missing one appears.
Yes. Phantom supports both 12-word and 24-word BIP-39 phrases. A 24-word phrase usually means the wallet was created outside Phantom.
No. Phantom never stores your Secret Recovery Phrase on its servers — if lost, it cannot be recovered by Phantom Support.
