# How to back up a Bitcoin wallet

Write your seed phrase on paper or metal, store it offline, never digitally, and test that recovery works. A step-by-step guide to Bitcoin backups.

Canonical page: https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/backing-up-a-wallet
Topic: Wallets and security
Published: 2026-10-29
Updated: 2026-10-30


## The golden rules
- **Write the seed on paper or stamp it into metal.** Metal survives fire and flood.
- **Never store it digitally:** no photos, no cloud notes, no password managers you aren't sure about, no email.
- **Never type it into a website** or give it to "support". Nobody legitimate needs it.
- **Keep it where you'd find it**, but others wouldn't.

## Test your backup
> Diagram: Prove your backup works before you rely on it — Write seed: on paper or metal → Wipe or use a 2nd wallet → Restore from seed → *Check addresses: match the original → Then fund it

Send a small amount first, then restore from the backup and confirm the same addresses and balance appear.

## Extra pieces you might need
| Setup | Also back up |
|---|---|
| [Passphrase](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/seed-passphrase) | The passphrase, stored separately from the seed |
| [Multisig](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/multisig) | The wallet descriptor or all co-signers' xpubs |
| Unusual address type | The [derivation path](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/derivation-paths) or descriptor |

## Inheritance
If something happened to you, could your family recover the funds? Leave clear instructions, without revealing the seed itself in a will that many people may read. Multisig and timelocks can help build an inheritance plan.


## Backup threats and defences
| Threat | Defence |
|---|---|
| Fire or flood | Metal backup, second copy elsewhere |
| Burglary | Hidden location, passphrase or multisig |
| Forgetting where it is | Clear note to yourself and trusted family |
| Digital theft | Never photograph, type or upload the seed |
| Your death | An inheritance plan someone can follow |


## Key takeaways

- Back up the seed offline, on paper or metal.
- Test recovery with a small amount before funding fully.
- Passphrases and multisig setups need extra backups.

## Common questions

### Should I split my seed into parts?

Splitting words naively weakens security. Use multisig or a proper scheme like SLIP-39 shares if you want to distribute risk.

### How many copies should I keep?

Usually two or more in different secure places, so one fire or burglary doesn't lose everything.

### How long does a seed phrase backup last?

Paper can fade or burn; stamped or engraved metal lasts much longer.

### Can I recover a wallet without the seed?

Not if the device is lost too. The seed is the backup.

## Related lessons

- [Seed phrases (BIP 39)](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/seed-phrases-bip39)
- [The seed passphrase ("25th word")](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/seed-passphrase)
- [Hardware wallets](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/hardware-wallets)
- [Multisig](https://mybitcoinexplorer.com/learn/multisig)