Forgot your BitBox device password? It happens, but don't worry – your crypto assets are not lost! The device password protects your BitBox from unauthorized access, but it's not part of your wallet backup. This means if you have your backup, you can reset your device and set a new password to regain access.

This guide will show you how.

Your funds are safe with a backup

The most important thing to understand is that your device password only secures the BitBox itself. It’s not needed to recover your wallet if you have your backup.

Before you start, make sure you have your wallet backup ready. This can be:

• Your microSD card.
• Your recovery words (seed phrase) correctly written down.

How to reset your BitBox and set a new password

The BitBox has a built-in security feature: after 10 incorrect password attempts, it automatically performs a factory reset. We'll use this feature to intentionally reset your device.

Here’s how to proceed:

1. Get your backup: Ensure your microSD card or your list of recovery words is accessible. Restoring from the microSD card is typically the quickest method.
2. Connect your BitBox: Plug your BitBox into your computer and open the BitBoxApp.
3. Trigger incorrect attempts: When prompted for the device password, you can either:
   1. Intentionally enter any incorrect password, OR
   2. Simply confirm a blank (empty) password entry. Either action will count as an incorrect attempt. You'll see a warning on the BitBox screen showing the number of remaining attempts.
4. Trigger the reset: Repeat step 3. After the 10th incorrect password entry, the BitBox will automatically reset to its factory settings. This erases the forgotten password.
5. Pair your device: Your BitBox is now in the same state as when you first unboxed it. You'll need to confirm a new pairing code in the BitBoxApp and on the device screen.
6. Restore your wallet: In the BitBoxApp, choose the option to set up the device by restoring an existing wallet. Select whether you want to restore from your microSD card (recommended for speed) or by manually entering your recovery words.
7. Set a new device password: During the wallet restoration process, you'll be prompted to create a new device password. Choose a secure password you'll remember.

Once these steps are complete, you'll have regained access to your wallet with a new device password. Even if you forget this new password in the future, you can always repeat this reset and restore process as long as you have your backup.

Watch the guide

For a hands-on visual walkthrough of this process, you can watch our video guide here: 

Important: This is not for a forgotten optional passphrase

It's crucial to distinguish the device password from an optional passphrase (also known as a BIP39 passphrase).

• The device password (which this guide helps you reset) unlocks your BitBox. Forgetting it means you follow the steps above.
• The optional passphrase, if you've enabled it, is an advanced security feature that creates hidden wallets. If you forget your optional passphrase, you cannot recover it, and the funds in the wallet associated with that specific passphrase will be inaccessible.

For a clear explanation of these two security elements, please see our article: Benefits and risks of using an optional passphrase