Need to access your crypto but don't have your BitBox02? If you only have a microSD card backup and didn't write down your 24 recovery words, the BitBox backup recovery tool can help. This tool lets you extract those crucial words directly from your card backup file.

Critical security precautions: Read first!

Using the backup recovery tool involves exposing your microSD card backup to a computer. This carries significant security risks if not done correctly.

• Use an offline computer: Never connect the computer used for this process to the internet after downloading the tool and before you have secured your funds in a new wallet. A permanently offline machine or a Tails OS environment is strongly recommended.
• Treat recovery words like treasure: Once extracted, anyone who sees these words can steal your funds. Write them down securely and never store them digitally.
• Prepare a new wallet: Have a new, secure hardware wallet ready before you start. You'll need to move your funds immediately after recovery.

Step-by-step guide to recovery

Follow these steps carefully on your chosen offline computer:

1. Prepare your secure setup:
   1. Have your new, secure wallet ready (ideally another hardware wallet).
   2. On a trusted computer (can be online for this step only), download the latest bitbox-recovery.AppImage from the BitBox GitHub repository 
   3. Transfer the downloaded file (e.g., via a clean USB stick) to the computer you will use for the recovery, which must now be taken offline.
2. Go completely offline: 
   1. Disconnect the recovery computer from the internet (unplug Ethernet, disable Wi-Fi). 
   2. Do not reconnect it until your funds are safe in the new wallet.
3. Run the recovery tool: 
   1. Launch the bitbox-recovery.AppImage file on the offline computer.
4. Insert your microSD card: 
   1. Plug the BitBox02 microSD card containing your backup into the offline computer.
5. Select the backup file: 
   1. Click "Choose file" in the recovery tool and navigate to your microSD card.
   2. Select the wallet backup file (it usually has a .backup extension).
6. Retrieve your recovery words: 
   1. The tool will display your 24 BIP-39 recovery words. 
   2. Write them down accurately in the correct order. 
   3. Double-check them. Store this written copy securely.
7. Import into a new wallet: 
   1. Use the 24 recovery words you just wrote down to restore access to your funds in your new, secure wallet application (such as Electrum).
8. Secure your funds immediately: 
   1. As soon as your funds appear in the new wallet, create a transaction to send them to a brand new address generated by that new wallet. 
   2. This is crucial because exposing your recovery words on any computer, even offline, is a security risk. 
   3. Consider those words compromised and move your assets to a wallet generated from a fresh, secure seed phrase.