One of the best things about recovery phrases is that they are not tied to a brand. But "compatible" has limits. This guide is part of our section on what a recovery phrase is.
Why phrases often work across wallets
BIP39 is an open standard, so any wallet following it turns the same words into the same seed. If your hardware wallet maker disappears tomorrow, you can restore your phrase with another one. This is a key strength of self-custody.
When they do not work
| Situation | What goes wrong |
|---|---|
| Different derivation path | Funds exist, but the wallet looks in the wrong place |
| Different address type | Funds in a different branch do not appear |
| Unsupported coin | Your new wallet does not show it |
| Non-BIP39 seed | Some wallets, such as Electrum by default, use their own format |
| Coin-specific seeds | Some networks, such as Monero, use their own systems |
| Shamir backup | Uses a different word list and format |
| Passphrase | The wallet must support it, and it must match exactly |
| Multisig | A single phrase is not enough. See multisig |
Check before you depend on it
Do not wait for a disaster to find out. Good practice:
- When you set up, note the wallet's name and version, and the coins and accounts that you use.
- Use standard settings where possible.
- For large amounts, test a restore with a small amount first. See how to test your backup.
How to restore on a different wallet safely
- Use a wallet from the official source, on a device you trust.
- Prefer a hardware wallet, so that the words are entered on the device.
- Never enter your phrase on a website, even to "check" it.
- Check that the first receiving address matches your records.
Our guide on restoring a wallet from a seed phrase has the full steps.
If your balance looks wrong
Try these before you panic:
- Check for an account discovery or "rescan" setting.
- Switch the address type.
- Add the missing network or token.
- Check that your passphrase, if you use one, is entered exactly.
Our guide to restoring an old wallet goes deeper.