Everything you need to know about how to regain access to your wallet.
Need a crypto wallet that gives you full control of your assets? You can download Exodus here.
If you're looking to restore access to your Exodus Pay account, visit: How do I log in to my Exodus Pay account?
In this article:
What are the 5 ways you can recover your funds?
If you need to restore your wallet, for example, if your device was broken, lost, stolen, or had its data wiped, you can use the 5 methods below to attempt to restore it and regain access to your wallet.
You can always restore your wallet with your 12-word secret key. If you keep your secret key safe, you'll always be able to regain access to your funds.
If you haven't written down the secret key for your wallet yet, it's very important that you do so! For more information, visit: How do I always have access to my wallet with my 12-word secret key?
Option 1: Restore from your 12-word secret key
Every wallet has a 12-word secret key that is generated when a wallet is created in Exodus.
If you have written down your secret key, you can use it to restore your wallet and regain access to your funds. For more information, visit: How do I restore from my 12-word secret key?
If you believe you have written it down, check places where you keep important documents, such as a safe, notebook, or file, to see if you can find it.
If you restore your wallet but it is empty with no transaction history, it usually means the wrong secret key was entered, either from a different wallet or with a mistake in the words. If this is the case, please follow the troubleshooting steps here: I restored with my secret key. Why is my wallet empty?
Option 2: Restore from a synced device
If you have access to your original wallet on another device, you may still be able to recover it. For example, if you have synced your wallet to another phone, desktop, laptop, or browser extension wallet, you can view your secret key on that device and use it to restore your wallet.
If you have access to your wallet on another device, here's how to find your secret key: How do I view my secret key?
After viewing and safely storing your secret key, you can then restore your wallet: How do I restore from my 12-word secret key?
Retrieving your secret key from a synced Exodus mobile wallet is only possible if the wallet data on the other device hasn't been permanently erased. In general, formatting your mobile device or uninstalling Exodus will permanently erase your secret key and its associated wallet from that device.
Option 3: Restore from an email backup
If you created your wallet before February 2019, you might have backed it up with an email backup link.
You can still use a previously created backup link to restore your wallet, but creating new email backup links is no longer possible.
If you received an email with a recovery link, it will come from [email protected] with the subject line Exodus Backup Link [DO NOT REPLY OR ATTACH FILES].
This backup link is an encrypted version of your secret key. It can only be decrypted with the same password you used with Exodus when you first created the email backup link.
If you received an email backup link, the following article will assist you with restoring your wallet: How do I restore from an email backup?
Option 4: Restore from a passkey and iCloud or Google Drive
If you backed up your wallet with a passkey and iCloud or Google Drive, you can restore it in Exodus Mobile using your cloud storage account and passkey manager.
For more information, visit: How do I back up my wallet with a passkey?
If you created your backup before November 2024, it was set up with your cloud storage account and a confirmation email or mobile phone number.
You can still restore your wallet with your confirmation email or mobile phone number. However, after restoring, you must upgrade your backup by creating a new one using a passkey: How do I upgrade my backup method?
Restoring with a passkey and iCloud or Google Drive is only available on Exodus Mobile.
You can only restore your wallet with a passkey and iCloud or Google Drive on a device with the same operating system (iOS or Android) as the one you used to create your backup.
Option 5: Restore an overwritten wallet
Overwriting a wallet means your wallet's 12-word secret key was replaced with a different one.
If you recently synced your wallet or restored it using a secret key and it now appears empty, you may have overwritten the wallet by syncing or restoring with a different secret key.
If this has happened to you, visit the following guide to learn more: How do I rescue an overwritten wallet?
Exodus is a self-custody wallet, so all the information needed to access your wallet is stored locally on your device. Recovering an overwritten Exodus wallet is only possible if the old wallet data hasn't been permanently erased.
On Desktop, your wallet backup files will only be kept for 90 days after overwriting them.
On Mobile, restoring an overwritten wallet will only work if you have not permanently erased your 12-word secret key from your device. In general, formatting your mobile device or uninstalling Exodus will permanently erase your secret key on that device.
What should I do if my device is lost or stolen?
If your device has been lost or stolen, you can use your secret key to restore your wallet on another device. However, the wallet on your lost or stolen device should be considered compromised, since your funds are at risk if someone is able to open your Exodus wallet on that device.
The best way to protect your funds is to create a new wallet and then send your crypto from your original wallet to your new wallet.
To create a new Exodus wallet and move your funds to it, follow these steps:
Install Exodus on a trusted device and create a new wallet:
Exodus Mobile and Web3 Wallet: When you open your wallet for the first time, select Create a new wallet.
Exodus Desktop: A new wallet is automatically created when you open it for the first time.
Next, make sure to back up your new wallet so you always have access to it: How do I always have access to my wallet with my 12-word secret key?
To move your funds to the new wallet, you'll need access to the original wallet from your lost or stolen device.
If you still have access to your original wallet on another device, then you can use that to send the funds to your new wallet.
If you don't have access to your original wallet on another device, you first need to regain access to it: What are the 5 ways you can recover your funds?
Avoid restoring your original wallet on the same device that holds your new wallet, as this could overwrite the new wallet and put your funds at risk. Exodus is available on Mobile, Desktop, and the Web3 Wallet, so you can choose the platform that works best for restoring your original wallet and moving your funds safely.
Once you have access to your original wallet, send your funds to the new wallet: How do I send Bitcoin and crypto from Exodus?
After moving your funds, do not use your original wallet again. The original wallet should be considered unsafe, since someone could still open Exodus on your lost or stolen device.
Depending on your lost or stolen device, you might be able to remotely erase its data to protect your wallet. Learn how to remotely erase your iPhone or Android device with the following resources: