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Backup Your Wallet with Recovery Seed

Secure your Firo wallet with BIP39 recovery seed phrase backup

CRITICAL SECURITY WARNING

Do NOT use the seed phrase examples shown in any guide! If you do, your funds will be gone!

Always generate your own unique seed phrase and NEVER share it with anyone. Anyone with access to your seed phrase has complete control over your funds.

Overview

The recovery seed phrase feature was introduced in December 2019 with version 0.13.8.10, following the BIP39 standard. This enables offline wallet backups and restoration across compatible wallets.

What is BIP39?

BIP39 is a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal that defines how to generate a mnemonic sentence (seed phrase) to backup and restore cryptocurrency wallets. This standard is used across many different cryptocurrencies.

Creating a New Wallet

Seed Phrase Options

12-Word Phrase

Security: 128-bit

Provides strong security suitable for most users while being easier to write down and verify.

24-Word Phrase

DEFAULT

Security: 256-bit

Stronger protection recommended for larger balances. Default selection for enhanced protection.

Setup Process

1

Create a New Wallet

Select "Create a new wallet" when launching Firo-QT wallet for the first time

2

Choose Word Count

Select your preferred word count (12 or 24 words). 24 words is recommended for stronger seed entropy.

3

Optional: Additional Passphrase

Add an additional passphrase for extra protection (advanced users only)

4

Write Down Seed Phrase

Write down your seed phrase on paper in the exact order shown. Store it securely offline.

5

Verify the Phrase

Re-enter your seed phrase to confirm you've recorded it correctly

Important Distinction

The additional passphrase is NOT the same as your wallet's password that you use to unlock your wallet or send a transaction. It's an extra layer of security for your seed phrase.

Restoring from Seed Phrase

If you need to restore your wallet on a new device or after reinstalling, follow these steps:

1

Select "Recover existing wallet"

Choose this option when launching the Firo wallet

2

Specify Word Count

Indicate whether your seed phrase has 12 or 24 words

3

Enter Seed Phrase

Carefully type in your backed-up seed phrase in the correct order

4

Add Additional Passphrase (if used)

If you set an additional passphrase during wallet creation, enter it now

5

Complete Restoration

Click OK to complete the restoration process and access your funds

Compatibility Note

Electrum-Firo Compatibility: Electrum-Firo generates seed phrases using a different standard; these phrases cannot be imported into the Firo-QT wallet.

A Firo-QT seed phrase can be imported into Electrum-Firo when the BIP39 option is selected. Check the wallet and seed format before attempting recovery. Never enter a recovery phrase into this website or send it to support.

Best Practices

Write on Paper

Never store your seed phrase digitally. Use paper and pen to reduce exposure to online attacks.

Multiple Copies

Create multiple copies and store them in different secure locations

Protect from Elements

Store in waterproof and fireproof containers to protect against physical damage

Test Recovery

After initial setup, test the recovery process with a small amount to ensure your backup works

Never Share

Never share your seed phrase with anyone, including Firo support. No legitimate service will ever ask for it.

Your Security is Your Responsibility

Remember: With cryptocurrency, you are your own bank. Take the time to properly secure your seed phrase. Anyone with access to it has complete control over your funds.

Check the backup before you need it

  1. Record which wallet and version created the backup. A wallet file, a QT BIP39 phrase and an Electrum seed are not interchangeable formats.
  2. If you used an additional passphrase, keep it with your backup plan: the wallet password does not replace it.
  3. Practise recovery with a new, empty test wallet in a trusted local application. Do not paste real seed words into online converters, support forms, screen recordings or this site.
  4. Keep the existing wallet and backup until the recovered wallet shows the expected addresses and the relevant transaction history.

Return to the wallet comparison or the installation guide. A successful test with an empty wallet is practice, not proof that another backup is valid.

Documentation reviewed September 28, 2026. This is an independent operator guide; compatibility must be checked against the installed version. Source: project documentation.