How to back up your Arqma Wallet

Why backups matter

A non-custodial wallet has no “forgot password” flow. If you lose access to the device and you don’t have a backup, the coins are gone — not held by an exchange, not recoverable by support. A backup converts “catastrophic” into “annoying.”

Two backup types

1. Seed phrase backup (easiest, recommended)

The 25-word seed phrase regenerates your entire wallet on any device. It’s portable, paper-friendly, and works for the rest of time. This is the backup most people should use.

2. Wallet file backup (advanced)

The encrypted wallet file (.keys) and its password together restore the wallet. Useful when you want to preserve the wallet’s view-key settings or sub-addresses without re-deriving them. Requires both the file and the password — losing either means the backup is dead.

Step-by-step seed phrase backup

1. Open the wallet on a trusted device. Quit other apps. Unplug from external screens.
2. Go to Settings → Seed & Keys and enter your wallet password.
3. Reveal the 25 words. Don’t take a photo. Don’t screen-share. Don’t talk them out loud near a smart speaker.
4. Write each word by hand on a numbered list (1 through 25), legibly, with a pen that won’t fade.
5. Re-read the list against the screen to catch typos. One wrong word kills the backup.
6. Close the seed view and lock the wallet before stepping away.

Where to store the paper

Pick storage that survives the three threats that actually destroy backups: fire, water, and burglary.

• Fire-safe home safe rated UL Class 350 (documents).
• Bank safety deposit box — air-gapped and insured.
• Sealed envelope with a trusted lawyer for estate planning.
• Hidden in a non-obvious spot at home — and yes, “in the freezer” is obvious.

For long-term storage, upgrade to metal. See Seed phrase security for storage hardware suggestions.

Verify your backup

This is the step almost everybody skips and almost everybody regrets later. Do not put real money in a wallet whose backup hasn’t been tested.

1. On a second device (or a fresh user profile), install Arqma Wallet.
2. Choose Restore from seed.
3. Type the 25 words in order from your paper backup.
4. The wallet should show the same address as your original.
5. If the address matches, your backup is valid. Delete the test wallet.

Common backup mistakes

• Storing seed and password in the same place. (If a thief finds one, they find both.)
• Only one copy in a single location. (Fire risk = total loss risk.)
• Skipping the test restore. (Discovery happens during the emergency.)
• Backing up to cloud storage. (Even encrypted, you don’t control the keys.)
• Photographing the seed for “just in case.” (Camera roll → cloud → everywhere.)

If you lose the backup

If the wallet still opens, create a new wallet immediately and transfer your funds to it. The old wallet will then have a fresh, properly-stored backup. If the wallet is gone and the backup is gone, the funds are unrecoverable. We won’t pretend otherwise. Read Wallet recovery for the steps to handle a lost device when you do have a backup.