You can create a new wallet on your BitBox02 or BitBox02 Nova without a microSD card by writing down its recovery words instead. The words appear only on your BitBox. Copy them onto paper or a backup card and complete the device's word-verification process before receiving funds.

These steps use the BitBoxApp on a computer. If you want to recover an existing wallet, follow the guide to restore from recovery words or a microSD backup instead. Creating a new wallet will not restore your existing funds. For Nova on iPhone or iPad, use the dedicated iOS setup guide.

Before you start

Have the following ready:

• A new or already reset BitBox02 or BitBox02 Nova. Do not reset a device containing an existing wallet to follow this guide.
• A computer that meets the BitBoxApp requirements, with a suitable USB connection.
• The latest BitBoxApp, installed from the official BitBox website.
• A pen and paper or a backup card with space for 24 numbered words, and a private place where nobody can see or record your device screen or backup.

Before opening or connecting a new device, check its packaging. If the sealed bag appears cut, opened or resealed, stop and contact BitBox Support through that guide.

Writing down the words makes you responsible for copying every word accurately and preserving its order. If you prefer an automatically created backup, follow setup with a microSD card backup. You can add either backup method later without creating another wallet.

Set up your wallet with recovery words

Follow the stages in order. App actions happen on your computer; passwords, recovery words and device confirmations are handled on the BitBox itself. You do not need a microSD card for this procedure. The screenshots show an earlier BitBoxApp version; the written instructions describe the controls you need.

1. Connect your BitBox and confirm pairing

1. Open the BitBoxApp and connect your BitBox by USB.
2. If the device asks for screen orientation, hold it with the display facing you and tap the long touch-sensitive edge beside the Tap this side text that you can read upright.
3. The BitBoxApp checks the device's authenticity. If it displays an authenticity warning, stop, disconnect the device and contact BitBox Support before continuing.
4. If prompted to install firmware, select Upgrade firmware now in the app. Firmware is the software running on your BitBox; new devices ship without it. Keep the device connected and the app open until installation finishes. When the device asks you to continue, tap its lower touch-sensitive edge to proceed to pairing.
5. Compare the complete pairing code on the BitBox with the code in the BitBoxApp. Only if they match, tap the device's touch-sensitive edge beside the check mark, then select Continue in the app. The Setup your wallet screen opens.

If the codes differ, do not confirm. Check that your app came from the official BitBox website, reconnect and compare again. If they still differ, contact BitBox Support before proceeding.

2. Choose the recovery-word backup option

1. On Setup your wallet, select Advanced options below the Create wallet button. Do this before selecting Create wallet.

2. Enable Skip microSD card backup and write down recovery words instead. Leave Create 12-word instead of 24-word seed disabled to use the default 24 words.

These are independent choices: skipping the microSD backup does not change the word count. If you deliberately prefer 12 words, enable the second option too. The word count is fixed for the wallet you create; it cannot be changed later for that same wallet.

3. Select Create wallet. The app asks you to name the device.

3. Name your device and set its password

The device password protects access to your BitBox. It does not protect the written recovery words: someone who obtains those words can restore the wallet created here without your device or its password.

1. Enter a name in the BitBox name field and select Continue. Check the name on your BitBox and tap the touch-sensitive edge beside the check mark to confirm it.

2. When prompted, enter a password on the BitBox itself. You will use this password to unlock the device. See how to choose a secure device password for guidance.

Tap the lower touch-sensitive edge beneath the character group you need, then continue selecting within the group until you reach the individual character. To change between letter and number sets, tap the upper edge above the character-set label at the top center of the display. Repeat for each character.

3. To confirm the completed password, touch and hold both long sides of the device at the same time with two fingers. Enter the same password a second time on the BitBox and confirm again. When both entries match, the app moves to backup creation.

4. Write down every recovery word

1. On the Create backup screen in the app, read the security information, select all five acknowledgment checkboxes and select Continue. The app then asks you to write down 24 recovery words, or 12 if you selected that separate option.

2. Read and confirm the warning on the BitBox using the touch-sensitive edge beside its confirmation control. The words appear one by one on the BitBox screen.
3. Write each word exactly as displayed, including its numbered position. Use the left and right arrows at the bottom of the device display by tapping the lower touch-sensitive edge beneath the relevant arrow to review the previous or next word. Continue until you have recorded every word.
4. Check spelling, order and completeness, then select Continue on the device after the final word.

5. Verify your written backup on the BitBox

The BitBox now asks you to confirm the words.

1. Read the numbered position shown on the BitBox screen and look up the corresponding word in your written backup.
2. Use the device's touch controls beside the navigation arrows to move through the five choices, then tap beside Select to confirm the matching word.
3. Repeat the previous two actions for each remaining position until every word has been checked.

If the device reports an incorrect word, compare the requested position with your written copy and select again. If you cannot resolve a discrepancy, stop before receiving funds. Keep the device available, do not reset it, and contact BitBox Support for help completing the backup.

4. When the BitBoxApp displays You're ready to go! and confirms that your backup was created, the wallet and its written backup are set up. Select Get started to leave the setup screen. Keep the backup private while you record the wallet identifier next.

6. Record your wallet's root fingerprint

The root fingerprint is a short identifier for the wallet currently open. Recording it now gives you a reference to compare after restoring the wallet or when distinguishing it from wallets that use an optional passphrase.

1. With the BitBox still connected and unlocked, open Settings → Manage device in the BitBoxApp.
2. Under Device information, find Root fingerprint.
3. Copy the complete value exactly and label it clearly, for example, “Standard wallet — no optional passphrase.” Keep this record available for future comparisons.

The fingerprint cannot restore the wallet or be used to spend funds. It is a short reference rather than absolute proof: a match does not replace backup verification, checking expected accounts after recovery, or verifying receiving addresses on the BitBox. Learn more about the root fingerprint and other account details.

7. Secure your backup before receiving funds

Store the verified recovery-word backup offline in a secure, private place, separately from your BitBox. Protect it from unauthorized access and physical damage. Follow how to store recovery words securely when choosing its location and material.

For your first Bitcoin receipt, follow how to receive Bitcoin: verify the complete receiving address on the BitBox and check it again after copying or scanning it. Start with a small practical test amount, allowing for transaction or withdrawal fees, and wait for confirmation before transferring a larger amount. Receiving a test payment checks that receiving workflow; it does not test recovery from your written backup.

If you choose to use an optional passphrase, follow the passphrase setup and verification guide before funding that wallet. It creates a separate wallet that also requires the exact passphrase for recovery. Record that wallet's fingerprint separately, test reopening it, and keep the passphrase offline and separate from your recovery-word backup.

Manage your backup later

While you can unlock your BitBox, you can view and verify the recovery words again or add a microSD backup of the same wallet. You do not need to reset the device or move funds to add another backup. Protect every copy; creating a new copy does not invalidate an older one.

If setup does not continue

• The device is not detected: follow the USB connection troubleshooting guide.
• The device remains on the bootloader screen: this can be normal before firmware installation. If installation does not continue, follow the bootloader guide.
• Word verification or backup creation fails: do not receive funds or reset the device. Contact BitBox Support with the step and error message so you can complete a verified backup.

Contact BitBox Support with your device model, operating system, BitBoxApp version and the exact step or message. Never send recovery words, a device password, an optional passphrase or backup contents. Remove any secrets from screenshots before sending them.