How to Protect Your Ledger Recovery Phrase | Secure-Storage Best Practices

The recovery phrase is the core of asset security; protecting the recovery phrase is even more important than protecting the device itself. Below are field-tested best practices.

Choosing a Storage Medium

Paper recording: the simplest approach — use the card that comes with the Ledger or ordinary paper and a pen. Pros: simple and accessible. Cons: paper is vulnerable to fire and water.

Metal recovery-phrase plate: the recovery phrase is engraved on a metal plate, resistant to fire, water and corrosion. Dedicated products are available on the market, and you can also DIY with stainless-steel washers. Suitable for long-term storage.

Where to Store It

Choose a secure, private and disaster-resistant location: a home safe or a concealed spot; a bank safe deposit box; a trusted relative's home (without disclosing the specific contents). Avoid locations that are easy to discover or vulnerable to disasters.

Multiple Backups

It's recommended to make 2–3 backups stored in different locations — so that even if one site is struck by fire, flood or theft, another backup is still usable. However, more backups mean higher leak risk; balance accordingly.

Split Storage (Advanced)

Advanced users may consider splitting the recovery phrase into parts and storing each part in a different location. This adds complexity and requires careful design to ensure that no single part alone is enough to restore the wallet.

Absolutely Forbidden

Do not photograph it, do not save it on a phone, do not save it on a computer, do not save it in a cloud drive, do not send it via email, do not tell anyone. Any digital form of storage faces the risk of being stolen by hackers.