Arqma mobile wallet — iPhone & Android setup
Mobile wallets are convenient for everyday spending. They’re not the right place to store large balances. Here’s how to set one up safely in about 5 minutes.
Before you start
- iOS 15+ or Android 10+.
- About 200 MB of free space.
- Pen and paper for the seed phrase.
- A device PIN or biometric unlock already configured at the OS level.
1. Install from the official store
The mobile app is published in both stores. Always start from the official download page — the link there will take you to the correct store listing. Searching the store yourself works too, but always confirm the publisher.
- iOS: publisher must read Arqma Wallet. Look for the same icosahedron icon shown on this site.
- Android: publisher must read Arqma Wallet. Reject look-alikes — clones with similar names are common.
2. First launch
You’ll be asked to either create a new wallet or restore from a 25-word seed.
- New wallet: tap Create.
- Existing wallet: tap Restore. See the recovery guide.
3. Write down the seed phrase
The wallet shows 25 words. Write them on paper, in order. Do not screenshot. Do not paste into Notes or any cloud-synced app. iCloud and Google Drive backups will sync screenshots and notes off-device, which is exactly what an attacker waits for. See seed phrase security.
The wallet will ask you to confirm a few words to prove you wrote them down. Do this — it’s the only point at which you’ll be forced to verify the backup is correct.
4. Enable biometric unlock
Settings → Security → enable Face ID / Touch ID / fingerprint. This protects the wallet if your phone is left unlocked. It’s a device unlock, not recovery; the seed phrase is still the only thing that can move your funds elsewhere.
5. Test with a small amount
Send a small test amount first. Confirm it arrives, then top up with the rest. This catches typos and incorrect addresses early.
Mobile wallet trade-offs
A phone is a connected, multi-purpose device. It’s the right place for a spending balance, not a savings balance. For larger amounts, use the desktop wallet (with the seed phrase stored offline) or — for significant amounts — a hardware wallet.
Honest about a downside: if your phone is lost or factory-reset and you don’t have your seed, the funds are gone. There’s no “sign in to recover” flow because we don’t hold your keys. That’s the point of a non-custodial wallet — see non-custodial explained.