If your recovery phrase may be exposed, create a new wallet with a new phrase and send your assets to its public receiving address. Never enter or share the old phrase to transfer cryptocurrency. Importing that phrase into another app restores access to the same derived accounts; it does not move assets to new addresses.
First, decide whether you need a restore or a migration
These are different actions. Restoring an existing wallet is useful when you are changing devices or apps and the phrase is still safe. Migrating to fresh keys means creating a new wallet and transferring assets on-chain. MetaMask explains that importing an existing wallet changes how you access it, while the assets remain at their existing addresses: MetaMask’s guide to connecting or importing an existing wallet.
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| What you want | What to do | Where assets remain |
|---|---|---|
| Access the same wallet on another device or app | Restore or import the existing wallet, only if its recovery phrase is known to be safe | At the same derived addresses |
| Replace keys that may be exposed, or deliberately rotate them | Create a fresh wallet with a new recovery phrase, then transfer assets to its receiving address | At the new addresses after the transfers are confirmed |
If you suspect the old phrase or device is compromised, do not use the old phrase to create the destination wallet. Anyone with that phrase may control accounts derived from it. MetaMask’s security guidance says never to share a Secret Recovery Phrase or private key with anyone, including purported support staff: MetaMask’s recovery-phrase security guidance.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsMake an inventory before moving assets
Record the old wallet’s relevant addresses and holdings, network by network. A basic token list may not show every asset or obligation, and not every position can be moved with a simple token transfer.
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- Check for NFTs, including assets held by accounts beyond the default account.
- Identify liquidity, staking, lending, or other DeFi positions that may need to be exited or handled through their protocol.
- Note smart-contract ownership or administrative roles that may require a separate ownership-transfer action.
- Mark any locked positions, withdrawal conditions, or assets that need network fees to move.
MetaMask’s migration guidance notes that assets and positions can require different handling, and that on-chain transactions incur network fees: MetaMask’s asset-migration guide. Fee amounts and the steps for staking, DeFi, bridges, and contract ownership depend on the network and protocol; consult their official instructions before acting.
Create a genuinely fresh destination wallet
- Install or open the wallet using the provider’s official app or extension source. Avoid links sent by unsolicited messages or support accounts.
- Create a new wallet and generate a new recovery phrase. If the old phrase may be exposed, never restore it as the new wallet.
- Keep the new phrase offline, private, and in its original word order. Do not put it in a cloud-saved document, email, chat, screenshot, or synced note. MetaMask provides further guidance on securing the phrase at its security guide.
- Complete any phrase-confirmation step only inside the wallet’s official creation flow. MetaMask says legitimate phrase-entry situations are limited to wallet-creation confirmation and restoration or reset contexts; a transfer does not require entering the phrase. See MetaMask’s basic security tips.
A hardware wallet is an optional destination setup: the device keeps keys offline for signing. For that benefit, create a fresh phrase on the hardware device rather than importing a phrase that may already have been exposed. MetaMask describes hardware-wallet use at its hardware-wallet user guide. This does not establish that every device supports every asset or is immune to compromise.
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Get and verify the new public receiving address
In the new wallet, choose the relevant network and copy its public receiving address. The address can be shared to receive funds; the recovery phrase cannot. Verify the address against the destination wallet or hardware-device display before sending. A block explorer can help inspect public addresses and transactions, but it never needs your recovery phrase.
Pay attention to the network as well as the address. Sending an asset on the wrong network, or to an incompatible destination, can make recovery difficult or impossible. Wallet interfaces and supported networks differ, so follow the official instructions for both the sending and receiving wallets.
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Transfer assets carefully, then check every category
- Use the old wallet only to initiate transfers. Do not disclose its recovery phrase to a person, website, or purported support representative.
- Choose the asset’s correct network and the matching receiving address in the new wallet.
- Where appropriate for the network and asset, send a small test transfer first. Confirm that it arrived at the intended destination before sending the remaining amount.
- Account for network fees and ensure the sending account has enough of the network’s fee-paying asset. Fees vary; the cited migration guidance does not give a fixed amount.
- After transfers confirm, compare the destination wallet against your inventory across each network. Handle NFTs, additional accounts, protocol positions, and contract ownership separately where required.
If a position is locked or involves a smart contract, do not assume that sending the wallet’s visible tokens completes the migration. Use the relevant protocol’s official documentation for exit, withdrawal, or ownership-transfer steps.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do with the old wallet afterward
Moving assets does not make an exposed recovery phrase safe again. Do not reuse it for the new wallet. If you believe someone may already have access, prioritize moving transferable assets and get chain- or protocol-specific official guidance for positions that cannot be transferred like ordinary tokens.
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