If your device was lost, replaced, or reset, you can restore your wallet at any time using your recovery words.
The restoration does not load coins onto the device.
It only restores access to your already existing blockchain addresses.
Your recovery words are the key to your coins
Anyone with access to them can steal your funds.
Enter your recovery words only on a hardware wallet device.
Never:
- in the BitBoxApp
- on websites
- in the browser
- in password managers
- in cloud storage
- in photos or notes
Shift Crypto will never ask for them.
What you need
- Your 12 or 24 recovery words in the correct order
- Your BitBox02 or another trusted hardware wallet supporting the BIP-39 standard
- The latest version of the BitBoxApp
- Updated firmware on the device
If you used an optional passphrase
The recovery words alone are not enough.
After restoration you must enter the same passphrase — otherwise you open a different, empty wallet.
Restore your wallet
- Open the BitBoxApp
- Connect your BitBox02 to the computer
- Choose your preferred screen orientation on the BitBox02
- Compare the pairing code on computer and device and confirm it
- In the BitBoxApp window “Set up your wallet”, choose “Restore from recovery words”
- Enter a name for your BitBox and click Continue
- Confirm the device name on the BitBox02
- Verify and confirm the date on the device
- Select the word count: 12 or 24
- Enter each recovery word letter-by-letter in the correct order on the BitBox02
Every position must match
Even tiny deviations can open a different wallet:
- wrong letter
- correct word in wrong position
- wrong order
The restoration is deterministic.
A correctly spelled word is still wrong if it is not in the exact position in the backup.
- Set a new device password and confirm it on the BitBox02
- The BitBoxApp begins synchronizing
After completion, your wallet is fully restored and ready to use.
How word auto-completion works
The BitBox02 uses the official English BIP-39 word list.
It is designed so every word becomes uniquely identifiable after the first four letters.
This means:
- 1–3 letters → multiple words possible
- 4+ letters → exactly one word defined
Example:
-
L-E-G→ valid word “leg” -
L-E-G-A→ “legally” -
L-E-G-E→ “legend”
The device may temporarily suggest a word while typing.
However, only the actually displayed word is confirmed.
After restoration – no balance visible
If no balance is shown after restoration, your coins are usually not lost.
In most cases, a different wallet was opened.
This happens when the entered combination does not exactly match your backup or is not fully loaded yet — for example due to:
- a wrong word
- correct words in wrong order or position
- missing or incorrect passphrase
- accounts not yet added
- ongoing synchronization
Check the following:
- Do words and positions exactly match your backup?
- Has synchronization fully completed?
- Were all required accounts added?
- Was the correct passphrase entered?
Why this happens
Recovery words do not search for an existing wallet — they calculate it.
Even a minimal deviation deterministically creates a different (usually empty) wallet.
Legacy address types
Very old wallets used so-called Legacy addresses (starting with 1…).
Modern wallet configurations may not display them automatically.
BitBox02 uses newer address types (bc1…) by default.
Therefore, a correctly restored wallet can appear empty even though the coins are still on an older address.
What can you do?
You still have access to the old wallet
→ Send the coins to a new BitBox02 address (recommended: bc1…)
You no longer have access to the old device
→ Contact support
The wallet may need to be restored in compatible software and then transferred.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can a wrong input still open a valid wallet?
Yes. Recovery words are processed mathematically.
Every valid combination generates a technically correct — but different — wallet. Your coins are not visible because you opened another wallet.
Can I enter my recovery words into the BitBoxApp?
No.
If an app asks for them, it is most likely a fake app or phishing attempt.
Abort immediately and contact support with details about where you downloaded it.
I spelled all words correctly — why is it still wrong?
Order is just as important as spelling. Even a single swapped word leads to a different wallet.
Does the 12/24-word backup contain my passphrase?
No. The passphrase is never part of the backup and must be entered separately. Without it you open another wallet.
How long does synchronization take?
From a few seconds to several minutes — depending on number of accounts and transactions.
Can I restore on another hardware wallet?
Yes, as long as it supports the BIP-39 standard. Only enter the words on trusted hardware.
Can I use the microSD backup instead of the words?
Yes. It contains the same recovery words and speeds up restoration.
Guide: How to restore your BitBox02 from a microSD card backup
How can I read my recovery words from the microSD backup?
Only as an absolute emergency — for example if the device is lost or irreparably damaged and no analog backup exists:
Emergency guide: Extracting recovery words from a BitBox microSD backup