Seed Phrase Issues
Error about invalid seed phrase during import
If you see the "wrong seed phrase" error while importing, it could be due to various reasons:
1. Wrong seed phrase: Ensure you entered the correct phrase. Check its correctness and make sure there are no typos.
2. Wrong order: Make sure you enter the words in the correct order.
3. Wrong word spelling: A seed phrase consists of words taken from a limited, very specific, and publicly available list.
We suggest you review the list and find all the words you've noted. If you can't find a word in the list, it indicates that it is spelled incorrectly. It's also helpful to search for similar words, such as cake/cage/cave, and cool/cook. The list is available on GitHub at the link.
I didn't write down my seed phrase, how can I look it up again?
You can only see the seed phrase during the wallet creation process, and you should write it down at that time. Seed phrases created during the wallet setup process are not saved on the Tangem device and cannot be restored later.
To get a new seed phrase, you have to reset your wallet to factory settings and create a new one.
Before resetting the wallet, make sure you have moved all the cryptocurrency stored to another location (for example, another wallet or exchange). This is important because a reset will completely erase everything stored in the wallet.
To reset the entire wallet, repeat the reset steps for each backup device. Our blog post on resetting the Tangem Wallet to factory settings provides detailed instructions.
To create a Tangem wallet with a seed phrase, follow these instructions:
1. Open the Tangem app.
2. Tap Scan and scan the device.
3. Select Other Options.
4. Select Generate Seed Phrase. A 12 and 24-word seed phrase will be displayed on the screen. Choose the number of words, write down the seed phrase in the specified order, and store it in a safe place.
5. Tap Continue. To check whether you have written down the seed phrase correctly, enter the words indicated on the screen.
6. Tap Create wallet and scan your device.
Here is a video explaining how to set up a Tangem wallet with a seed phrase.
A step-by-step guide is also available on our blog: How to Set Up the Tangem Wallet With a Seed Phrase.
Important: This information is valid for the second-generation Tangem 2.0 Wallets or later.
I created a wallet without a seed phrase, how do I add it?
Once the wallet has already been created, you cannot add a seed phrase. You can reset the wallet to factory settings and create a new one with a seed phrase.
Before resetting your wallet, temporarily transfer all the cryptocurrency it holds to another location, such as a different wallet or exchange. This step is crucial because resetting the wallet will completely erase its contents.
To reset the entire wallet, repeat the reset steps for each device in the backup. Our blog post on resetting the Tangem Wallet to factory settings provides detailed instructions.
To create a Tangem wallet with a seed phrase, follow these instructions:
1. Open the Tangem app.
2. Tap Scan and scan the device.
3. Select Other Options.
4. Select Generate Seed Phrase. A 12 and 24-word seed phrase will be displayed on the phone's screen. Choose the number of words, write down the seed phrase in the specified order, and store it in a safe place.
5. Tap Continue. To check whether you have written down the seed phrase correctly, enter the words indicated on the screen.
6. Tap Create wallet and scan your Tangem.
Here is a video explaining how to set up a Tangem wallet with a seed phrase.
A step-by-step guide is also available on our blog: How to Set Up the Tangem Wallet With a Seed Phrase.
Important: This feature applies to the second-generation Tangem Wallets or later.
Why does the wallet show a zero/incomplete balance after importing the seed phrase?
If you have imported your seed phrase but notice a zero or incomplete balance, there could be several reasons for this issue. Let's explore each of them in more detail and provide potential solutions.
1. You have not added the required tokens to the wallet's homepage
When you import a seed phrase into a new wallet, the tokens from your original wallet may not appear automatically. You'll need to manually add them to your home screen. To do this, go to the Manage tokens section and add the required tokens to the main screen. Detailed instructions are available on our blog: How to Add Cryptocurrencies to the Tangem App.
2. Incorrectly imported seed phrase
Make sure you entered the correct seed phrase. Even one wrong letter or word can invalidate the entire phrase.
3. Incorrect word order in the seed phrase
Each word must be entered in the correct order. Check and, if necessary, correct the word order.
4. Missed passphrase
If your previous wallet used a passphrase but you forgot to enter it when importing, this may be the reason for the lack of balance. In this case, you must reset each device to factory settings and import the wallet again with a passphrase. Detailed instructions are in our blog post: How to Reset Tangem Wallet to Factory Settings.
5. The seed phrase was recorded incorrectly
If the seed phrase was initially miswritten, it will not restore access to your funds. Please double-check your entry to ensure it is correct.
6. Non-standard seed phrases
Please check if yours is standard BIP39.
7. Multiple addresses for one coin
If you have multiple accounts for the same cryptocurrency in your source wallet, when you import them into Tangem, only the first consecutive addresses in the derivation path on each blockchain will be displayed. This may result in a zero or incomplete balance being shown.
To work around this issue, consider the following steps:
— First, check the cryptocurrency's derivation path in the source wallet. This information is usually found in the original wallet. If you can't find it, we recommend contacting the support team for your original wallet.
— Next, add a custom token on the desired network using the derivation path from the source wallet.
For additional information about derivation paths, see our blog post: Derivation Paths in the Tangem Wallet.
To add a custom token:
— Open the app and log in to your wallet.
— Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner.
— Select the desired wallet.
— Go to Manage tokens.
— Click + in the upper right corner of the list of tokens.
— Fill in the fields according to your token/coin.
— Instead of the Default derivation path, select Custom and enter the derivation path from the source wallet.
Learn more about adding custom tokens here: How to Add Custom Tokens to the Tangem App.
8. Different types of addresses
If the funds in the source wallet are in an address type unsupported by Tangem Wallet, they will not appear in the import result. For example, in the Bitcoin network, several types of addresses can be easily distinguished by the prefix - characters at the beginning of the address:
1. Legacy (P2PKH): starts with the number 1. Example: 1N4Qbzg6LSXUXyXu2MDuGfzxwMA7do8AyL.
2. Script (P2SH): starts with the number 3. Example: 3J98t1WpEZ73CNmQviecrnyiWrnqRhWNLy.
3. SegWit (P2WPKH): starts with the combination "bc1q". Example: bc1qfg9t7fwn0atn4yf9spca5502vk8dyhq8a9aqd8.
4. Taproot (P2TR): Starts with the combination "bc1p". Example: bc1peu5hzzyj8cnqm05le6ag7uwry0ysmtf3v4uuxv3v8hqhvsatca8ss2vuwx.
Tangem Wallet supports Legacy (P2PKH) and SegWit (P2WPKH) addresses. When importing a wallet where funds are located on Script (P2SH) and Taproot (P2TR) addresses, restoring access to funds will not be possible.
9. Different cryptography standards
Different wallets may use different cryptographic techniques and blockchain derivation methods. This means that having a seed phrase does not guarantee that users can access their funds in another wallet. The Tangem wallet is compatible with many other wallets, such as Trust Wallet. It's important to understand that this problem is not unique to our wallet; it reflects a broader problem in the industry, as there is no universal standard for all wallets yet.
Important: This information is valid for second-generation Tangem Wallets or later.