Terenval Answers · P1 solve · Русская версия

How Do You Move a Self-Custody Wallet to a New Phone?

Moving a self-custody wallet normally means restoring the same keys/accounts on the new device rather than transferring every coin to a new address. Verify the backup before touching the old phone.

Last reviewed: 2026-10-05.

Key takeaways

• Verify the backup before deleting or resetting the old phone.
• Use the official install source and restore flow.
• Compare known addresses, not only displayed balances.
• Check multiple networks/accounts if the old wallet was multi-chain.
• Do not wipe the old device until the new installation is independently verified.

1. Decide whether you are restoring or creating a new wallet

Restoring the same seed/passphrase recreates keys according to the target wallet's derivation rules. Creating a fresh seed creates a new wallet and requires on-chain transfers from old addresses to new ones.

If the old device or seed may be compromised, do not simply restore the same compromised wallet. Create a fresh wallet on a clean device and migrate assets instead.

2. Verify recovery material before migration

Confirm that the seed words are complete and in the correct order and that you know whether an optional BIP39 passphrase was used. Do not take a screenshot or upload the phrase to cloud storage just for convenience.

If the old wallet has a built-in backup verification workflow, use the official workflow without exposing the phrase to another website.

3. Restore on the new phone

Install from the official domain/store/PWA route. Enter recovery material only inside the verified restore/import flow. After restoration, compare a known Bitcoin/EVM public address from the old wallet or transaction records.

A valid seed can still show different addresses when wallet derivation schemes or account indexes differ, so address comparison is a stronger check than simply seeing “wallet restored.”

4. Verify every important network

For a multi-chain wallet, switch through the networks where you actually hold funds and compare balances with block explorers. Check tokens separately if the wallet does not auto-detect every contract.

Then make a small outgoing test transaction from the new device before treating the migration as complete.

5. Retire the old device carefully

After the new phone is verified, remove wallet access from the old device according to your threat model. If you are selling or giving away the phone, use the device vendor's secure reset process. A device reset is not a substitute for keeping the recovery backup safe.

Common mistakes

• Wiping the old phone before verifying the backup.
• Restoring a compromised seed onto a new phone and assuming the compromise is gone.
• Checking only one chain in a multi-chain wallet.
• Panicking over zero balance without comparing addresses/derivation.
• Entering the seed into a web “migration assistant.”