Have a question?
Send enquiry
Message sent Close
My Crypto Guide
Module 16 of 16

Micro Lesson · 7–10 minutes

Recovery Drill

This is the practical self-custody fire drill. If you lose a phone, forget a PIN, or click something suspicious, this lesson helps you respond calmly instead of guessing under pressure.

Recovery phrase Lost device Restore plan Passphrase Phishing response
The point is not to make you anxious. The point is to help you know exactly what to do before stress shows up.

Step 1 of 9 · Recovery setup

Your basic recovery kit

A calm recovery starts long before anything goes wrong.

  • Recovery phrase: written offline on paper or metal.
  • Wallet name: so future-you knows what app or device to use again.
  • Spare device: a safe backup phone, tablet, or computer you can use if needed.
  • One trusted person: who knows where the backup is stored, but not the words themselves.
Nobody legitimate needs your recovery phrase. Not support. Not a wallet company. Not an exchange. Not ever.

Step 2 of 9 · Backup check

Check your recovery phrase without typing it

This drill is about making sure your backup exists, is readable, and can be found calmly.

  1. Find it: know exactly where it is stored.
  2. Read it: confirm the words are legible and complete.
  3. Check storage: make sure it is offline, not in cloud notes, screenshots, or email.
If it takes too long to locate today, it will feel much harder in an actual emergency.
If you cannot find it calmly now, fix that before you need it for real.

Step 3 of 9 · Scenario

Lost phone? You recover the wallet, not the phone

If your phone disappears, the important thing is that the device is replaceable. The wallet can be rebuilt from the phrase.

  1. Use your spare device.
  2. Install the official wallet app again.
  3. Choose “Restore” or “I already have a wallet.”
  4. Enter the phrase privately. No screen-share. No chat help. No “support” assistant.
  5. Erase the lost phone remotely if it is truly gone.
Phrase = wallet. Device = just the container.

Step 4 of 9 · Emergency response

If you think your phrase was exposed

If your recovery phrase was typed into a website, pasted into notes, saved online, or shown during a screen-share, assume it is compromised.

  • Create a brand-new wallet with a new phrase.
  • Send funds to the new wallet after a small test send.
  • Retire the old wallet after everything has moved safely.
Bitcoin does not have a “freeze my account” button. If the phrase leaks, the right response is to move funds.
Compromised phrase? Move first. Don’t wait and hope.

Step 5 of 9 · Important extra

Do you use a passphrase?

Some wallets let you add an extra secret on top of the normal recovery phrase. This is sometimes called the “25th word.”

  • If you use one, the recovery phrase alone will not restore the wallet.
  • If you forget it, the funds may be unreachable.
  • If you are unsure, check your wallet settings now while calm.
A passphrase is powerful, but it only helps if future-you can still recover correctly.
Phrase + passphrase must both be recoverable in the right way.

Step 6 of 9 · Recovery vocabulary

Quick glossary

Tap each card to flip it.

Practice while calm so you do not improvise while stressed.

Quick check

What should you do with your recovery phrase?

Final scenario

You lose your phone. What is the safest next move?

Wrap-up

Nice work! 🎉

You have completed the full micro-lesson sequence. More importantly, you now have the basic recovery mindset that matters in real self-custody: stay calm, trust the phrase, distrust urgency, and never hand control to strangers.

Score: 0/2
This closes the 16-module beginner path. The next useful step is to turn this lesson into a real written recovery checklist for your own setup.